Wolverines in the NFL: Donovan Peoples-Jones playing his way into new contract
Former Michigan Wolverines football wide receiver Donovan Peoples-Jones fell to the sixth round in the 2020 NFL Draft. And while he had a quiet rookie season, recording 304 yards and 2 touchdowns, he’s continually improved.
Peoples-Jones went for 597 yards and 3 scores on 30 catches last season, and he has already hauled in 30 receptions this year, totaling 417 yards.
He’s third on the Cleveland Browns in both grabs and receiving yards, behind wideout Amari Cooper and tight end David Njoku. The team has had to undergo a murky situation at quarterback, with Deshaun Watson being suspended 11 games to start the season. Backup Jacoby Brissett has stepped in, but he ranks 20th in the league in completion percentage (63.9) and 19th in passer rating.
The former Michigan wideout is fresh off a season-high 81-yard game in the Browns’ 32-13 win over division rival Cincinnati. Despite the odds being long to make the playoffs, Cleveland is still hanging in with three wins roughly a month before Watson is set to return.
Peoples-Jones has one year remaining on his contract following this season, but per Cleveland beat writer Cory Kinnan of Browns Wire, he’s a prime candidate to receive an extension.
“He is still under contract for one more season, but we know his philosophy of [general manager Andrew] Berry is to identify and extend talent early,” Kinnan wrote. “Nearly all of his extensions have come before the player enters the final year of his contract.
“Proving to be a solid receiving threat with wide receiver Amari Cooper and tight end David Njoku taking in a ton of attention, Peoples-Jones is proving he can be a dependable and reliable target for his quarterback when he needs a dependable and reliable target the most.”
Here’s a look at how every former Michigan player in the NFL performed in Week 8:
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Tom Brady (Played at Michigan from 1995-99), QB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Completed 26 of his 44 pass attempts for 325 yards and 1 touchdown with no interceptions in a 27-22 loss to the Baltimore Ravens Thursday night … Sacked 3 times, tying a season high … Rushed once for 1 yard … Has connected on 65.9 percent of his passes for 2,267 yards and 9 touchdowns with 1 pick for the 3-5 Buccaneers this season.
Ben Bredeson (2016-19), OL, New York Giants
Did not see game action during the 6-2 Giants’ 27-13 loss to the Seattle Seahawks, after suffering a knee injury the prior week … Has a 56.1 overall PFF grade with 6 pressures and no sacks given up this season.
Devin Bush Jr. (2016-18), LB, Pittsburgh Steelers
Registered 2 tackles in a 35-13 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles … Has tallied 44 stops, including 1 for loss, 1 quarterback hit and 1 pass breakup while starting all eight games for the 2-6 Steelers.
Camaron Cheeseman (2016-19), LS, Washington Commanders
Snapped 9 times in the 4-4 Commanders’ 17-16 victory over the Indianapolis Colts … Has served as the long snapper in all eight games.
Frank Clark (2011-14), DE, Kansas City Chiefs
Suspended two games by the NFL for violating the league’s personal conduct policy … Suspension stems from his March 2021 arrest and subsequent no-contest plea to two counts of misdemeanor possession of an assault weapon … Has started 7 outings with 15 tackles, including 4 for loss and 3 sacks, 7 quarterback hits and 1 safety for the 5-2 Chiefs, who had a bye this past weekend.
Mason Cole (2014-17), OL, Pittsburgh Steelers
Started and played every offensive snap at center in the 2-6 Steelers’ 35-13 setback to the Philadelphia Eagles … Posted a 57.1 overall PFF grade and allowed 3 pressures and 1 sack … Has a 64.1 overall PFF rating for the season.
Nico Collins (2017-19), WR, Houston Texans
Did not play over the weekend with a groin injury, and he’s expected to miss this Thursday’s game against the Philadelphia Eagles as well … The former Michigan wideout has opened four of his six outings this year, totaling 18 receptions for 305 yards.
