Nebraska Professional Athletes

The Big Move: Jurgens Heads to Baltimore

Nebraska's Cam Jurgens is starting a new chapter, and it came at a steep price for his new employer. The Baltimore Ravens acquired the Pro Bowl center from the Philadelphia Eagles this week in one of the splashier trades of the early NFL season, sending a 2027 fifth-round pick and a 2028 second-round pick to Philadelphia in exchange for Jurgens and a 2027 seventh-round pick.

The deal came one day after Eagles offensive tackle Lane Johnson announced his retirement, leaving Philadelphia's offensive line in upheaval. Two of the team's five starters from the previous season are now gone in the span of 48 hours — a stunning reshaping of a line that had been considered one of the league's best.

For Baltimore, Jurgens fills a glaring hole at center and immediately slots into the starting lineup. The Ravens were determined to get the deal done cleanly: per reports, Baltimore conducted Jurgens's physical at the Eagles' own facility before finalizing the trade — an unusual logistical move that underscored how badly the Ravens wanted to avoid any last-minute complications, having learned lessons from previous high-profile trade attempts.

Not everyone is convinced Baltimore came out ahead, though. A longtime Eagles team president publicly contended that the Ravens were "fleeced" in the deal, pointing to Jurgens's injury history and the scrutiny his play had faced in Philadelphia. The Ravens surrendered significant future draft capital, including that 2028 second-rounder, for a player whose durability has been a recurring question mark.

Still, Baltimore now has a former Pro Bowl center anchoring their offensive line — and they'll need him sooner rather than later.

Rough Week in Baltimore

Jurgens arrives to a Ravens team navigating its first real adversity of the season. Baltimore enters Week 5 at 3-1, but quarterback Lamar Jackson has been ruled out for Sunday night's game against the Atlanta Falcons after suffering an ankle injury in the Week 4 win over Tennessee. Jackson did not practice all week. Tyler Huntley will make his first start of the season in his place.

The Ravens' offensive line reinforcement via Jurgens looks well-timed given the circumstances — keeping a backup QB upright matters even more when the margin for error shrinks.

Around the League

Elsewhere, Nebraska alumni had a quiet week statistically. Chiefs running back Emmett Johnson chipped in a reception for 10 yards in Kansas City's 30-27 win over Las Vegas on Sunday. Cam Taylor-Britt, now with the Indianapolis Colts, was on the field in a 30-13 blowout win over Washington. Luke Gifford suited up for San Francisco in their 24-14 victory over Denver, and Ameer Abdullah was active for Jacksonville in a 22-17 win over Cincinnati — though neither recorded notable stats in the box score.

The Jurgens trade dominates the Nebraska NFL story this week, and rightfully so. Whether Baltimore overpaid is a debate that will play out over seasons, not days. What's certain: a Cornhusker is now the starting center for an AFC contender, with a chance to prove his doubters wrong on the biggest stage.

Two Nebraska alumni are carving out meaningful roles in Philadelphia, and the week of Sept. 27 gave both Ty Robinson and Cam Jurgens plenty to talk about — though for very different reasons.

Robinson Rewarded for Special Teams Versatility

Ty Robinson has quietly become one of Eagles special teams coordinator Michael Clay's most reliable contributors, and Philadelphia is taking notice. According to Sports Illustrated, Clay runs an open-door policy for his special teams meetings — and Robinson has taken full advantage. The defensive tackle's willingness to buy into a multi-role identity on special teams has earned him genuine praise from the coaching staff, and he's emerged as a key piece of a unit that Clay has built on flexibility and trust.

Robinson was on the field for Philadelphia's Monday night loss to the Bears (7-27) on Sept. 28, a rough night all around for the Eagles. But his stock with the organization appears to be rising regardless of the box score.

Jurgens Faces a Brutal Week — On and Off the Field

While Robinson's trajectory is trending up, Cam Jurgens had a week to forget. The Eagles center — listed as having shifted to left guard in recent weeks — was singled out as one of the notable "losers" in Sports Illustrated's post-mortem of Philadelphia's lopsided loss to Chicago, a brutal night that exposed problems across the offensive line.

