Justin Rogers Bio
Justin Rogers (born September 12, 2001) is an American professional football defensive tackle competing in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Kentucky Wildcats and the Auburn Tigers before being selected in the seventh round of the 2024 NFL Draft. Standing 6 feet 2 inches tall and weighing approximately 305 pounds, Rogers has built a career defined by perseverance and frequent movement between practice squads and active rosters.
Following the draft, Justin Rogers joined the Dallas Cowboys organization and has since spent time with the Cincinnati Bengals, Seattle Seahawks, and Philadelphia Eagles. His professional journey has included short stints on multiple rosters and practice squads, reflecting the demanding nature of building an NFL career as an interior defensive lineman.
Early Life and Background
Justin Rogers was born on September 12, 2001, in Detroit, Michigan, and grew up in the nearby city of Oak Park, Michigan. He attended Oak Park High School, where he emerged as one of the most highly regarded high school football prospects in the state. During his freshman season, he stepped into a starting role at right tackle, signaling his early physical development and football instincts.
By his junior season, Justin Rogers had transitioned into a defensive role as a linebacker, recording 22 tackles for loss, seven sacks, and four forced fumbles. Coming out of high school, he was rated as a four-star recruit and was considered the top offensive guard and the top overall player in the state of Michigan. He received scholarship offers from several major college football programs, including Kentucky, Michigan, Alabama, Georgia, Tennessee, and LSU.
Path to American Football
Justin Rogers ultimately committed to play college football for the Kentucky Wildcats, joining a Southeastern Conference program with a strong defensive tradition. He appeared in 33 games during his time with the Wildcats across the 2020, 2021, and 2022 seasons. Over those first two seasons in 2020 and 2021, he recorded 26 tackles, three and a half tackles for loss, and two and a half sacks. A standout moment came in the 2020 season finale against rival Alabama, when he posted a then career-high three tackles.
During the 2022 season, Justin Rogers added 36 tackles and half a sack to his collegiate resume, bringing his Kentucky totals to 60 tackles, five tackles for loss, and three sacks. After the 2022 season, he entered the NCAA transfer portal to explore a new opportunity, eventually choosing the Auburn Tigers. With Auburn in 2023, he produced 17 tackles, two tackles for loss, and a sack, before declaring for the 2024 NFL Draft.
Justin Rogers Career
Early Career (2020–2023)
The foundation of Justin Rogers’s career was established during his three seasons at the University of Kentucky. He appeared in 33 games for the Wildcats, working his way into a meaningful rotational role on the defensive line. His progress was steady, with his statistical production growing each year as he gained experience and strength.
After a productive 2022 season at Kentucky, Justin Rogers transferred to Auburn for his final collegiate year. His lone season with the Tigers in 2023 produced 17 tackles and a sack, providing a solid final chapter before he turned his attention to the NFL. He declared for the 2024 NFL Draft following the conclusion of Auburn’s season.
NFL Breakthrough (2024)
Justin Rogers was selected by the Dallas Cowboys in the seventh round, 244th overall, of the 2024 NFL Draft. He was released during final roster cuts on August 26, 2024, but did not remain a free agent for long. On August 29, 2024, he signed with the Cincinnati Bengals practice squad, continuing his professional development at the NFL level.
On December 19, 2024, the Dallas Cowboys signed Justin Rogers back to their active roster off the Bengals’ practice squad, marking a return to the organization that originally drafted him. This midseason addition gave him an opportunity to close out his rookie year on an active NFL roster.
Philadelphia Eagles Era (2025–Present)
Justin Rogers’s 2025 began with movement across several rosters as he sought a stable professional home. He was waived by the Dallas Cowboys on June 18, 2025, and signed with the Seattle Seahawks on July 21, 2025. His time in Seattle was brief, as he was waived by the Seahawks on July 29, 2025.
On August 12, 2025, Justin Rogers signed with the Philadelphia Eagles, continuing his pursuit of a roster spot. He was waived on August 26, 2025, as part of final roster cuts. Despite the short stints, his ability to attract interest from multiple NFL franchises underscored the value teams placed on his size and defensive line experience.
Driving Style and Strengths
Justin Rogers plays with the physical traits typical of an interior defensive tackle, using his 6-foot-2 frame and 305-pound build to hold up at the point of attack. His college production at both Kentucky and Auburn showed an ability to contribute tackles for loss and pressure the quarterback in limited opportunities, suggesting a developmental profile suited for run defense and rotational pass-rush duty.
Notable Events and Milestones
One of the defining moments of Justin Rogers’s career came when he was selected in the 2024 NFL Draft by the Dallas Cowboys, validating his multi-year collegiate journey. His subsequent movement between four NFL organizations in roughly a year also represents a notable chapter, illustrating both the challenges and the persistence required to sustain a professional football career.
Justin Rogers Career Wins
As an interior defensive lineman whose professional career began in 2024, Justin Rogers has not yet accumulated headline victory totals comparable to those of established pass rushers. His statistical contributions have come in the form of tackles and limited sacks during his college career, with his NFL opportunities primarily focused on earning and maintaining a roster spot rather than accumulating win totals.
College Highlights
Across his combined college career at Kentucky and Auburn, Justin Rogers produced 77 tackles, seven tackles for loss, and four sacks. His most productive season statistically came in 2022 at Kentucky, when he recorded 36 tackles. His final collegiate season at Auburn in 2023 added 17 tackles and a sack to cap his developmental path before the NFL.
Other Performances
Justin Rogers’s high school career at Oak Park featured 22 tackles for loss, seven sacks, and four forced fumbles as a linebacker during his junior year, marking him as a four-star recruit and the top-rated player in Michigan. Those performances helped earn him scholarship offers from Kentucky, Michigan, Alabama, Georgia, Tennessee, and LSU.
Justin Rogers Family
Family Background and Football Lineage
Public biographical details about Justin Rogers’s family are limited. He grew up in Oak Park, Michigan, after being born in nearby Detroit, and developed his football foundation in that community. His path through high school and into major college football programs reflects a strong local support system that helped him reach the NFL level.
Personal Life
Detailed public information about Justin Rogers’s personal life, including marital status, is not widely documented. He has focused much of his public profile on his professional football career since being drafted in 2024.
2025 Season Performance
Justin Rogers’s 2025 season has been defined by movement between NFL organizations as he works to establish a stable roster position. He began the offseason with the Dallas Cowboys before being waived in June, and subsequently signed with the Seattle Seahawks and the Philadelphia Eagles in short succession. Each stop provided a chance to compete for a depth role on an NFL defensive line.
His most recent opportunity came with the Philadelphia Eagles, where he signed on August 12, 2025, and was ultimately waived on August 26, 2025, as part of final roster cuts. This pattern of signing and being waived during the 2025 league year has been the central storyline of his second professional season.
Looking forward, Justin Rogers remains an active professional athlete whose experience at multiple NFL stops continues to build his profile. His combination of SEC collegiate experience, draft pedigree, and continued interest from NFL teams leaves the door open for future opportunities as the 2025 season progresses.