Nebraska Professional Athletes

Maliek Collins Gets Paid — Mid-Season

Nebraska defensive tackle Maliek Collins didn't wait until free agency to find his next contract. The Cleveland Browns rewarded his standout 2026 campaign with a two-year, $30 million extension — $23 million of it guaranteed — ahead of their Week 7 matchup with the Tennessee Titans, a game Cleveland won 27-24.

The deal, rare for its in-season timing, came after just six games. Collins himself called the experience "weird," acknowledging the unusual nature of locking in a long-term deal while the season is still very much in progress. Browns GM Andrew Berry was less conflicted about it: "We're excited to keep Maliek Collins in Cleveland," Berry said, signaling that the front office viewed the extension as a no-brainer given Collins' early-season production.

At 5-3, the Browns have legitimate playoff aspirations, and securing a disruptive interior lineman through the push was clearly a priority. The extension also leaves four other Cleveland starters still set to hit free agency, meaning this is far from the last roster decision Berry will face this offseason — but Collins won't be part of that conversation.

Collins, a former fourth-round pick, has carved out a durable NFL career that just got significantly more lucrative.

Around the League

Other Husker alumni had quieter weeks, but a few are worth noting.

Thomas Fidone II hauled in one catch for 29 yards in the New York Giants' 27-21 upset win over the Houston Texans on Sunday — a nice moment for the tight end in a victory that snapped some of the pressure building around New York's season.

In Kansas City, running back Emmett Johnson contributed two receptions for 17 yards, though the Chiefs fell to Seattle 3-20 in a surprisingly flat performance from the reigning powers of the AFC.

Meanwhile, cornerback Cam Taylor-Britt recorded a sack for the Indianapolis Colts in their 10-16 loss to Minnesota — but his week took a darker turn when the Colts placed him on injured reserve and signed Kenneth Harris from the practice squad to fill the void. Taylor-Britt's status going forward remains uncertain.

Cam Jurgens, starting at center for the Baltimore Ravens, was on the field in a rough one as Baltimore fell to Cincinnati 13-35. Ty Robinson and the Philadelphia Eagles beat Dallas 38-21, though Robinson's individual stat line wasn't captured in the box score.

The headliner, though, is Collins. A $30 million extension earned mid-season, in a contract year, while playing for a winning team — that's the kind of week Nebraska's NFL diaspora rarely produces in one shot.

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.