UCLA Professional Athletes

Charbonnet's Return Is Getting Real

The most encouraging news out of the UCLA alumni network this week doesn't come from a box score — it comes from a sideline. Zach Charbonnet, the Seahawks' fourth-year running back, is nearing a return to the practice field after tearing his ACL last season. Head coach Mike Macdonald said Friday that a date for Charbonnet to resume practicing is "coming soon," and called the running back's rehab progress "dang good." Charbonnet himself punctuated the update with a three-word Instagram message, signaling he's ready to get back to work.

It's meaningful momentum for a Seattle backfield that has been without one of its primary weapons since the injury. Charbonnet hasn't been activated yet, and no timetable for game action has been confirmed — but Macdonald's tone has shifted from cautious to optimistic, and that matters. Fellow Bruin and Seahawks wideout Jake Bobo is also on the roster, giving Seattle a quiet UCLA pipeline worth watching as the season unfolds.

Sean Rhyan Doesn't Mince Words

Up in Green Bay, UCLA guard Sean Rhyan had a message for his offensive line following a rough Week 1 performance — and he didn't exactly sugarcoat it. Rhyan delivered a blunt postgame assessment and spelled out the Week 2 assignment against the Jets in plain terms: protect Jordan Love and move the ball. The Packers' line struggled in their opener, and Rhyan's willingness to call it out publicly suggests a unit that knows it needs to be better. Whether the message translates to results on Sunday remains to be seen.

Dulcich Sees Early Action in Miami

Greg Dulcich, the former UCLA tight end now with the Dolphins, got on the field in Week 1 against the Raiders, hauling in 2 receptions for 18 yards in Miami's 13-27 loss. It's a modest stat line, but Dulcich's snap count presence in the opener suggests he's carved out a role in Miami's offense. The Dolphins will need more production across the board after dropping their season debut.

Around the Rest of the Alumni

Ale Kaho, the UCLA linebacker on the Commanders' practice squad, was elevated to the active roster for Washington's Week 2 matchup against the Cowboys — a notable opportunity for a player working to stick in the league. The Commanders fell to Philadelphia 22-24 in Week 1, with fellow Bruins Colson Yankoff and Kain Medrano also suiting up for Washington.

Elsewhere, Carson Schwesinger played for Cleveland in a 10-34 blowout loss to Jacksonville, where Matt Dickerson lined up on the other side of the ball for the Jaguars. Laiatu Latu suited up for Indianapolis in a 23-41 loss to Baltimore. Ka'imi Fairbairn handled kicking duties for Houston in a 31-36 defeat to Buffalo, while Anthony Barr — still active with Minnesota — made his presence felt off the field, taking a pointed jab at Packers head coach Matt LaFleur on social media after the Vikings' Week 1 comeback win.

It's early, but the UCLA footprint across the NFL remains wide — and Charbonnet's return, whenever it comes, figures to be the headlining development for Bruin fans tracking the league.

Three UCLA alumni are headlining the Bruins' NFL news cycle as the 2026 season kicks off — one sidelined before it starts, one commanding a locker room, and one landing on his feet after a roster cut.

Charbonnet's Season Starts on the Shelf

Zach Charbonnet won't be suiting up for Seattle anytime soon. The Seahawks officially placed the fourth-year running back on the physically unable to perform list as he continues recovering from a torn ACL, making him ineligible for at least the first four games of the season. It's a brutal blow for a player who had carved out a clear role in the Seahawks' backfield — and for a team already adjusting to life without Super Bowl LX MVP Kenneth Walker III, who departed in free agency.

With Charbonnet sidelined, Seattle enters Week 1 leaning on rookie Jadarian Price as the lead back, alongside George Holani and Emanuel Wilson. Price has openly acknowledged the weight of the moment, and the Seahawks have even been floated as a fit for a veteran addition like Austin Ekeler to shore up depth. For fantasy managers and Seahawks fans alike, the Charbonnet timeline bears watching — but there's no indication he'll return at the earliest opportunity.

