Michigan Professional Athletes

It was one of the busiest weeks in recent memory for Michigan alumni across the NFL — a breakout performance, a perfect kicker, a high-profile quarterback debut, a long-awaited return, and a brutal injury all arrived within the same seven-day stretch.

Nico Collins Reminds Everyone What He Is

The most eye-popping stat of the week out of Wolverine country came from Houston, where Nico Collins shook off his injury absence and torched Dallas in Week 4. The Texans receiver caught 7 passes for 118 yards and 2 touchdowns — a performance that would've headlined any team's highlight reel. It wasn't enough to save Houston from a 34-30 defeat, but Collins served notice that he's fully back and a genuine threat at the top of the Texans' offense.

Dominic Zvada Is Quietly Perfect

The more quietly remarkable story belongs to New York Giants rookie kicker Dominic Zvada. The undrafted Michigan product is 9-for-9 on field goals this season, a streak that now includes a clutch 52-yarder against the Arizona Cardinals in the Giants' 36-24 Week 4 win. Sports Illustrated's coverage noted that Zvada credits Jim Harbaugh's trust as a factor in his early confidence — a full-circle moment for a player whose college career was shaped by the same coach. No moment, it seems, is too big.

J.J. McCarthy Lands in New York

McCarthy's whirlwind fall continued in Week 4. Acquired from the Minnesota Vikings on September 28 for a 2027 fifth-round pick, the former Michigan star was active for the Giants' win over Arizona — though he served as the third-string quarterback rather than the starter in his debut. Giants offensive coordinator Matt Nagy was effusive in his praise afterward, calling McCarthy a quick learner who is rapidly absorbing New York's offensive playbook. With the Giants monitoring their quarterback depth heading into Week 5, McCarthy's role figures to grow. The team has already begun adjusting its offensive scheme with a potential McCarthy promotion in mind.

Kenneth Grant Returns for Miami

In Miami, the Dolphins got a boost they've been waiting on since training camp: defensive tackle Kenneth Grant was activated from injured reserve ahead of the team's Week 5 matchup against the Bengals. The first-round pick suffered an injury before the season even began and had been sidelined since. The Dolphins waived quarterback Brady Cook to clear roster space for Grant's return — a clear signal of how much Miami values his presence up front.

Braiden McGregor's Season Is Over

The week's darkest news fell on the Jets, where edge defender Braiden McGregor tore a pectoral muscle during New York's Week 4 loss to the Chicago Bears. The injury is season-ending. McGregor's fellow Michigan alum Colston Loveland — now with the Bears — caught 6 passes for 57 yards in that same game, a coincidence that underscores just how deeply Michigan's fingerprints are stamped across the league.

Elsewhere, Rashan Gary recorded a sack for Dallas in the Texans game, Devin Bush added one for Chicago against the Jets, and Kris Jenkins Jr. notched a sack for Cincinnati. Mason Graham (Browns) remained sidelined heading into Week 5, though early reports from Cleveland's facility were cautiously optimistic about his timeline. It was, in short, a week that reminded NFL observers why Michigan keeps sending players to Sundays.

It was the kind of week Michigan fans would rather forget. Two of the program's most celebrated recent alumni — J.J. McCarthy and Mason Graham — both made headlines for all the wrong reasons, as the Wolverines' NFL community absorbed a trade and a significant injury in the span of just a few days.

McCarthy Moves to New York — to Develop, Not Start

The bigger-picture story broke Monday, Sept. 28: the New York Giants acquired J.J. McCarthy from the Minnesota Vikings in exchange for a 2027 fifth-round pick. The deal came together after Giants starter Jaxson Dart was ruled out for the season with a knee injury, leaving New York scrambling for quarterback depth.

It's a deflating transaction for Michigan fans who watched McCarthy go 27-1 as a starter and lead the Wolverines to a national title before Minnesota selected him in the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft. Less than three years later, the Vikings sold low — a fifth-rounder is a modest return for any former first-round pick, let alone one with McCarthy's college résumé.

The Giants' intentions appear modest as well. Per ex-Bears guard Kyle Long, New York brought McCarthy in to develop, not to compete for the starting role. Jameis Winston is expected to hold the starting job, and the Giants made a surprising Week 4 move, elevating Jake Haener from the practice squad rather than leaning on their newest addition. McCarthy is, for now, a project — not a solution.

