Boston College Professional Athletes

Baltimore's quarterback room imploded in a matter of days, and Boston College's most prominent NFL name is caught squarely in the fallout.

Flowers Caught in Baltimore's QB Chaos

Zay Flowers had already endured a rough Week 8 before things got truly chaotic. The Ravens' WR was held to zero receiving yards against the Buffalo Bills on November 1 — a game Baltimore lost 36-10 — as the offense stalled well before disaster struck. During that contest, both Lamar Jackson and backup Tyler Huntley went down with injuries, forcing rookie Joe Fagnano into the starting role and sending the fantasy football world into a panic.

The Ravens responded quickly. Baltimore acquired Jacoby Brissett in a trade, handing the offense a veteran bridge option and giving Flowers at least a credible arm to work with. Fantasy analysts offered cautious optimism: Brissett has historically leaned on his receivers in a way that Fagnano simply can't, and Flowers — as the clear WR1 on the depth chart — stands to absorb a large volume of targets.

The on-field results came slowly. In Baltimore's Thursday night matchup against Jacksonville on November 5, Flowers turned three receptions into just six receiving yards, though he added 17 rushing yards to give him a modest all-purpose contribution. The Ravens lost 33-10, leaving little doubt that the offense remains a shell of itself without Jackson under center.

The fantasy community remains divided on Flowers heading into Week 9. Multiple start/sit analyses frame him as a volatile but high-upside play — volume should be there in a Brissett-led offense that needs to stay on schedule, but the upside is capped until Baltimore's QB situation stabilizes.

Trapilo Eyes Starting Role in Chicago

On the other side of the roster ledger, Bears offensive tackle Ozzy Trapilo may be approaching a genuine opportunity. Chicago announced plans to elevate Trapilo amid a left tackle injury situation heading into their Week 9 matchup against Tampa Bay, according to Heavy Sports. Injuries along the Bears' offensive line have reshuffled the depth chart, and Trapilo — a 2024 draft pick out of Boston College — could see his first extended action as a starter.

For Bears fans who watched Trapilo develop at BC, this is the moment they've been waiting for. The 6-foot-8 tackle has the size and length that NFL teams covet; whether he can handle the assignment against Tampa's defensive front will be an early proving ground.

The Rest of the Eagles

Zach Allen drew an active designation for Denver's Week 8 win over Kansas City (28-24 on November 1), though no individual stats were recorded. The Broncos' defensive end has been a rotational contributor this season. Fellow Eagle Donovan Ezeiruaku logged a sack for the Cowboys in their 30-33 loss to Arizona on the same day — a bright spot in an otherwise deflating defeat for Dallas.

The Ravens' storyline is the one that will follow Boston College alumni through November. Flowers is talented enough to produce even under duress, but how long Baltimore leans on Brissett — and how quickly Jackson recovers — will define the back half of his season.

Zay Flowers is making a case that Boston College produces elite NFL wide receivers. The Ravens wideout is the most compelling Eagles alumni storyline in the league right now — and he plays for Baltimore.

Through seven weeks of the 2026 season, Flowers has put together the kind of numbers that land a player in All-Pro conversations. His Week 7 performance against the Bengals — 8 catches, 137 yards, and a touchdown — was his third 100-yard game of the season, and it came with signature flair: a 48-yard screen pass reception that Flowers turned into a house call, giving Baltimore an early 7-0 lead. Baltimore lost 35-13, but no one was throwing shade at Flowers' individual effort.

Now the real test arrives.

The Biggest Stage Yet

The Ravens head into Week 8 against the Buffalo Bills in what figures to be one of the marquee AFC matchups of the season. Per Sports Illustrated, containing Flowers is one of the four defining chess matches Buffalo's defense must win to come out on top. That's the kind of pre-game billing that separates good receivers from elite ones — when opponents are game-planning around you.

Adding to the intrigue: quarterback Lamar Jackson was a full participant at Wednesday's practice after an injury scare, and Flowers didn't shy away from the confidence question. "You know Lamar, he wants to play," Flowers told reporters, per Pro Football Talk. Jackson's availability — should it hold through Sunday — means Buffalo faces the full, unencumbered Ravens passing attack. CBS Sports oddsmakers are already targeting Flowers as an anytime touchdown scorer worth backing in the props market.

