Michigan Professional Athletes

Michigan's Week 1–2 NFL Report

The Wolverines had plenty to watch across the NFL this week — a star receiver's injury saga dominating the headlines, a pass rusher announcing himself in a new city, and scattered contributions from a deep alumni corps.

Collins: The High and the Halt

Nico Collins looked like the best wide receiver on the field in Week 1. The Houston Texans' No. 1 wideout hauled in 7 catches for 75 yards and a touchdown in a 36–31 loss to the Bills — a signature performance that immediately validated his status as C.J. Stroud's top target heading into 2026.

Then came practice on Wednesday.

Collins suffered a hamstring injury and was ruled out for Week 2 against the Bengals. Worse, reports quickly surfaced that the injury could sideline him for multiple games — a brutal timeline for a Texans offense already working without margin for error. Houston responded by signing a veteran receiver and activating rookie Lewis Bond to fill the roster spot, but neither move approximates what Collins brings to the offense. He even clapped back at a fan on social media who questioned his durability, a sign of the frustration surrounding a week that started with a highlight reel and ended with an injury report.

The Texans will manage. Collins' absence, however, is a genuine problem.

Paye Puts Las Vegas on Notice

While Collins was dealing with the injury fallout, Kwity Paye was making one of the loudest statements of any Michigan alum in Week 1. In his Las Vegas Raiders debut, the edge rusher recorded 2 sacks against the Miami Dolphins, helping Las Vegas to a 27–13 win. As a free agent signing, Paye arrived with questions about his fit and health history — he answered both immediately.

Hutchinson, Loveland, and the Rest

Aidan Hutchinson continues to be Michigan's most impactful defensive player at the NFL level. He racked up 2 sacks in Detroit's Week 1 win over the Saints (31–30), then added another sack in Thursday's Week 2 loss to the Bills (41–31) — a game that exposed serious structural issues on Detroit's defense. Hutchinson publicly called for changes after the loss, and the Lions coaching staff is under scrutiny, with calls mounting for the defensive coordinator's job.

Colston Loveland's Bears debut was quiet on the stat sheet — zero catches in Chicago's 59–37 demolition of Carolina — but the surrounding context softened the blow. The Bears' offense was historically efficient, and analysts noted a silver lining in Loveland's blocking and alignment work. Expect a larger role in Week 2 against Minnesota, where fellow Wolverine Josh Metellus will be on the other sideline trying to contain Caleb Williams.

Elsewhere: Roman Wilson caught 3 passes for 26 yards in Pittsburgh's Week 1 win; Mason Graham notched a sack in Cleveland's loss to Jacksonville; Kris Jenkins Jr. had a sack for the Bengals; Marlin Klein caught 1 pass for 16 yards in the same Texans-Bills game that showcased Collins; and Matthew Hibner chipped in a 13-yard reception for Baltimore.

The Collins injury is the story that will linger into Week 3. If the hamstring tightens the timeline further, it could reshape Houston's offensive identity for a meaningful stretch of the season.

The final days of NFL roster cuts delivered a mixed bag for Michigan alumni — some holding on, some let go, and one former first-round pick whose future remains the most complicated story of the preseason.

J.J. McCarthy's Uncertain Path in Minnesota

It's not the situation anyone envisioned when the Vikings drafted J.J. McCarthy in the first round. Kyler Murray won the starting job in Minneapolis, and heading into Week 1, McCarthy's precise place on the depth chart is unclear even to the front office. Vikings GM Nolan Teasley confirmed McCarthy is practicing and will be on the Week 1 roster — but wouldn't specify whether he's QB2 or QB3 behind Murray and Carson Wentz.

Trade speculation swirled during the final preseason week, with at least one prediction calling for Minnesota to "end the McCarthy experiment" and ship him to an AFC playoff contender. That didn't happen. Instead, Fox Sports confirmed the Vikings retained him on the 53-man roster, leaving McCarthy in a holding pattern that Sporting News called a complete reshaping of his "franchise-QB label." FanSided went further, invoking the ghost of Josh Rosen. For now, McCarthy is still a Viking — just not the Viking anyone thought he'd be.

Ronnie Bell Lands in Las Vegas

After the New Orleans Saints cut Ronnie Bell at the end of the preseason, the wide receiver didn't stay unemployed for long. Per the NFL's official transactions report, Bell signed with the Las Vegas Raiders — his latest stop on what Heavy Sports described as a "wandering" NFL journey. The former Michigan standout continues to fight for a roster foothold, and the Raiders give him another shot to stick.