Then came the buildup to a high-profile matchup against the Rams, where Jurgens found himself in the middle of a media storyline. Heavy Sports reported that Jurgens made headlines by comparing Aaron Donald — back from a two-season retirement at age 35 — to an NBA superstar, amplifying the hype around one of the game's most feared pass rushers. Whether that bulletin-board energy made a difference on the field, the broader picture for Jurgens is one of a player under scrutiny at a critical point in the season.

Around the League

Elsewhere in the NFL, Nebraska's Emmett Johnson gave Chiefs fans a glimpse of what the rookie RB can do. Johnson rushed for 17 yards in Kansas City's 24-10 win over Miami on Sept. 27 — and in a side story that went viral, he reportedly won a friendly wager against teammate Kenneth Walker, with Walker openly admitting the rookie made him eat his words.

Maliek Collins continued to be a steady presence for Cleveland, posting a sack in the Browns' 27-24 win over Pittsburgh on Oct. 1. Ameer Abdullah logged two rushing yards in Jacksonville's lopsided 35-6 win over New England on Sept. 27, a mop-up role in a blowout that nonetheless keeps the veteran on an active roster.

The larger Nebraska story this week, though, belongs in Philadelphia. Robinson's rising role on special teams and Jurgens' high-pressure stretch in the starting lineup make the Eagles the unofficial Husker hub of the NFL — for better or worse.

Nebraska in the NFL: Week of Sept. 20–26

Emmett Johnson Is the Story in Kansas City

The buzz around Nebraska rookie Emmett Johnson in Kansas City has moved beyond backfield chatter — it's now coming from the top of the Chiefs' organization.

Head coach Andy Reid publicly hinted at a bigger role for Johnson moving forward, signaling that Kenneth Walker's workload could shrink in the coming weeks. Running backs coach DeMarco Murray went further, telling reporters Johnson will receive "more opportunities" as the season progresses. For a first-year back still carving out his NFL identity, that kind of explicit public endorsement from two coaches is rare — and loud.

Johnson's Week 2 stat line against the Colts in Kansas City's 33–30 win was modest — 15 rushing yards and 20 receiving yards on two catches — but context matters more than the box score right now. The Chiefs aren't handing him the keys yet; they're warming up the engine. Sports Illustrated noted that the upcoming matchup against the Dolphins looks like a prime opportunity for Johnson to make his case for expanded snaps.

The NFL also stepped into the story this week, announcing punishment for Denver Broncos linebacker Alex Singleton following an illegal hit on Johnson. The league's intervention underscores something coaches already know: Johnson is on the field enough now to draw attention — and cheap shots.

He's not yet the workhorse, but every signal out of One Arrowhead Drive suggests that's the direction.

Cam Jurgens Navigates a Position Shuffle — and a Near-Volcanic Turf

The other Nebraska name generating headlines this week is Eagles center Cam Jurgens, though his situation is considerably messier.

Philadelphia is moving Jurgens from center to left guard following the loss of Landon Dickerson, sliding Drew Kendall into the starting center spot. It's a meaningful ask — Jurgens is regarded as one of the better centers in the league, and the Eagles are betting that his versatility outweighs the disruption. Head coach Nick Sirianni praised Jurgens for his willingness to change positions, though questions remain about how the reshaped line will hold up in the run game, which has already struggled early in the season.

Then there's the turf. Jurgens made national news after revealing that two pairs of his cleats melted during the Eagles' Week 2 game in Nashville, where surface temperatures reportedly reached 157 degrees. Jurgens called the field "hot lava." Sirianni, for his part, needed an IV after the game. The conditions reignited debate about the NFL scheduling afternoon games on artificial turf in southern cities during late summer — but the league has yet to respond publicly.

Jurgens survived it. His cleats did not.

Around the League

Veteran Ameer Abdullah, now with Jacksonville, contributed 11 rushing yards and two receiving yards in the Jaguars' 20–13 loss to Denver — a quiet afternoon for the long-tenured Husker back. Colts cornerback Cam Taylor-Britt was on the field in Indianapolis's 33–30 road loss to Kansas City, the same game where Johnson was making his case for more touches.

It was a week that belonged to Johnson. The question now is whether Kansas City's coaching staff follows through — and how quickly.