Mississippi Professional Athletes

Jaxson Dart Announces Himself to the NFL

Ole Miss never produced an NFL quarterback quite like this. In his first regular-season start, Giants signal-caller Jaxson Dart did something historic in New York's 28-20 primetime upset of the Dallas Cowboys — throwing three touchdown passes and adding 54 rushing yards in a performance that Bleacher Report noted made NFL history, though the Giants entered the game as home underdogs.

The Ole Miss product looked composed and dangerous throughout, converting critical third downs with help from tight end Isaiah Likely, who hauled in two scores and served as Dart's security blanket all night. Hall of Fame quarterback Kurt Warner reportedly sent Dart a strong message of endorsement after the win — validation from a player who knows something about surprising the league from out of nowhere.

The Cowboys didn't go quietly. Dallas linebacker DeMarvion Overshown drew a roughing-the-passer penalty on a late hit against Dart and is now facing potential NFL discipline for the infraction. Former Giants defensive coordinator Wink Martindale also weighed in publicly, taking a veiled shot at ex-Giants coach Brian Daboll, suggesting Dart's rapid development under new leadership stands in contrast to Cam Ward's trajectory elsewhere.

Next up for Dart: Aaron Donald, who came out of retirement and will face the Giants on Monday Night Football in Week 2. Dart told reporters the matchup is "going to be really cool" — the kind of confidence that either reads as fearless or foolish, depending on what happens next.

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A.J. Brown Lands on IR

The other major Ole Miss headline this week came with far less celebration. Patriots wide receiver A.J. Brown suffered a high ankle sprain last Wednesday and has been placed on injured reserve, with reports indicating he's expected to miss more than four games. New England turned down pre-season trade interest in Mack Hollins — now the team's top option outside — and coach Mike Vrabel publicly endorsed Hollins as a key piece in Brown's absence. Trade speculation has already started, with Bleacher Report floating the possibility of the Patriots pursuing Jacksonville's Brian Thomas Jr.

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Around the League

A few other Ole Miss alumni made quiet contributions in Week 1. Broncos tight end Evan Engram caught four passes for 43 yards and a touchdown in Denver's 31-10 loss to Kansas City. Bills tight end Dawson Knox caught two passes for five yards and a score in Buffalo's Thursday night 41-31 win over Detroit, adding to a modest one-catch, seven-yard line from the Bills' Week 1 win over Houston. Panthers linebacker Princely Umanmielen notched a sack in Carolina's 59-37 blowout loss to Chicago, and Ravens linebacker Tavius Robinson also recorded a sack in Baltimore's 41-23 win over Indianapolis.

Cowboys receiver Jonathan Mingo managed just one catch for 10 yards in the Dallas loss — a quiet night on the wrong side of the Dart coming-out party.

Commanders cornerback Trey Amos remained sidelined and is expected to miss at least through Week 5 as he continues to recover, with coach Dan Quinn describing a cautious return-to-play approach.

Steelers wideout DK Metcalf had a difficult Week 1 debut in Pittsburgh, finishing with four catches for 40 yards while drawing two offensive pass interference flags against the Falcons. Aaron Rodgers publicly backed his receiver, saying he's "not worried" — but the rust was visible.

The most anticipated Ole Miss alumni storyline of Week 1 ended before halftime.

A.J. Brown — the marquee offseason acquisition New England built its offensive identity around — exited the Patriots' season opener against the Seattle Seahawks with a high-ankle sprain, was ruled out for the remainder of the game, and was placed on injured reserve days later. He'll miss at least the first four games of the 2026 season.

Brown had flashed promise in his brief cameo alongside quarterback Drake Maye, hauling in 3 receptions for 26 yards before limping off and heading to the locker room for X-rays. The Patriots lost to Seattle, 10–13. Without their new No. 1 receiver, New England's offense visibly struggled to generate consistent production in the second half, a preview of the challenges ahead.

