Wolverines in the NFL: Former Michigan players lead league in receiving yards, sacks
Former Michigan Wolverines football wide receiver Nico Collins stands atop the NFL with 252 receiving yards through two weeks. The 6-foot-4, 222-pounder is coming off a monster game in a 29-13 win over the Chicago Bears Sunday night in which he hauled in 8 catches for 135 yards and 1 touchdown on 10 targets.
Collins got into it with Bears cornerback Tyrique Stevenson after the final play of the first quarter. He responded to Stevenson’s jawing with a shove and was flagged for unnecessary roughness, a 15-yard penalty.
“Just out there talking noise, you know how that goes,” Collins said after the win. “They try to get under your skin, but I wasn’t going for it. You’re not about to put your finger in my face. Nah, you got me messed up. I ain’t one of them, but it’s football. You’ve got to be on 10 toes and stand your ground out there.”
On the next play, Collins more than made up for the 15 yards, catching a pass over the middle and powering through defenders into the end zone. Stevenson was penalized for illegal hands to the face, grabbing Collins’ facemask at the beginning of the route, but it was declined since the former Michigan wideout scored anyway.
“I had to [score],” Collins said. “It was one of those plays where I was like, ‘OK.’ They were trying me a little bit, but that’s when the boys show up.”
Former Michigan defensive end Aidan Hutchinson, meanwhile, had 11.5 sacks in his second professional season in 2023, and he’s nearly halfway to that total through just two games in 2024.
Hutchinson was dominant in a 26-20 overtime victory over the Los Angeles Rams Sept. 8, registering a sack on the final play of regulation. His 11 pressures were the most by an NFL player in a game since 2021.
The 6-foot-7, 268-pounder followed that up with another big-time performance, recording a career-high 4.5 sacks with 6 pressures in a 20-16 setback to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers Sept. 15. While the Lions fell to 1-1 with the close home loss, Hutchinson was a force.
“He’s a hell of a player,” Tampa Bay head coach Todd Bowles said. “You see the same things you always see. We tried chipping him, we tried to do a lot of things, but he makes plays. He made our life miserable over there. Hats off to him. We still stuck together, fought it out, and got the win.”
“It was fun out there,” Hutchinson said of his performance. “It was. I feel like I was just in a flow state.”
Erick All (played at Michigan from 2019-21), TE, Cincinnati Bengals
Made the first 4 receptions of his career for 32 yards in a 26-25 setback to the Kansas City Chiefs … Hauled in 4 catches for 32 yards in two outings for the 0-2 Bengals.
AJ Barner (2023), TE, Seattle Seahawks
Has not recorded any statistics in two apperances for the 2-0 Seahawks.
Ronnie Bell (2018-22), WR, San Francisco 49ers
Doesn’t have any catches in two games with the 1-1 49ers.
Ben Bredeson (2016-19), OG, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Started in a 20-16 victory over the Detroit Lions … Opened both tilts at left guard for the 2-0 Buccaneers, posting a 61.6 overall PFF rating.
Devin Bush (2016-18), LB, Cleveland Browns
Did not have any stats in an 18-13 triumph over the Jacksonville Jaguars … Tallied 2 tackles in a pair of games for the 1-1 Browns.
Zach Charbonnet (2019-20), RB, Seattle Seahawks
Notched 38 rushing yards and a score on 14 rushes and 31 yards on 5 catches in a 23-20 overtime win over the New England Patriots … Racked up 50 rushing yards and a touchdown on 22 carries and 7 catches for 50 yards and a score in two games for the 2-0 Seahawks.
Nico Collins (2017-19), WR, Houston Texans
Leads the NFL with 252 receiving yards through two weeks for the 2-0 Texans … Hauled in 8 grabs for 135 yards and a score in a 19-13 win over the Chicago Bears over the weekend.
Junior Colson (2021-23), LB, Los Angeles Chargers
Posted 1 tackle in a 26-3 victory over the Carolina Panthers … Played in two outings for the 2-0 Chargers, tallying 5 tackles and a pass breakup.
