Oregon State Professional Athletes

Oregon State alumni had a newsworthy week across the NFL, with stories emerging on both sides of the ball — and both sides of the roster bubble.

Skyler Thomas in the News Ahead of Bears-Vikings

Chicago Bears safety Skyler Thomas drew attention this week for personal news announced by the team ahead of their matchup against the Minnesota Vikings. The Bears made the announcement publicly before the Week 2 contest, though the nature of the news placed Thomas in a spotlight beyond the field.

Thomas was on the active roster for Chicago's Week 1 blowout win over Carolina (59–37), giving Bears fans plenty of reason to track his status. With the Vikings game looming — a divisional matchup carrying real NFC North weight — any roster or personal development around the safety position was going to draw scrutiny. Thomas's situation adds a human dimension to what is otherwise one of the more anticipated early-season games on Chicago's schedule.

Notably, Thomas isn't the only Oregon State Beaver with ties to that Bears-Vikings game. Vikings punter Johnny Hekker and running back Jermar Jefferson, along with linebacker Silas Bolden and guard Blake Brandel, all suit up on the Minnesota side — meaning Corvallis alumni were represented in force on both sidelines when those two teams squared off.

Jaden Robinson Lands with Giants After Denver Release

The bigger transaction news for Beaver Nation came out of East Rutherford. Linebacker Jaden Robinson, described by league observers as "explosive," signed with the New York Giants after being released by the Denver Broncos as Week 2 rosters took shape.

Robinson's move to New York lands him in a linebacker room that could use the infusion. The Giants have been active in reshaping their roster, and Robinson's athleticism was enough to generate genuine interest and a quick signing. For a player who had been building his NFL case in Denver, the Giants represent a meaningful opportunity to stick on an NFC East squad with legitimate playoff ambitions.

Robinson joins fellow Beaver Isaiah Hodgins on the Giants' roster — Hodgins holding down a wide receiver spot — giving New York a small but notable Oregon State contingent.

Around the Rest of Beaver Nation

The research brief also flagged movement around Brandin Cooks, the veteran wide receiver and former Saints standout. Cooks drew interest from multiple teams — including the Ravens and the Bills — as a free agent following an injury to a team's top receiver. Cooks's long NFL career has taken him through New Orleans, Los Angeles, Houston, and beyond, and his availability continued to generate league-wide chatter this week.

Elsewhere, Nahshon Wright suited up for the Jets in their 23–10 win over Tennessee on Sunday, adding another Beaver to the win column in Week 1.

Luke Musgrave's Road Back

The best news out of Green Bay this week carries an Oregon State stamp. The Packers placed tight end Luke Musgrave on the reserve/physically unable to perform list to open the 2026 season due to a neck injury, but the organization has made clear this is a delay, not a goodbye. Green Bay expects Musgrave to recover and take the field before the season wraps, which means the former Beaver could resurface as a legitimate contributor once he's cleared — good news for a Packers offense that missed his athleticism and pass-catching ability.

Musgrave isn't alone in Cheese Country. Fellow Oregon State alumni Damien Martinez (LB), Kitan Oladapo (FS), Isaiah Dunn (CB), and Keonte Schad (DT) are all on Green Bay's roster, making the Packers something of an unofficial OSU satellite campus. Whether the reunion includes Musgrave suiting up in Week 1 or later in the fall, the expectation of his return is the story.

Hekker Loses the Battle in Minnesota

It's the end of an era — at least in Minneapolis. Veterans Johnny Hekker, the longtime punting stalwart and former Oregon State standout, lost his roster competition with the Vikings to Brett Thorson. Minnesota went with the younger leg, cutting Hekker loose ahead of the 53-man deadline. Hekker, who spent years as one of the most decorated punters in NFL history during his time with the Rams, will now look for a new home or potentially step away from the game. His departure is one of the quieter but more notable alumni storylines of the week.

Hodgins Cut in New York

Isaiah Hodgins, the wide receiver who flashed genuine potential in stretches for the Giants, was among eight players New York cut during its roster reduction to 53. Hodgins, a former Oregon State standout who showed chemistry with Daniel Jones in earlier seasons, will hit the waiver wire and look for another opportunity. Given his size and route-running background, he could draw interest as a depth piece elsewhere — but for now, he's out of a job in the NFL.

Cooks Still Searching for a Landing Spot

Brandin Cooks, one of the most decorated Oregon State alumni in NFL history, remains unsigned after his time with the Bills. Reports surfaced this week suggesting the Detroit Lions were being urged to add Cooks as a depth wide receiver — framed around his familiarity as a target for Josh Allen during his Buffalo tenure. Whether Detroit pulls the trigger or not, Cooks is clearly still on teams' radars as a veteran option with starting-caliber experience.

The week was a tale of contrasts for the Beavers: Musgrave's expected return offers genuine optimism, while Hekker's roster loss and Hodgins' cut serve as reminders of how thin the margin is at the top. The OSU pipeline into the NFL remains deep — it's just not painless.