Ryan Hayes Waived by Carolina

The Panthers have seen enough of Ryan Hayes. Carolina waived the 6-foot-7 offensive tackle, per the NFL transaction wire, signaling confidence in the depth ahead of him on the line. Hayes was a notable presence in Ann Arbor but has been unable to carve out a permanent NFL home. He'll likely draw interest on the waiver wire or practice squads given his size and experience.

Dax Hill Locked In for Cincinnati

On a more optimistic note, Dax Hill is ready to roll for the Bengals. The former Michigan safety spoke to Sports Illustrated this week about his Week 1 readiness, offering a simple message: "I'm out there competing." Hill deflected questions about contract talks, keeping the focus squarely on football. After battling through injuries earlier in his career, Hill's tone heading into the 2026 season sounds like that of a player with something to prove — and a defense that needs him healthy.

Around the Rest of the Alumni Network

Elsewhere, Michigan products are making quieter contributions across the league. Mike Onwenu — earning $57 million with the Patriots — made headlines for a different reason: he's reportedly watched Seattle's Super Bowl victory 30 times this offseason in preparation for the Week 1 rematch. Meanwhile, Colston Loveland's work ethic is drawing genuine praise from Bears teammates, with receiver Kalif Raymond noting the tight end puts in film and practice time even on off days. Roman Wilson enters his third season in Pittsburgh under some scrutiny, with Aaron Rodgers publicly addressing the wideout's progress — and Sports Illustrated noting Steelers fans have reason to watch closely.

The McCarthy Crisis in Minnesota

J.J. McCarthy's sophomore NFL campaign has become a slow-motion disaster, and the endgame is approaching fast.

The former Michigan star and 2024 No. 10 overall pick lost the Vikings' starting quarterback competition to Kyler Murray — and things have only gotten messier since. McCarthy exited Minnesota's preseason loss to the Baltimore Ravens earlier than expected after taking a big hit, raising fresh injury concerns on top of an already-troubled ankle that kept him out of a Wednesday practice session. He downplayed the health worries publicly, but the Vikings were cautious enough to hold him out, with the team hoping he'd be available for the preseason finale against the Broncos.

The injury is almost a footnote compared to his falling stock. One prominent NFL insider floated the possibility of McCarthy being demoted all the way to QB3 behind Carson Wentz. Trade buzz has grown loud enough that multiple outlets are openly publishing proposals urging Minnesota to move him for whatever it can get rather than simply cutting him. FanSided ran projections suggesting his roster spot is no longer a lock — a stunning fall for a player who was supposed to be the franchise's future just 16 months ago.

According to CBS Sports, a divorce between McCarthy and the Vikings looks increasingly inevitable. Yahoo Sports noted that roster cut day looms as a genuine reckoning for the former Wolverine. Whether he ends up traded, released, or clinging to a backup role, McCarthy's next few days could define the rest of his NFL career.

Hutchinson Locked In, Lions Defense Draws Attention

On the other side of the ledger, Aidan Hutchinson heads into the regular season as the unquestioned centerpiece of the Detroit Lions' defense. The Sporting News described the former Michigan edge rusher as the "crowned jewel" of Detroit's unit — high praise entering a season with legitimate Super Bowl expectations in the Motor City. The Lions are also reportedly searching for the right complement to pair alongside Hutchinson in their defensive front, signaling that the organization is building around him for the long haul.

Wilson Locks Up a Roster Spot in Pittsburgh

Roman Wilson's path to a guaranteed Steelers roster spot appears to have been quietly confirmed. Pittsburgh sat Wilson out of the preseason finale without an injury designation — a classic signal that a team is protecting a player it has already decided to keep. Offensive coordinator comments reinforced the message. Entering Year 3, the Michigan wideout appears to have secured his place on the 53-man roster.

Barrett Reunites with Minter in Baltimore

Linebacker Michael Barrett landed with the Ravens, reuniting with defensive coordinator Jesse Minter — the same coach who oversaw Barrett's development at Michigan. The familiarity factor could give Barrett a meaningful edge in his bid to stick on Baltimore's roster heading into the regular season.

Around the League

Two Wolverines received less welcome news near the roster deadline. The Jets waived defensive tackle Mazi Smith, ending his time in New York. Running back Hassan Haskins was released by the Patriots after New England acquired Corey Kiner via trade, squeezing him off the depth chart.

The next 72 hours will answer the biggest question hanging over Michigan's NFL contingent: what happens to McCarthy. The rest of the Wolverine world looks comparatively stable — but in Minnesota, nothing is.