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Wolverines in the NFL: Aidan Hutchinson leads rookies in sacks after big performance

clayton-sayfieby:Clayton Sayfie•10/25/22•

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(Photo by Cooper Neill/Getty Images)

Former Michigan Wolverines football edge rusher Aidan Hutchinson, fresh off a monster performance, leads NFL rookies with 4.5 sacks. He’s second among first-year players with 19 pressures, according to Pro Football Focus (PFF), just one behind Kansas City defensive end George Karlaftis, who’s played in seven games compared to Hutchinson’s six.

Hutchinson posted 1.5 sacks in the Detroit Lions’ 24-6 loss to the Dallas Cowboys — one to help his team force a three-and-out on the first drive in the game and another on third down in the third quarter with the Lions down only four points. His second quarterback takedown was on a spin move that beat Cowboys right tackle Terence Steele and led to a punt.

His 4.5 sacks tie Ndamukong Suh for the second-most sacks a Lions player has had through six career games. His two multi-sack games are tied as the second-most by a Lions rookie in franchise history.

Just seven rookies have multiple sacks so far this season. Only one other — San Francisco’s Drake Jackson — has more than 2, with 3.

Hutchinson’s big game came on the heels of Detroit moving him to play more on the open side end as a stand-up rusher, which he did last season at Michigan. He credits that tweak as a reason for the success.

“I felt like I was really back,” Hutchinson said on FOX 2. “I felt like they had given me some more leeway and giving me more leeway to stand up and be able to use my instincts more. I was very comfortable — I felt like this was my best game yet from a technical standpoint.

“To be able to stand up and kind of use my instincts, all the film that I’ve watched, I think that’s a big thing for me to have, and I think them giving me the option to do it now is awesome.”

Here’s a look at how every former Michigan player in in the NFL performed in Week 7:

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Tom Brady (Played at Michigan from 1995-99), QB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Started and completed 32 of his 49 pass attempts for 290 yards with no touchdowns and was sacked once in the 3-4 Buccaneers’ 21-3 loss to the Carolina Panthers after being favored by nearly 2 touchdowns … Rushed once for 1 yard … Has connected on 66.9 percent of his passes for 1,942 yards and 8 touchdowns with 1 interception for the season … The Buccaneers rank 26th in the NFL in scoring offense with 17.7 points per game.

Ben Bredeson (2016-19), OL, New York Giants

Started at left guard but played in just 16 offensive snaps and one special teams play in the 6-1 Giants’ 23-17 victory over the Jacksonville Jaguars, before leaving the game with a knee injury … Head coach Brian Daboll called Bredeson “week to week” during his Monday media availability … 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

Started and registered 6 tackles, including 1 behind the line of scrimmage, and 1 pass breakup in the 2-5 Steelers’ 16-10 loss to the Miami Dolphins Sunday night … Has totaled 42 tackles, 1 for loss, 1 quarterback hit and 1 pass breakup while starting all seven games this year.

Camaron Cheeseman (2016-19), LS, Washington Commanders

Snapped 11 times in the 3-4 Commanders’ 23-21 win over the Green Bay Packers … Has played in all seven contests.

Frank Clark (2011-14), DE, Kansas City Chiefs

Opened the game and notched 2 tackles, including 1 for loss, 2 quarterback hits, 1 safety and 4 pressures in the 5-2 Chiefs’ 44-23 blowout win over the San Francisco 49ers … His 16 pressures for the season rank third on the team … Has started all 7 outings with 15 tackles, including 4 for loss and 3 sacks, 7 quarterback hits and 1 safety.

Mason Cole (2014-17), OL, Pittsburgh Steelers

Started at center and played every offensive snap in the 2-5 Steelers’ 16-10 loss to the Miami Dolphins Sunday night … Allowed 3 pressures and no sacks … Has opened all seven games so far this season, with a 65.4 overall PFF rating and 11 pressures and 1 sack given up.

Nico Collins (2017-19), WR, Houston Texans

Started and hauled in 3 receptions for 33 yards in the 1-4-1 Texans’ 38-20 loss to the Las Vegas Raiders … 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

Held out of his team’s 44-23 win over the San Francisco 49ers with a calf injury that forced him to miss three games earlier in the season … Has made 2 tackles and 1 quarterback hit in three contests.

Chris Evans (2016-20), RB, Cincinnati Bengals

Returned 2 kicks for 31 yards in the 4-3 Bengals’ 35-17 win over the Atlanta Falcons … Has posted 1 reception for 4 yards and brought back 6 kicks for 133 yards on the season.

Rashan Gary (2016-18), LB, Green Bay Packers

The former Michigan defensive end notched 2 tackles and 3 quarterback hits in the 3-4 Packers’ 23-21 loss to the Washington Commanders … Generated pressure on a Packers’ pick-six, one of his 6 pressures on the day … Also had a strip sack called back due to a penalty … Posted an 89.4 PFF pass-rush grade that led the team … Has started all seven games, totaling 28 tackles, including 7 for loss and 6 sacks, 10 quarterback hits, 1 forced fumble and 1 fumble recovery this season … His 83.9 overall PFF grade leads the Packers defense, as do his 28 pressures (which ranked tied for eighth in the league among edge rushers) … Has a 19.3 pressure rate in true pass sets, which ranks first in the NFL among edge rushers.

Zach Gentry (2015-18), TE, Pittsburgh Steelers

The former Michigan tight end started his fifth game of the season in the 2-5 Steelers’ 16-10 setback to the Miami Dolphins and made 2 receptions for no yards … Has played in all seven contests, with 11 catches for 89 yards.

Graham Glasgow (2011-15), OL, Denver Broncos

Played three special teams snaps in the 2-5 Broncos’ 16-9 loss to the New York Jets … Has opened four of seven games this season but lost his starting job after Week 4 … Has a 59.7 overall PFF grade with 7 pressures and 1 sack allowed.