The injury carries an uncomfortable echo: Brown dealt with similar ankle issues in his final seasons with the Eagles, and the concern now is whether that durability trend has followed him to Foxborough. New England is expected to handle his absence internally rather than pursue outside options, with younger receivers stepping into larger roles while Brown rehabilitates.

It's a brutal start for a player who was supposed to immediately change the calculus of the Patriots' offense.

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Tunsil Earns Off-Field Recognition

While Brown's week made headlines for the wrong reasons, fellow Ole Miss alum Laremy Tunsil earned recognition of a different kind. The Washington Commanders offensive tackle was named the NFLPA's Community MVP for Week 1 of the 2026 season — a nod to his work off the field as he continues to anchor one of the NFL's better offensive lines.

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Metcalf Moves On From Seattle's Championship

DK Metcalf — traded from Seattle to Pittsburgh two offseasons ago — addressed the elephant in the room this week: his old Seahawks team went on to win the Super Bowl without him. The Ole Miss product, who led the Steelers in receiving last season with 850 yards but also served a suspension, said publicly he wasn't "sour" about Seattle's title and harbors no regrets about how things played out.

It's the kind of measured response you'd expect from a receiver entering his second full year in Pittsburgh, focused on proving he can push the Steelers to championship contention himself.

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Ben Brown Also Sidelined in New England

In a week of bad injury news for Ole Miss players in Patriots uniforms, center Ben Brown was ruled out of the season opener against the Seahawks as well, though his absence drew considerably less attention amid the A.J. Brown chaos. Two Ole Miss products unavailable in the same game for New England is the kind of alumni footnote that stings, even if the situations aren't directly related.

Mississippi's NFL footprint remains among the deepest of any program in the country — with alumni spread across more than 25 rosters — but Week 1 will be remembered for what it cost, not what it delivered.

The Ole Miss pipeline to the NFL has never looked more crowded — or more compelling. As the 2026 season opens, a half-dozen Rebels alumni are generating headlines from New York to Pittsburgh, with storylines ranging from record-breaking rookie cards to roster drama and fresh starts.

Dart Is Ready, and the Market Agrees

Jaxson Dart heads into Year 2 with the New York Giants as the unquestioned starter, and collectors are already pricing in a breakout. A Dart rookie card sale made history this week, signaling that the speculation around the former Ole Miss star has crossed from football fields into serious financial territory. The quarterback himself is projecting confidence, telling reporters he feels "in command" despite limited preseason reps — crediting work against the Giants' defense in camp as his preparation. With Odell Beckham Jr. back on the 53-man roster, Dart has endorsed the reunion warmly, adding another layer of intrigue to a Giants offense that badly needs his development to stick.

A.J. Brown's New Chapter — and an Old Relationship

The biggest Ole Miss name in the league this week isn't even on the same team he starred for last season. A.J. Brown, now a New England Patriot after his trade from Philadelphia, walked straight into a storyline when the Eagles held joint practices with the Patriots ahead of Week 1. Brown and former teammate Jalen Hurts shared a public embrace that went viral — a notable moment given that Brown had admitted the two weren't as close as they once were following the trade. Meanwhile, the Seahawks — New England's Week 1 opponent — have been handed an explicit warning about Brown, who posted an 83.0 PFF grade over 517 pass snaps last season in Philly. Seattle didn't see him in Super Bowl LX. They'll see him now.

DK Metcalf Draws Rodgers' Attention in Pittsburgh

DK Metcalf enters 2026 with a new quarterback whispering his name. Aaron Rodgers, now running the Steelers' offense, addressed Metcalf's offseason camp and his role in the scheme this week — a signal that the former Ole Miss standout is being integrated as a centerpiece rather than an afterthought. The pairing of Rodgers and Metcalf is one of the more intriguing new partnerships in the league, and Pittsburgh is clearly betting on it.