The Rest of the BC Board

It wasn't all good news for Eagles alumni around the league this week. AJ Dillon, now in his third NFL stop with the Carolina Panthers, didn't suit up against the Packers — inactive again after also sitting out Week 6 against the Eagles in what would have been a revenge-game opportunity. The former workhorse back is stuck in a frustrating holding pattern in Carolina.

In Dallas, Donovan Ezeiruaku continued to flash the pass-rushing upside that made him a Cowboys draft pick, logging a sack in Monday's 38-21 loss to the Eagles. Small silver lining in a rough night for Dallas.

And in Denver, Zach Allen is trending in the right direction after a hamstring scare in the Broncos' Week 7 win over Arizona. The defensive lineman was limited at practice Wednesday and Thursday but told reporters he'd be fine — and was back on the field, which counts for something heading into a tough matchup with Kansas City.

Bottom Line

For BC fans, the name to watch Sunday is the one everyone in the AFC already knows. Flowers has turned himself into a genuine difference-maker and one of the more difficult receivers in the league to scheme against. If he goes off against a Buffalo secondary with legitimate playoff aspirations, the All-Pro conversation stops being a conversation and starts being a formality.

Boston College put multiple alumni in the NFL spotlight during Week 6, with storylines ranging from a hard-fought comeback to a stunning demotion to a quietly productive night in a rivalry loss.

Trapilo's Return Hits Different

The most emotionally resonant story of the week for Bears fans belonged to offensive tackle Ozzy Trapilo, who made his 2026 debut against Atlanta after recovering from a ruptured patellar tendon. The injury had kept the second-year lineman sidelined into the season, making his return a milestone moment for both the player and the Chicago offensive line. Trapilo spoke publicly after the game, offering rare transparency about the mental and physical grind of coming back from one of football's most dreaded lower-body injuries. It was a feel-good moment in an otherwise turbulent Bears season, and one of the more human stories of the NFL week.

Ezeiruaku Blindsided by Cowboys Demotion

Less feel-good: Donovan Ezeiruaku was benched. The Cowboys made a surprise lineup change in Week 6, demoting the BC linebacker in favor of Malachi Lawrence — a move that caught most observers off guard. Dallas lost to Green Bay 13-23, so the shake-up didn't yield the intended results. Ezeiruaku's demotion raises real questions about his standing in the Cowboys' defensive rotation, and it's a development BC fans will want to monitor closely as the season progresses.

McDuffie Steps Up for the Packers

On the winning side of that same Cowboys-Packers game, fellow BC linebacker Isaiah McDuffie found himself thrust into a starting role after Zaire Franklin was ruled out with an injury. The Packers leaned on McDuffie and Ty'Ron Hopper to anchor their linebacker corps in a critical NFC North matchup — and Green Bay delivered, handing Dallas that 23-13 defeat. It was a meaningful opportunity for McDuffie, a veteran presence who has spent his career waiting for exactly these kinds of moments.

Flowers Fights, But Ravens Fall Short

Zay Flowers did his part in Baltimore's Week 6 AFC North clash with Cleveland, hauling in 6 receptions for 66 yards in a game the Ravens ultimately lost 10-13. With Lamar Jackson sidelined, the Ravens needed their pass catchers to carry extra weight — and Flowers showed up as one of the more reliable options. The loss stings in the context of a tight division race, but Flowers' day was a reminder of what he brings as a weapon even when the offense around him is compromised.

Also in Baltimore's orbit: guard Kyle Hergel was elevated to the game-day roster for the Browns matchup, adding depth to an offensive line managing its own personnel challenges.

Zach Allen Gets Reflective Ahead of Week 7

Finally, Broncos defensive end Zach Allen made news off the field, crediting former Cardinals and current Broncos defensive coordinator Vance Joseph as a key figure in his NFL development. Allen's comments came ahead of Denver's Week 7 trip to Arizona — a homecoming of sorts — and offered a window into how his tenure in the desert shaped him into the player he is today.

Week 6 was a week of contrasts for the BC alumni network: resilience in Chicago, turbulence in Dallas, opportunity in Green Bay, and steady production in Baltimore.