Michigan State Professional Athletes

Michigan State's NFL alumni had one of their finest weeks in recent memory, with two former Spartans making headlines on opposite ends of the country — and delivering moments that went well beyond the box score.

Kenneth Walker III: Born-Again Chief

The big story belonged to Kenneth Walker III, and it wasn't close. In his first game as a Kansas City Chief — a 31-10 dismantling of the Denver Broncos on Monday Night Football — the former Spartan back turned in one of the most memorable debut performances the Chiefs franchise has seen in years.

Walker finished with 173 rushing yards and a rushing touchdown on 23 carries, adding three catches for 18 yards and a receiving score — 191 scrimmage yards and two touchdowns in total. Kansas City never trailed and closed the game on a 24-3 run, with Walker as the engine.

The performance earned him AFC Offensive Player of the Week honors, a Topps NOW card, and the immediate adoration of a fan base still learning his name. Walker, who arrived in Kansas City after winning Super Bowl MVP honors with the Seattle Seahawks, credited the Chiefs' offensive line and Patrick Mahomes for opening things up — but it was the running back who did the damage.

It didn't come entirely without cost. Walker was fined $8,000 by the NFL for throwing the ball into the stands after one of his touchdowns — a price he almost certainly paid with a smile.

For Seahawks fans watching from afar, the debut landed differently. Seattle declined to re-sign Walker in free agency, and his first game in Kansas City immediately sparked questions about whether the franchise had made a costly mistake.

Kirk Cousins: History in the Desert

The other Spartan storyline played out in Las Vegas, where Kirk Cousins made his Raiders debut in a 27-13 win over the Miami Dolphins. The surface numbers were mixed — 160 passing yards, three touchdowns, and two interceptions — but buried inside the stat sheet was a milestone: Cousins passed an NFL legend in a prestigious all-time statistical category, adding another line to a career that has quietly built one of the sport's more underrated resumes.

The Raiders got the win, but analysts were quick to note that Cousins will need to clean up his decision-making if Las Vegas is going to make a run. With tight end Brock Bowers listed as doubtful for Week 2, the margin for error narrows further. Fellow Spartan and Raiders wideout Jalen Nailor chipped in three catches for 27 yards in the victory.

The Rest of the Spartan Roll Call

Elsewhere around the league, Jayden Reed caught three passes for 20 yards in Green Bay's 39-22 loss to Minnesota — a quiet afternoon for the Packers receiver in what was a rough day for the offense overall. Bryce Baringer remained sidelined for New England, with the Patriots elevating a veteran replacement punter ahead of their Week 2 home opener against Pittsburgh.

Week 1 belonged to Walker. But for Michigan State alumni watching across the league, it was a week that delivered noise on multiple fronts — and a reminder that East Lansing sends players to Sundays who know how to make an entrance.

East Lansing's Finest, Silver and Black Edition

Michigan State has sent a lot of players to the NFL. It has never, in program history, owned an entire team's quarterback depth chart — until now.

Kirk Cousins enters the 2026 season as the Las Vegas Raiders' unquestioned QB1, with fellow Spartan Fernando Mendoza — the No. 1 overall pick and reigning Heisman Trophy winner — locked in behind him as QB2. Head coach Klint Kubiak made it official Wednesday, confirming Mendoza's spot on the depth chart and closing the door on any preseason drama over the backup role. Two Michigan State quarterbacks, one depth chart. The East Lansing pipeline has never looked quite like this.

Cousins arrives in Las Vegas carrying a career Week 1 passer rating of 92.5 across ten season-opening starts — solid numbers that nonetheless come with some cautionary footnotes, including nine interceptions in those outings. The Raiders face the Miami Dolphins in their opener, and they'll do it without standout tight end Brock Bowers, who is expected to miss the game — and possibly more — following knee surgery. That's a significant blow to a new-look offense still finding its footing under Kubiak. On the upside, Cousins told reporters that minority team owner Tom Brady has been an "unbelievable" resource for the Raiders' quarterbacks heading into the season, describing Brady as "very available" throughout camp.

Mendoza, for his part, isn't bristling at the arrangement. Days before his first NFL game — even in a backup role — the rookie said it "feels great" to be learning behind Cousins. Cousins returned the sentiment, telling reporters that Mendoza's development is progressing and that a starting opportunity is "just a matter of time." Whether that timeline is measured in weeks or months will be one of the most-watched storylines of the early NFL season.

Also suiting up in the Silver and Black: wide receiver Jalen Nailor, wide receiver Cody White, tight end Connor Heyward, and veteran quarterback Brian Hoyer, making the Raiders something of an unofficial Michigan State alumni chapter in the Nevada desert.

Bachie Back in the D

While the Raiders' Spartan story dominates the marquee, a quieter but meaningful development unfolded in Detroit. The Lions signed linebacker Joe Bachie to their active roster ahead of their Week 1 opener against the Saints, reuniting the team with a player who has appeared in 66 NFL games. Head coach Dan Campbell's decision to elevate Bachie in a pre-opener roster shakeup signals the Lions viewed him as ready-to-play depth at a position group where they needed reinforcement.

Bachie's return to Detroit — a franchise with strong Michigan ties — gives Spartan fans another reason to tune into the NFC North.

The Bigger Picture

Three Michigan State alumni in notable Week 1 roster spots, two of them controlling the most important position in football for the same franchise. Cousins, Mendoza, and Bachie represent the breadth of what head coach Jonathan Smith's program has built over the years: proven veterans commanding starting roles, blue-chip rookies being developed patiently, and experienced depth pieces earning active-roster spots on playoff-caliber rosters.

The Raiders' Spartan quarterback tandem alone is a story unlike anything the school has produced before. How long Cousins holds the job — and how smoothly Mendoza eventually takes it — will define MSU's NFL chapter for years to come.