Quentin Lake Is the Voice of the Rams

While Aaron Donald's comeback is dominating the L.A. headlines, Quentin Lake is doing something more quietly significant: emerging as a team leader. The Rams safety has been one of the most prominent voices in the locker room this preseason, and he's leaning into it. Lake made waves this week by openly acknowledging that the rest of the NFL already "hates" the Rams — a nod to the franchise's aggressive roster-building that echoes the criticism once leveled at the Dodgers. It's the kind of confident, accountable quote that signals Lake isn't just a contributor; he's a cornerstone.

The LA Times also noted Lake among the Rams players most visibly enthusiastic about Donald's return, further cementing his standing in what figures to be one of the most star-studded rosters in the league.

Muasau Finds a Lifeline in New England

Darius Muasau's tenure with the New York Giants is over — but his NFL career isn't. After logging 18 starts over two seasons in New York, Muasau was waived as part of the Giants' final roster cuts. The Patriots wasted little time, claiming him off waivers as part of a round of post-cutdown additions that also included tight end Cameron Latu. New England subsequently released veterans Ben Brown and K.J. Britt to make room on the roster. For Muasau, it's a fresh start with a franchise in rebuild mode — and a chance to reclaim a starting role.

Around the Horn

Two other Bruins worth noting: Kenny Clark had his contract restructured by Dallas, with the Cowboys clearing over $19 million in cap space in a move that also named Clark a team defensive captain for 2026 — a significant honor in his first year in Dallas. Meanwhile, Fabian Moreau was re-signed by Washington after initially being cut, returning to a Commanders team dealing with injuries up front. And Colson Yankoff, an undrafted free agent, is among the names drawing attention in Washington as part of a UDFA class that's outperformed expectations under GM Adam Peters.

The Bruins are spread across the league — and several of them are already making noise before a snap of Week 1 has been played.

The Bubble Is Real

The NFL's final roster cuts — every team trims to 53 by Sunday at 6 p.m. — have several UCLA alumni staring down the most important week of their professional careers. For some, a spot is there to be earned. For one, the season may already be over.

Jake Bobo's Year in Jeopardy

The most alarming news out of Bruins country: Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Jake Bobo has been placed on injured reserve with a right knee injury, putting his 2026 season in serious doubt. With the Seahawks already carrying Zach Charbonnet — another UCLA product — as a key offensive piece, the loss of Bobo is a blow both to the roster and to the UCLA alumni contingent in the Pacific Northwest.

Carson Steele Fights for a Backfield Spot in Philly

In Philadelphia, running back Carson Steele is on the cut line with the Eagles. The UCLA product — famously fearless, a quality perhaps forged by his unusual upbringing alongside a pet alligator — is battling for a spot in a crowded Eagles backfield. With rosters dropping to 53, every practice rep and preseason snap this week carries outsized weight. Steele has the physical tools; the question is whether Philadelphia's front office sees him as a keeper or a practice squad candidate.

Kaho and Hamilton Playing for Their NFL Lives in Washington

In the nation's capital, the Washington Commanders are hosting their own version of the same drama — with a UCLA flavor. Linebacker Ale Kaho and defensive back Antonio Hamilton are both fighting for roster spots ahead of Washington's Preseason Game 3 against the Ravens, which doubles as a last audition before Sunday's cutdown deadline. The game carries the highest stakes of the preseason: coaches are watching every snap, every assignment, every tackle with a clipboard in hand. For Kaho — a linebacker who fits Washington's defensive scheme — and Hamilton, this is likely their final argument. Also in the Commanders' mix are fellow UCLA alumni LB Krys Barnes, LB Kain Medrano, RB Kazmeir Allen, RB Demetric Felton, CB Fabian Moreau, and TE Colson Yankoff, making Washington the most UCLA-saturated roster in the league heading into cuts.

The Wider Picture

Beyond the bubble players, UCLA's NFL footprint remains substantial. Laiatu Latu continues his development with the Colts. Kenny Clark anchors the Cowboys' interior defensive line. Kolton Miller remains a starter in Las Vegas. Ka'imi Fairbairn holds down the kicker job in Houston. But this week, the story belongs to the alumni whose NFL futures are being decided in real time — under the Friday night lights of Preseason Week 3 and the cold math of Sunday's 6 p.m. deadline.

For Bobo, Steele, Kaho, and Hamilton, the next 72 hours define what comes next.