Brandon Graham (2006-09), DE, Philadelphia Eagles

Team had a bye over the weekend … Has racked up 3 sacks to go along with 15 tackles and 7 quarterback hits on the year for the 6-0 Eagles, the NFL’s last remaining undefeated team and the favorite in the NFC … His 90.0 overall PFF grade leads the Philadelphia defense, and his 85.0 pass-rush rating ranks third on the unit.

Hassan Haskins (2018-21), RB, Tennessee Titans

Hauled in 1 reception for 5 yards, returned 2 kicks for 45 yards and made 1 special teams tackle in the 4-2 Titans’ 19-10 win over the Indianapolis Colts … Has rushed 9 times for 37 yards, made 2 catches for 5 yards and returned 9 kicks for 219 yards this season.

Chad Henne (2004-07), QB, Kansas City Chiefs

The former Michigan quarterback saw six snaps, including three kneel-downs, in the 5-2 Chiefs’ 44-23 victory over the San Francisco 49ers … That marked his second garbage-time appearance of the season.

Dax Hill (2019-21), S, Cincinnati Bengals

Saw two defensive snaps and 16 special teams plays in the 4-3 Bengals’ 35-17 win over the Atlanta Falcons … Has totaled 1 tackle in seven games with one start for the year.

Aidan Hutchinson (2018-21), DL, Detroit Lions

Registered 1.5 sacks and 1 tackle for loss to go along with 3 tackles, 3 quarterback hits and 4 pressures in the 1-5 Lions’ 24-6 loss to the Dallas Cowboys … Marked his second game with more than 1 sack (3 sacks versus Washington in Week 2) … He leads NFL rookies with 4.5 sacks for the season and ranks second among that same group with 19 pressures, 1 behind Kansas City’s George Karlaftis, who has 20 but in one more game than Hutchinson … For the season, has totaled 17 tackles, including 3 for loss and 4.5 sacks, and 9 quarterback hits while starting all six outings.

Jourdan Lewis (2013-16), CB, Dallas Cowboys

Made 3 tackles and a fourth-quarter interception with his team up just four points in the 5-2 Cowboys’ 24-6 victory over the Detroit Lions … On his pick, he suffered a season-ending knee injury … For the year, he totaled 26 tackles, 1 sack, 1 pass breakup and 1 interception.

David Long Jr. (2016-18), CB, Los Angeles Rams

Team had a bye over the weekend …  Has made three appearances with one start this season, tallying 8 tackles for the 3-3 Rams.

Sean McKeon (2016-19), TE, Dallas Cowboys

Saw limited time on offense (two snaps) and 16 special teams plays in the 5-2 Cowboys’ 24-6 win over the Detroit Lions … Has made 1 reception on the season.

Josh Metellus (2016-19), S, Minnesota Vikings

Team had a bye over the weekend … Played in six outings with one start (the first of his career) against Detroit in Week 3 … Notched the game-sealing interception to beat the Lions … Has added 20 tackles and 2 pass breakups on the year for the 5-1 Vikings.

Bryan Mone (2014-18), DT, Seattle Seahawks

Played off the bench but didn’t record any statistics in the 4-3 Seahawks’ 37-23 win over the Los Angeles Chargers … Has tallied 16 tackles, 1 stop for loss and 1 quarterback hit in seven games with two starts.

Michael Onwenu (2016-19), OL, New England Patriots

Started and played every offensive snap in the 3-4 Patriots’ 33-14 loss to the Chicago Bears Monday night … Posted a 70.0 overall PFF rating with 1 pressure given up … His 82.2 overall PFF grade for the season ranks second on the Patriots’ offense, and he’s yielded just 3 pressures and no sacks.

Kwity Paye (2017-19), DE, Indianapolis Colts

Suffered an ankle injury in Week 5, which has forced him to miss the last two 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

The former Michigan wideout started and made 6 receptions for 71 yards, including a 37-yarder on third-and-five in the fourth quarter … He’s started five of seven games this season with 26 catches for 336 yards (third on team in both categories).

Jabrill Peppers (2014-16), S, New England Patriots

Made 6 tackles while coming off the bench in the 3-4 Patriots’ 33-14 loss to the Chicago Bears Monday evening … Has tallied 20 stops and 1 fumble recovery with one start in seven appearances for the year.

Cesar Ruiz (2017-19), OL, New Orleans Saints

The former Michigan offensive lineman has started every game and played 100 percent of the 2-5 Saints’ offensive snaps at right guard this season, including in this past weekend’s 42-34 loss to the Arizona Cardinals … He had a 58.4 overall PFF grade with 1 pressure allowed in the setback … Has posted a 59.6 overall PFF rating for the season with 5 pressures and 2 sacks given up.

Jon Runyan (2015-19), OL, Green Bay Packers

Started and played every offensive snap in the 3-4 Packers’ third-straight loss, a 23-21 setback to the Washington Commanders … Had a 64.3 overall PFF grade with no pressures given up for the day … Has yielded only 4 pressures and 1 sack this season.

Ambry Thomas (2017-19), CB, San Francisco 49ers

Registered 1 tackle while coming off the bench in the 3-4 49ers’ 44-23 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs … For the season, has totaled 5 tackles.

Josh Uche (2016-19), LB, New England Patriots

Missed his second straight game with a hamstring injury … Has registered 3 tackles while appearing in five of seven games for the 3-4 Patriots.

Chris Wormley (2012-16), DE, Pittsburgh Steelers

Notched 1 tackle in the 2-5 Steelers’ 16-10 loss to the Miami Dolphins Sunday night … Has recorded 18 tackles in seven games off the bench 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

• LB Cameron McGrone — Patriots

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