CHARLESTON, Ill. – A day after being cut from their respective NFL team's 53-man regular-season rosters, three former Eastern Illinois players were signed to the practice squad by those teams keeping their NFL careers alive. Chris Campbell, Otis Hudson and Pierre Walters will all start the NFL season on the practice squad this weekend.

Campbell was a free agent signee of the Green Bay Packers after earning second team All-OVC honors for the Panthers last season. He was signed to the Packers practice squad as an offensive tackle. He appeared in a limited role in four of the Packers preseason games this year. Green Bay opens the season on Sunday at Philadelphia.

Hudson was a fifth round selection of the Cincinnati Bengals in this year's NFL Draft after being a two-year starter at tackle for EIU. He was signed to the Bengals practice squad as an offensive guard. He appeared in all five of the Bengals preseason contests playing as a back-up guard. Cincinnati opens the season on Sunday at New England.

Walters was a free agent signee of the Kansas City Chiefs in 2009 and played in three NFL games last season making one tackle. He was signed as a linebacker to the Chiefs practice squad. He appeared in four preseason games playing on special teams and defense making nine tackles. Kansas City opens the season on Monday night at San Diego.

The other former Eastern Illinois player still on an active roster is Dallas Cowboys starting quarterback Tony Romo. The Cowboys open the season on Sunday night facing the Washington Redskins coached by EIU alumnus Mike Shanahan. Fellow EIU alumni Sean Payton and Brad Childress will also square off during the opening weekend when the Minnesota Vikings coached by Childress visit the New Orleans Saints coached by Payton on Thursday night. Look for special pre-game and in-game coverage by NBC about the Eastern Illinois ties as the network broadcasts both of those opening weekend contests.