Virginia Professional Athletes

The Wicks Moment Has Arrived

Dontayvion Wicks spent three years at Virginia learning to make the most of his opportunities. In Week 4 of the 2026 NFL season, the Philadelphia Eagles are counting on that instinct more than ever.

With DeVonta Smith sidelined by a hamstring injury heading into Philadelphia's matchup against the Los Angeles Rams, Wicks is the unquestioned No. 1 target for Jalen Hurts. Head coach Nick Sirianni has made no secret of his confidence in the former Cavalier — per Yahoo Sports, Sirianni said he recognized early in the process that Wicks had something special, and that belief has been validated by the connection Hurts and Wicks have developed through the first weeks of the season.

Wicks entered the week listed as the Eagles' clear go-to option, with Sports Illustrated noting he and rookie Makai Lemon are both poised for expanded roles if Smith is ruled out. In Philadelphia's Monday night win over Chicago — a 27-7 blowout — Wicks posted 2 receptions for 32 yards, modest numbers that came in a game the Eagles controlled from the jump. Against the Rams, with Smith out and the offense needing its passing game to carry more weight, the ceiling is considerably higher.

The trust runs both ways. Per Heavy Sports, Wicks is second on the Eagles in targets this season, and the organization views him as the natural heir to a featured role whenever Smith is unavailable. For a player who spent time proving himself as a depth option, that standing represents a meaningful leap.

The Rest of the Hoos Around the League

Wicks wasn't the only Virginia alumnus with something to show for in Week 4.

Malik Washington (Dolphins, WR) had arguably the most complete performance of any former Cavalier this week. In Miami's 10-24 loss to Kansas City, Washington was one of the few bright spots, hauling in 5 receptions for 56 yards while also contributing 5 rushing yards. The multi-faceted output underscores why the Dolphins have continued to find roles for him in their offense.

Jelani Woods (Jets, TE) continued to work his way back into relevance, catching 1 pass for 20 yards in New York's 24-31 loss to Detroit. The Jets fell to 1-3, and finding more consistency from their tight end room will be a priority going forward.

Jonas Sanker (Saints, S) suited up in New Orleans' 27-35 loss to Las Vegas but did not record a stat line in the box score. The Saints' defense struggled to contain the Raiders' offense, and it was a difficult night across the board for New Orleans.

The week belonged to Wicks, though. Virginia fans who followed him through Charlottesville know he's always been a receiver with the size and route-running to make defenses pay — he's just needed a stage big enough to prove it. Week 4 against the Rams is exactly that stage.

Two Virginia alumni are turning heads in the NFL this week — one as a quietly dangerous weapon in a Super Bowl contender's offense, the other as a pillar of one of the league's most surprising defensive runs.

Dontayvion Wicks Is the Eagles' Best Kept Secret — Not Anymore

Dontayvion Wicks is making it hard to stay under the radar. The former Cavalier wide receiver hauled in five catches for 74 yards in Philadelphia's 24-20 win over the Tennessee Titans on September 20, continuing a stretch that has Eagles observers reaching for superlatives. Coverage from Sports Illustrated flagged Wicks as "coming in clutch again" at halftime of that game — a sign his contributions aren't flukes but a pattern.

The Eagles reportedly targeted Wicks this offseason knowing exactly what they were getting: a player the rest of the league hadn't fully accounted for. Per Yahoo Sports, Wicks is "showcasing why the Eagles thought he was an under-the-radar steal," and the New York Times has singled out his emergence as one of the more compelling storylines of Philadelphia's early-season run. With bigger names commanding attention in the Eagles' skill group, Wicks is winning in the space between — and defenders are starting to notice too late.

For Virginia fans, this is familiar territory. Wicks was productive in Charlottesville before going largely overlooked entering the league, and now he's proving that the gap between overlooked and impactful can close fast when the right opportunity lands.

