Holy Cross Professional Athletes

Holy Cross Alumni NFL Roundup: Week of Sept. 20–26, 2026

Coker's Hot Start Meets Its First Test

Jalen Coker is doing something no undrafted wide receiver is supposed to do in the modern NFL — make history through two weeks and force a team to build around him. The Holy Cross product has been nothing short of a revelation for the Carolina Panthers in 2026, helping power an offense that has combined for 71 points over its first two games. His Week 1 performance included two touchdowns — one a 51-yarder — and the Panthers responded by cutting a receiver and expanding Coker's role in Week 2. He rewarded that trust with 8 receptions for 66 yards in Carolina's 34-3 blowout of Atlanta, a performance that kept him near the top of the team's young player power rankings alongside first-round picks Tetairoa McMillan and Monroe Freeling.

The history angle is real: per Heavy Sports, Coker's production through two weeks puts him in company with just two other players in NFL lore — a striking achievement for a player who went undrafted out of Worcester, Massachusetts.

Now comes the hard part. Coker did not practice Thursday and was listed as questionable for Week 3 in Cleveland, one of two Panthers weapons added to the DNP list as injury concerns mounted following the Atlanta win. The Panthers already have Devin Lloyd confirmed out, and Coker's status is now the most pressing offensive question heading into Sunday. Whether the injury is serious enough to cost him a game — or more — should become clearer by the weekend's final injury report.

Even fantasy managers are paying attention: Coker appeared in multiple start/sit discussions heading into Weeks 2 and 3, a notable marker for an undrafted player in just his third NFL season.

Whitley Signs On — Right at Home

While Coker battles to stay on the field, fellow Holy Cross alum Benton Whitley is just trying to get back on one. The Springfield, Massachusetts native — a three-time All-Conference pass rusher for the Crusaders — signed with the New England Patriots' practice squad on Sept. 23, joining a team in dire need of edge depth due to injuries along their defensive front.

Whitley's signing came the same day the Patriots worked out Quinton Bell, a veteran edge defender with an unusual athletic background. New England ultimately chose Whitley, bringing the Massachusetts native back to his home state. It's a practice squad role for now, but with the Patriots' edge situation thin, the door to an active roster elevation isn't closed.

Around the Rest of the Roster

Kalif Raymond, the other Holy Cross receiver currently active in the league, had a quiet but functional Week 2 for the Chicago Bears — 5 catches for 40 yards in a loss to Minnesota. Raymond remains a depth option in Chicago's passing game. Liam Anderson and the Dolphins dropped a 13-35 decision to San Francisco on Sunday, though no individual stats were available for the Holy Cross linebacker.

The bigger story remains Coker. An undrafted receiver making NFL history for a suddenly explosive Panthers offense is the kind of arc that doesn't come along often — and Holy Cross fans will be watching his injury status very closely before Sunday's kickoff in Cleveland.

Two Crusaders, One Game, Both Stars

Holy Cross produced one of the more remarkable alumni moments of NFL Week 1: two Crusaders facing each other on the same field — and both walking away as their team's top receiver.

Jalen Coker Becomes Carolina's WR1 Overnight

Nobody saw this coming quite so fast. Jalen Coker — the Holy Cross product who entered Week 1 rostered in just over 50% of ESPN fantasy leagues — turned in one of the most electric breakout performances of the opening weekend, hauling in 8 catches for 138 yards and 2 touchdowns in the Panthers' 37-59 loss to the Chicago Bears.

The stat line alone demands attention, but it was the manner of the performance that had Panthers fans and fantasy managers scrambling. Coker, not previously regarded as a deep-ball threat, exploited Chicago's secondary down the sideline in the first half — Bryce Young dropped back, looked left, and let it fly, finding his new WR1 in stride. By final whistle, Coker had cemented himself as the unquestioned top target in Carolina's offense.

The celebration was short-lived, however. Coker was spotted in a walking boot following the game, sending fantasy waiver wires into a frenzy for all the wrong reasons. The Panthers' injury report listed him as limited in practice throughout the week, and his status heading into Week 2 against the Falcons drew legitimate concern. The good news: head coach Dave Canales said the expectation is Coker will play, and Coker himself expressed confidence he won't miss time with the ankle issue. By Friday's final practice report, the news had improved enough to provide cautious optimism.

Still, the bigger picture is impossible to ignore. Carolina put up 37 points in Week 1 — even in a loss — and with a defense that surrendered 59, the Panthers are going to be throwing the ball. A lot. That makes Coker's role not just a one-week story, but a genuine 2026 season narrative.

Kalif Raymond Makes Bears Look Very Smart

On the other sideline, 32-year-old Kalif Raymond gave Chicago's front office a self-congratulatory moment. After the Bears traded DJ Moore in the offseason, questions lingered about where the pass-catching depth would come from. Raymond answered emphatically, leading Chicago in receiving with 8 catches for 84 yards in the Bears' dominant 59-37 victory.

For a player at his age and career stage, leading a Ben Johnson-coached offense in receiving in a blowout win is no small thing. The performance has already sparked conversation about whether Raymond can sustain a genuine role in Chicago's passing attack — and the early returns suggest the Bears may have gotten considerably more than they bargained for when they brought him in.

The Bottom Line

Week 1 was a statement week for Holy Cross in the NFL. Coker is the hotter name — his ankle bears monitoring, but his production and opportunity in Carolina are real. Raymond, meanwhile, has quietly positioned himself as a legitimate contributor on a Bears offense built to win now. Two Crusaders, one marquee matchup, both delivering. Worcester should be paying attention.