Treadwell Makes the Colts; Tunsil Hits IR

Laquon Treadwell's NFL journey has been a long one since he went in the first round nearly a decade ago. This week brought a rare piece of good news: the veteran receiver earned a spot on the Indianapolis Colts' 53-man roster and responded with an inspirational message about perseverance. He sits behind Alec Pierce and Josh Downs on the depth chart, but he's in the building — and in the league.

Laremy Tunsil, meanwhile, won't be suiting up anytime soon. The Commanders placed the veteran left tackle on injured reserve this week, leaving the door open for a return later in the season but sidelining him at the outset.

Sam Williams Lands in Cleveland; Ben Brown's Patriots Drama

Sam Williams found a new home after the Cowboys released him, signing with the Cleveland Browns just ahead of the season. And in New England, center Ben Brown had a whirlwind week — released by the Patriots, then re-signed to the 53-man roster before Week 1. The brief split lasted less than 24 hours before the Patriots brought the Ole Miss product back into the fold.

From a quarterback rewriting Giants history to a receiver igniting old storylines in New England, Oxford's influence on the 2026 NFL landscape is impossible to ignore.

Ole Miss Alumni Reshaping NFL Rosters This Preseason

Mississippi's footprint across the NFL is impossible to ignore this preseason, with Rebels alumni making headlines from Pittsburgh to Dallas to Carolina.

DK Metcalf Hands the Steelers a Financial Lifeline

The biggest Ole Miss story of the week isn't on the field — it's in the accounting department. DK Metcalf restructured his contract with the Pittsburgh Steelers, freeing up $18 million in cap space and effectively quintupling what had been the league's slimmest salary cushion. Pittsburgh was dead last in available cap space entering 2026, and Metcalf's willingness to restructure has already paid dividends: the move gives the front office real ammunition in contract negotiations with cornerback Joey Porter Jr., whose extension talks had stalled in part due to the cap crunch. Metcalf, now a cornerstone of the Steelers' offense, didn't just help himself — he gave Pittsburgh's roster-building operation a genuine reset heading into the regular season.

Jonathan Mingo Earns His Cowboys Spot

Less glamorous, perhaps, but no less meaningful: Jonathan Mingo has cracked the Dallas Cowboys' 53-man roster. The second-year wideout out of Ole Miss survived final cuts, a significant milestone for a young receiver trying to establish himself in one of the league's most scrutinized organizations. In a Cowboys receiver room with no shortage of competition, Mingo's retention signals he's done enough in camp to earn trust from the coaching staff. It's early, but a roster spot in Dallas is a roster spot.

Princely Umanmielen: Carolina's Edge Rusher to Watch

Over in Charlotte, second-year edge rusher Princely Umanmielen is generating buzz with the Panthers heading into what could be a defining year for the former Rebel. Reports out of Carolina paint a picture of a player who has matured physically and mentally from his rookie campaign, and the Panthers — a team in the middle of an aggressive rebuild — need Umanmielen to develop into a legitimate pass-rush threat. The expectation is mutual: he's ready, and Carolina needs him to be. If Umanmielen delivers, he could become one of the more quietly important breakout stories of the 2026 season.

Around the League

Elsewhere in the Rebels' wide NFL diaspora, Laremy Tunsil's preseason has taken an unfortunate turn — the veteran left tackle underwent surgery to repair a torn triceps, prompting the Washington Commanders to sign former Pro Bowl LT D.J. Humphries to fill the void. Tunsil's timeline is unclear, but the injury is a significant blow for a Washington offensive line banking on his experience.

In New York, rookie quarterback Jaxson Dart continues to develop under the Giants' staff, with offensive coordinator Matt Nagy emphasizing the importance of letting the Ole Miss product play his own game rather than forcing him into a mold. Giants brass debated whether to play starters against the Jets in the preseason, with Dart and the first-team offense seen as candidates to benefit from live reps. The calculus: the more game experience Dart gets now, the better positioned he'll be if called upon in 2026.