Blake Corum (2020-23), RB, Los Angeles Rams
Got the first carries of his career in a 41-10 loss to the Arizona Cardinals, rushing for 28 yards on 8 attempts … Saw action in two games for the 0-2 Rams, carrying 8 times for 28 yards.
Mike Danna (2019), DE, Kansas City Chiefs
Had a strip sack that was returned by a teammate for a touchdown in a 26-25 win over the Cincinnati Bengals Sept. 15 … Registered 8 tackles, 1 stop for loss and 1 quarterback hurry in two contests for the 2-0 Chiefs.
Chris Evans (2016-18, ’20), RB, Cincinnati Bengals
Suffered a knee injury during training camp and is on the injured reserve list.
Rashan Gary (2016-18), LB, Green Bay Packers
Started but didn’t have any stats in a 16-10 win over the Indianapolis Colts … Posted 3 tackles, 1 sack, 1 tackle for loss, 2 quarterback hits and 1 pass breakup in two games for the 1-1 Packers.
Graham Glasgow (2012-15), OL, Detroit Lions
Opened a 20-16 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers … Started both contests at left guard for the 1-1 Lions, grading out at 73.9 overall per PFF.
Brandon Graham (2006-09), DE, Philadelphia Eagles
Didn’t have any stats in a 22-21 loss to the Atlanta Falcons on Monday Night Football … Registered 1 tackle in two outings for the 1-1 Eagles.
Jaylen Harrell (2020-23), OLB, Tennessee Titans
Had a tackle in a 24-17 loss to the New York Jets … Competed in two games for the 0-2 Titans, with 2 tackles.
LaDarius Henderson (2023), OG, Houston Texans
On the “reserve/non-football injury” list, having undergone foot surgery in July.
Dax Hill (2019-21), CB, Cincinatti Bengals
Started a 26-25 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs and posted 4 tackles … Transitioned from safety to cornerback ahead of the season … Put up 12 tackles, 1 stop for loss, 1 quarterback hit and a pass breakup in two clashes with two starts for the 0-2 Bengals.
Khaleke Hudson (2016-19), LB, Cleveland Browns
Was on the New Orleans Saints practice squad before being picked up by the Browns Sept. 10 … Made 1 tackle in his Browns debut.
James Hudson III (2017-18), OT, Cleveland Browns
Started both games at left tackle in replacement of the injured Jedrick Wills Jr. for the 1-1 Browns.
Maurice Hurst II (2014-17), DT, Cleveland Browns
Placed on injured reserve (ankle) following a 3-tackle Week 1 performance.
Aidan Hutchinson (2018-21), DE, Detroit Lions
Paces the NFL with 5.5 sacks, 4.5 of which came in a 20-16 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers Sept. 15 … Added 5 tackles for loss, 10 total stops, 9 quarterback hits and 1 forced fumble for the 1-1 Lions.
Kris Jenkins (2020-23), DT, Cincinnati Bengals
Missed the first two games with a thumb injury.
Trevor Keegan (2019-23), OG, Philadelphia Eagles
Has yet to make his NFL debut … Listed as the second-string left guard on the depth chart.
Jourdan Lewis (2013-16), CB, Dallas Cowboys
Recorded 2 tackles and a pass breakup in a 44-19 loss to the New Orleans Saints … Made 7 tackles and 1 pass breakup in two appearances with one start for the 1-1 Cowboys.
J.J. McCarthy (2021-23), QB, Minnesota Vikings
Out for the season with a knee injury suffered in the preseason.
Braiden McGregor (2020-23), EDGE, New York Jets
Had his first career tackle in a 24-17 win over the Tennessee
Titans … The undrafted free agent has made 1 tackle in two clashes for the 1-1 Jets.
Cameron McGrone (2018-20), LB, Indianapolis Colts
On the injured reserve list but has been labeled as “designated for return.”
Josh Metellus (2016-19), S, Minnesota Vikings
Picked off a pass and had a pass breakup, a tackle for loss and 7 total tackles in a 23-17 win over the San Francisco 49ers … Tallied 11 tackles, 1 stop for loss, 1 quarterback hit, 2 pass breakups and 1 interception while playing off the bench in both outings for the 2-0 Vikings.