Mike Danna (2019), DE, Kansas City Chiefs
Has made 2 tackles and 1 quarterback hit in three contests … Has been dealing with a calf injury … Team had a bye over the weekend.
Chris Evans (2016-20), RB, Cincinnati Bengals
Notched 1 reception for 26 yards and returned 3 kicks for 56 yards in the 4-4 Bengals’ 32-13 loss to the Cleveland Browns Monday night … Has recorded 2 catches for 30 yards and returned 9 kicks for 189 yards this season.
Rashan Gary (2016-18), LB, Green Bay Packers
Started and made 1 tackle and 1 pass breakup in the 3-5 Packers’ fourth-straight loss, a 27-17 setback to the Buffalo Bills Sunday night … Posted a season-high 7 pressures … His 34 pressures for the season rank sixth among NFL edge rushers, and his 19.0 pressure rate in true pass sets slots first among that same group … He’s recorded 29 tackles, including 7 stops for loss and 6 sacks, 1 pass breakup, 1 forced fumble and 1 fumble recovery this season.
Zach Gentry (2015-18), TE, Pittsburgh Steelers
Started his fourth consecutive game and hauled in 1 reception for 3 yards in the 2-6 Steelers’ 35-13 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles … Has started six of eight outings and hauled in 12 catches for 92 yards.
Graham Glasgow (2011-15), OL, Denver Broncos
Played on special teams only the prior two weeks but came in for relief duty for 34 snaps at center in the 3-5 Broncos’ 21-17 victory over the Jacksonville Jaguars in London … Replaced starter Lloyd Cushenberry III after his injury … Posted a 61.9 overall PFF grade and a team-best 80.3 pass-blocking rating for the game … Has a 60.2 overall grade for the season with 7 pressures and 1 sack given up.
Brandon Graham (2006-09), DE, Philadelphia Eagles
Played on defense and special teams but did not record any statistics in the 7-0 Eagles’ 35-13 triumph over the Pittsburgh Steelers … Has racked up 3 sacks to go along with 15 tackles and 7 quarterback hits on the year.
Hassan Haskins (2018-21), RB, Tennessee Titans
Returned 1 kick for 17 yards and made 3 tackles on special teams for the 5-2 Titans … Has brought back 10 kicks for 236 yards on the season, while adding 7 tackles … Has accumulated 37 yards on 9 rushes.
Chad Henne (2004-07), QB, Kansas City Chiefs
Appeared in two games during garbage time for the 5-2 Chiefs, who had a bye this week.
Dax Hill (2019-21), S, Cincinnati Bengals
Posted 1 tackle while playing a career-high 20 defensive snaps and 14 special teams plays in the 4-4 Bengals’ 32-13 loss to the Cleveland Browns Monday night … Has made 1 start and appeared in all eight games, with 2 tackles.
Aidan Hutchinson (2018-21), DL, Detroit Lions
The former Michigan edge rusher made 1 tackle in the 1-6 Lions’ 31-27 loss to the Miami Dolphins … He also totaled 3 pressures, the most on the team … His 22 pressures lead all rookie edge defenders … Has totaled 18 tackles, 4.5 sacks, 3 tackles for loss and 9 quarterback hits for the season.
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Jourdan Lewis (2013-16), CB, Dallas Cowboys
Suffered a season-ending knee injury Week 7 … For the year, he totaled 26 tackles, 1 sack, 1 pass breakup and 1 interception.
David Long Jr. (2016-18), CB, Los Angeles Rams
Played three snaps but did not record any statistics in a 31-14 loss to the San Francisco 49ers … Has appeared in four games this season, tallying 8 tackles.
Sean McKeon (2016-19), TE, Dallas Cowboys
Played off the bench but didn’t have any statistics … Has 1 reception for 10 yards in four appearances this season.
Josh Metellus (2016-19), S, Minnesota Vikings
Saw time on special teams in the 6-1 Vikings’ 34-26 victory over the Arizona Cardinals … Has totaled 20 tackles and 2 pass breakups in seven games with one start.