Jonas Sanker and the Saints' Quietly Historic Fourth-Quarter Defense

In New Orleans, Jonas Sanker is part of something the Saints themselves didn't fully register until someone pointed it out. The Saints have gone eight consecutive regular-season games without surrendering a fourth-quarter touchdown — a streak that even Sanker admitted caught him off guard when he learned about it, per Heavy Sports. His reaction underscores the understated, process-driven culture the Saints' defense has been building.

Sanker, who lines up at safety for New Orleans, was part of the unit in the Saints' 24-17 win over the Baltimore Ravens on September 20 — a result that extended both the team's record and the streak. His preparation for the following week's matchup against the Raiders got a boost as well: Sanker returned to full practice participation Thursday after appearing on the injury report earlier in the week, per Sports Illustrated's Saints-Raiders injury report.

Eight games without a fourth-quarter touchdown allowed isn't just a quirky footnote. It speaks to a defense that understands how to protect leads and close games — exactly the kind of trust a safety earns when he's where he's supposed to be, every time.

The Rest of the Hoos

Elsewhere in the league, Malik Washington (Dolphins) turned in a solid all-around afternoon against the 49ers on September 20 — four catches for 43 yards plus four rushing yards — in a Miami loss. Olamide Zaccheaus (Falcons) had a quiet stretch, catching just three passes for 12 yards across two games during the period. Morgan Moses (Patriots) missed practice Wednesday ahead of New England's Week 3 game against the Jaguars, though the nature of his absence was not specified.

Virginia's footprint in the NFL is wide. Right now, Wicks and Sanker are the ones making it impossible to look away.

Virginia's NFL footprint was hard to miss in Week 1, with two Cavalier alumni making headlines for very different reasons — one with a touchdown catch that announced his arrival, the other by preparing to play virtually every position on the field.

Dontayvion Wicks, WR2 in Philadelphia

Dontayvion Wicks wasted no time justifying the Eagles' faith in him. In Philadelphia's 24-22 Week 1 win over the Washington Commanders, the former Virginia wideout logged 2 receptions for 73 yards and a touchdown — a debut that validated the off-season buzz around his expanded role in Philly's new passing offense.

Wicks operated as the Eagles' WR2 and flashed the playmaking ability that had long made him a prospect worth watching. His 36.5 yards per reception tells its own story: this wasn't volume work, it was chunk plays. The New York Times noted that Wicks has no shortage of believers inside the organization, with those close to the situation describing it plainly: "It's his time to shine." Based on Sunday's tape, those believers look prescient.

Olamide Zaccheaus, Swiss Army Knife in Atlanta

If Wicks had the cleaner storyline, Olamide Zaccheaus had the weirder — and arguably more memorable — one. Heading into Atlanta's Week 1 matchup against the Pittsburgh Steelers, the Falcons were already turning to backup quarterback Cooper Rush under emergency conditions. But Atlanta's contingency planning didn't stop there.

With injuries decimating the Falcons' quarterback and running back rooms, Zaccheaus was formally tabbed as the team's emergency option at multiple positions — including quarterback. Yes, the Virginia alum and veteran wide receiver was prepped to potentially line up under center, take handoffs as a running back, and still handle his usual WR duties if disaster struck. The Sporting News and Heavy Sports both confirmed the wild contingency plan ahead of kickoff.

On the field, Zaccheaus's stat line was modest — 1 catch for 5 yards in a 20-13 Atlanta loss — but the circumstances around his role made him one of the most-discussed players of Week 1 regardless. The Falcons' emergency architecture around him said everything about how much the organization trusts the veteran Cavalier.

Around the Rest of the Roster

Elsewhere in the UVA diaspora, Malik Washington — a Dolphins receiver — posted 3 catches for 53 yards in Miami's 27-13 win over Las Vegas, a quiet but solid debut. Saints safety Jonas Sanker also saw action in New Orleans' narrow 30-31 loss to Detroit.

Virginia's NFL alumni class enters the season with genuine contributors spread across the league, but it's Wicks and Zaccheaus who set the tone for Week 1 — one with a touchdown, the other with a job description nobody else in the league could match.