Joe Milton (2018-20), QB, New England Patriots
Has not played in a game and is listed as the third-string quarterback on the depth chart for the 1-1 Patriots.
Jake Moody (2018-22), K, San Francisco 49ers
Tied a franchise record with 6 made field goals in a 32-19 victory over the New York Jets Sept. 9 … Perfect on field goals (7-of-7) and extra points (4-of-4) through two games for the 1-1 49ers.
Mike Morris (2019-22), DE, Seattle Seahawks
Did not record any stats in a 23-20 overtime win over the New England Patriots … Posted 2 tackles in a pair of appearances for the 2-0 Seahawks.
David Ojabo (2019-21), OLB, Baltimore Ravens
Laid 1 hit on the quarterback in a 26-23 loss to the Las Vegas Raiders … Appeared in both games for the 0-2 Ravens, totaling 1 tackle, 1 quarterback hit and a sack.
Olu Oluwatimi (2022), C, Seattle Seahawks
Made one special teams appearance for the 2-0 Seahawks.
Mike Onwenu (2016-19), OL, New England Patriots
Opened both clashes at right tackle for the 1-1 Patriots, putting up a 57.3 overall PFF rating.
Kwity Paye (2017-20), DE, Indianapolis Colts
Made 5 tackles in a 16-10 loss to the Green Bay Packers … Registered 7 tackles, 2 quarterback hits and 1 sack in two games for the 0-2 Colts.
Jabrill Peppers (2014-16), S, New England Patriots
Made 6 tackles in a 23-20 overtime loss to the Seattle Seahawks … Started both contests for the 1-1 Patriots, tallying 12 tackles.
Brad Robbins (2017-22), P, Cincinnati Bengals
On injured reserve with a leg injury he suffered in mid-August.
Cesar Ruiz (2017-19), C/G, New Orleans Saints
Opened both games at right guard for the 2-0 Saints.
Jon Runyan (2016-19), OG, New York Giants
Started at left guard in both contests for the 0-2 Giants.
Mike Sainristil (2019-23), CB, Washington Commanders
The rookie in Week 1 and came off the bench in Week 2, totaling 7 tackles in the 1-1 Commanders’ first two times out … Made 4 tackles in a 21-18 win over the New York Giants.
Luke Schoonmaker (2018-22), TE, Dallas Cowboys
Broke out with career highs in catches (6) and receiving yards (43) in his first career start in a 44-19 loss to the New Orleans Saints Sept. 15 … Those are his only stats in two games for the 1-1 Cowboys.
Mazi Smith (2019-22), DT, Dallas Cowboys
No stats through two games for the 1-1 Cowboys.
Benjamin St-Juste (2017-18), CB, Washington Commanders
Delivered 3 pass breakups, 6 tackles and a forced fumble in a 21-18 win over the New York Giants … Tallied 11 tackles and 4 pass breakups in two clashes with two starts for the 1-1 Commanders.
Ambry Thomas (2017-19), CB, San Francisco 49ers
On the injured reserve with a forearm injury.
DJ Turner II (2019-12), CB, Cincinnati Bengals
Didn’t have any stats in a 26-25 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs … Made 1 tackle in two outings for the 0-2 Bengals.
Joshua Uche (2016-19), LB, New England Patriots
Recorded 1 tackle in two games for the 1-1 Patriots.
Ben VanSumeren (2018-20), LB, Philadelphia Eagles
Seen action on special teams in both clashes for the 1-1 Eagles.
Josh Wallace (2023), CB, Los Angeles Rams
Came off the bench in each of the 0-2 Rams’ first two clashes.
Julius Welschof (2018-22), LB, Pittsburgh Steelers
On the injured reserve with a knee ailment.
Roman Wilson (2020-23), WR, Pittsburgh Steelers
Missed the preseason and first two games with an ankle injury.
Zak Zinter (2020-23), OG, Cleveland Browns
Competed on special teams in the season-opener, before notching his first career start as an extra lineman in a 18-13 win over the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 2.