The Spartan in the Room

The story of Michigan State's NFL week has one unmistakable headline: Fernando Mendoza, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft and reigning Heisman Trophy winner, will not start Week 1.

Raiders head coach Klint Kubiak officially named veteran Kirk Cousins — himself a Michigan State alum — as Las Vegas' QB1 for the season opener against the Miami Dolphins, confirming what had been widely anticipated but still stings for anyone expecting Mendoza to rewrite history from day one. The decision makes Mendoza the first No. 1 overall quarterback since Baker Mayfield to be held off the field in Week 1, snapping a six-year streak of top picks starting immediately.

Kubiak broke his silence on the move, framing it as a developmental decision — giving Mendoza time to absorb the NFL game without the pressure of an immediate baptism by fire. That rationale has drawn a range of reactions. Rich Gannon offered a blunt endorsement of the call, while Jon Gruden weighed in with his own measured take, both essentially landing in the same place: let the kid learn before you let him loose.

For Cousins, it's vindication — at least for now. The former Vikings starter spent last season in Atlanta, logging 302 pass snaps and putting together enough on tape to convince Las Vegas he could bridge the gap. He'll take snaps behind center on September 13 with Mendoza watching from the sideline. The question isn't whether Mendoza will eventually take over; it's how long Cousins can hold the door shut.

Also benefiting from Cousins' elevation: Spartan teammates already on the Raiders' roster. Wide receiver Jalen Nailor, tight end Connor Heyward, and wide receiver Cody White are all positioned to factor into the offense, with analysts flagging Cousins' comfort with experienced targets as a reason those players could see early volume.

Baringer Down in New England

Away from Las Vegas, there's a quieter but meaningful setback in Foxborough. Patriots punter Bryce Baringer — one of the best at his position in the league — has been placed on injured reserve ahead of the season. He'll be eligible to return in Week 5, meaning New England will have to manage the first month without one of the few truly elite legs in the game.

Reed Building Chemistry in Green Bay

On a lighter note, Packers wide receiver Jayden Reed has been vocal about the bond developing in Green Bay's receiver room ahead of Week 1. Reed, working on a $50 million contract, revealed that the group has made its biggest strides off the field — a dinner tradition among wideouts emerging as a team-building staple during camp. It's a small detail, but receiver cohesion translates directly to timing routes, and Reed's buy-in as a culture driver matters in a room still finding its identity.

The Bigger Picture

Between Cousins holding the line in Las Vegas, Mendoza biding his time, Baringer sidelined in New England, and Reed knitting Green Bay's offense together, Michigan State's NFL footprint in Week 1 is anything but quiet. The Mendoza storyline alone carries enough weight to last the entire season — every Cousins stumble will be measured against the rookie waiting in the wings.

Michigan State alumni are everywhere in the NFL this week — and not all for comfortable reasons. Four Spartans generated significant headlines entering the 2026 regular season, ranging from a quarterback controversy settled in veteran favor to a punter's potentially season-ending injury.

Cousins Wins the Room in Las Vegas

Kirk Cousins, 38, is expected to be the Las Vegas Raiders' Week 1 starter over No. 1 overall pick Fernando Mendoza — and the preseason finale against the 49ers only reinforced why. Cousins played two series, led the first-team offense to a pair of field goals, and was described by ESPN's Jeremy Fowler as the clear consensus choice league-wide. Head coach Klint Kubiak still declined to make an official announcement postgame, but as CBS Sports noted, it has been "Cousins' job to lose" throughout camp.

Mendoza, meanwhile, had an inconsistent final audition. The rookie struggled in relief of Cousins against San Francisco, finishing the preseason with shaky command that has dampened early expectations. Adding to the bad news: Mendoza reportedly landed in Kubiak's doghouse entering the week, per The Sporting News. The former top pick will begin his NFL career as a backup — a humbling but not uncommon start for young quarterbacks.

Fellow Spartan Connor Heyward is also in Las Vegas this season, and he's been featured prominently in Kubiak's preseason offensive scheme as a lead-blocking hybrid out of the backfield — an early sign that Kubiak values the fullback-TE hybrid role Heyward has long filled.

Walker's Ankle Raises Flags in Kansas City

Kenneth Walker III arrived in Kansas City this offseason with significant expectations as a key piece of the Chiefs' backfield — but training camp has hit a snag. Walker missed two consecutive days of practice due to an ankle injury, with head coach Andy Reid attributing the issue to a shoe problem. Reid's characterization suggests the underlying concern may be mechanical rather than structural, but the absence of a featured back in late August is always a reason for pause. Walker's health heading into Week 1 will be worth monitoring closely.

Baringer's Injury Clouds Patriots' Season Before It Starts

The most alarming Spartan news of the week comes out of New England. Punter Bryce Baringer suffered an injury serious enough that the Patriots are actively planning to sign a replacement, according to both Pro Football Talk and Boston.com. The team has not disclosed the nature of the injury, but the urgency to add another punter to the roster signals that Baringer's availability for the start — or potentially more — of the 2026 season is in serious doubt. Baringer had established himself as one of the better punters in the league entering the year, making this a genuine blow for a Patriots team already in rebuilding mode.

Elsewhere Around the League

MSU offensive tackle AJ Arcuri earned a positive PFF grade in the Rams' preseason finale, drawing notice in the team's closing auditions. And in Buffalo, fullback Ben VanSumeren's role is under the microscope — Yahoo Sports examined whether the Bills are truly committed to him at the position heading into the regular season.

For Spartan fans, it's a week of highs and lows: a 38-year-old proving he's still got it in the desert, a promising back nursing a training camp scare in Kansas City, and a punter whose 2026 season may already be in jeopardy in New England.