Bryan Mone (2014-18), DT, Seattle Seahawks
Notched 1 tackle while appearing off the bench in the 5-3 Seahawks’ 27-13 win over the New York Giants … Has made 17 tackles, including 1 behind the line of scrimmage, and 1 quarterback hit in eight games with two starts.
Michael Onwenu (2016-19), OL, New England Patriots
Started and played every offensive snap at right guard in the 4-4 Patriots’ 22-17 win over the New York Jets … Posted a 76.3 overall PFF grade (ranked second on the offense) with no pressures and no sacks given up … His 83.2 overall rating for the season ranks second on the Patriots’ offense … Has yielded 3 pressures and no sacks this year while starting all eight games.
Kwity Paye (2017-19), DE, Indianapolis Colts
Suffered an ankle injury in Week 5, which has forced him to miss the last three games and potentially more action … Has started all five clashes in which he’s appeared, with 16 tackles, 5 stops for loss, 3 sacks and 5 quarterback hits … Third on the team with 14 pressures.
Donovan Peoples-Jones (2017-19), WR, Cleveland Browns
Started for the sixth time in eight games this season, hauling in 4 receptions for a season-high 81 yards in the 3-5 Browns’ 32-13 victory over the Cincinnati Bengals … Third on the team in both receptions (30) and receiving yards (417).
Jabrill Peppers (2014-16), S, New England Patriots
Started and posted a season-high 8 tackles, including 1 behind the line of scrimmage, in the 4-4 Patriots’ 22-17 win over the New York Jets … For the season, has totaled 28 tackles, 1 for loss and 1 fumble recovery in eight contests with two starts.
Cesar Ruiz (2017-19), OL, New Orleans Saints
Started and played every offensive snap in the 3-5 Saints’ 24-0 drubbing of the Las Vegas Raiders … His 74.2 overall PFF Grade ranked third on the team for the game, and his 82.2 pass-blocking mark slotted second … Did not allow a pressure … Has a 62.5 overall rating with 5 pressures and 2 sacks given up while starting all eight games this year.
Jon Runyan (2015-19), OL, Green Bay Packers
Started and played every offensive snap at right guard in the 3-5 Packers’ 27-17 loss to the Buffalo Bills Sunday evening … His 47.9 overall PFF grade ranked last on the offense, after giving up 2 pressures … Has yielded just 6 pressures and 1 sack this season, starting all eight games.
Ambry Thomas (2017-19), CB, San Francisco 49ers
Notched 1 tackle in the 4-4 49ers’ 31-14 triumph over the Los Angeles Rams … Has tallied 6 tackles in eight appearances this season.
Josh Uche (2016-19), LB, New England Patriots
Notched 2 tackles, 1 sack, 1 tackle for loss and 1 quarterback hit in the 4-4 Patriots’ 22-17 win over the New York Jets … Marked his fourth career sack … His 4 pressures ranked third on the team for the game … Has 5 tackles, 1 tackle for loss, 1 sack and 1 quarterback hit in six appearances for the season.
Chris Wormley (2012-16), DE, Pittsburgh Steelers
Made his first start of the season but did not record any statistics in the 2-6 Steelers’ 35-13 blowout loss to the Philadelphia Eagles … Has recorded 18 tackles, including 3 for loss, in eight games with one start this year.
Injured reserve
The following are Michigan football players who are currently on teams but listed as on the injured reserve:
• Titans OL Taylor Lewan
• Patriots K Quinn Nordin
• Patriots OL Andrew Stueber
• Cowboys TE Ian Bunting
• Ravens OLB David Ojabo
• Ravens LB Josh Ross
• Falcons OL Jalen Mayfield
• Browns DE Chase Winovich
Practice squad
The following are former Michigan players on NFL practice squads:
• WR Daylen Baldwin — Browns
• DE Taco Charlton — Saints
• CB Vincent Gray — Sainrts
• DB Brad Hawkins — Patriots
• LB Khaleke Hudson — Commanders
• LB Carlo Kemp — Chargers