Graham Goes Down on Thursday Night Football

If the McCarthy trade stung, Thursday night delivered a sharper blow. Browns defensive tackle Mason Graham — a first-round pick out of Michigan in the 2025 draft — exited Cleveland's 27-24 win over the Pittsburgh Steelers in the first quarter after being blocked into a member of Pittsburgh's offensive line. The official diagnosis: an MCL sprain and an ankle sprain, per NFL insider Ian Rapoport. Graham was ruled out for the remainder of the game, with Mike Hall stepping in before also leaving with an ankle injury in the second quarter.

Graham had been one of Cleveland's most promising young defenders. He recorded two sacks in Week 3 against Carolina before the injury sidelined him Thursday. Browns teammate Jared Verse publicly acknowledged Graham's impact and sent a message of support following the news — a sign of how much the rookie DT had already meant to that locker room.

Wilson Shines; Metellus Fined

Amid the grim headlines, there were brighter moments. Former Michigan wideout Roman Wilson has been on a tear for Pittsburgh. The Steelers receiver caught three passes for 74 yards and a touchdown Thursday against Cleveland — and that came on the heels of another three-catch, 60-yard, one-score outing against the Bengals in Week 3. Wilson is establishing himself as a reliable option in Pittsburgh's passing game.

On the Vikings side, safety Josh Metellus — who remains in Minnesota despite McCarthy's departure — was among the players hit with NFL fines following the team's Week 3 win over Tampa Bay. The violation details weren't specified in the league's announcement, though Metellus was the more notable of the two Vikings players disciplined.

It was a week that encapsulated the NFL's volatility perfectly: one Wolverine shipped across the country with his future uncertain, another carted off in prime time. Michigan's pro pipeline remains deep, but this week offered a reminder of how quickly the league can humble even its brightest prospects.

It was a rough week on the injury front for Michigan alumni across the NFL — three Wolverines are sidelined in some form — but at least one maize-and-blue product is making opposing offenses miserable.

The IR Double-Down

Two Michigan offensive cornerstones landed on injured reserve within days of each other, dealing significant blows to their respective teams.

Patriots right guard Mike Onwenu broke his right ankle in New England's home opener and was officially placed on IR on Tuesday, September 22. He'll miss a minimum of four games. The move immediately triggered a reshuffling along New England's offensive line, with head coach Mike Vrabel floating rookie Caleb Lomu — signed to an $18.9 million deal — as a potential fill-in at guard. Onwenu had been one of the Patriots' most dependable starters, and the timing is particularly brutal for a team still trying to establish an identity under Vrabel.

Meanwhile in Arizona, cornerback Will Johnson also landed on injured reserve after suffering an injury in the Cardinals' Week 2 blowout loss to Seattle (7-31). The Cardinals responded by signing Starling Thomas off their practice squad, but losing Johnson — a top-end corner in a secondary that could least afford it — is a real problem. Multiple reports indicated Johnson could be done for the season.

Collins Ruled Out for Week 3

Nico Collins avoided the IR designation but didn't escape the injury list. The Texans' star wide receiver was ruled out for their Week 3 matchup against the Colts due to a Grade 1 hamstring strain he suffered earlier in the week. Collins missed practice throughout the week, and an NFL Network report from Ian Rapoport confirmed the official ruling. The absence compounds an already difficult stretch for Houston's offense, with C.J. Stroud also managing separate injury concerns. One insider raised a red flag about the Texans' handling of Collins' rehab, suggesting the situation could linger beyond Week 3 if not managed carefully.

Graham Keeps Rolling

While his fellow Wolverines were heading to the training room, defensive tackle Mason Graham was busy wrecking offensive game plans. The second-year Brown recorded a sack of Baker Mayfield in Cleveland's 23-19 win over Tampa Bay on Sunday, also adding two quarterback hits in a dominant individual performance. Graham is emerging as the Browns' most disruptive interior defender early in 2026, and the analytics crowd is starting to take notice. For a Cleveland team searching for reasons for optimism, Graham is quickly becoming the clearest one.

Around the Rest of the Pack

A handful of other Michigan alums had notable moments in Week 2. AJ Barner of the Seahawks caught a pass and added a rushing touchdown in Seattle's 31-7 demolition of Arizona — the same game that likely ended Will Johnson's season. Jourdan Lewis continued to be a ballhawk for Jacksonville, recording an interception in the Jaguars' 13-20 loss to Denver. Blake Corum contributed 79 rushing yards and a reception for the Rams in their 28-6 win over the Giants. And Roman Wilson had a solid day for Pittsburgh with five catches for 28 yards, even as the Steelers fell to New England 3-20.

Michigan's alumni footprint across the league remains enormous — this week just served as a reminder of how quickly health can scramble even the deepest rosters.

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.