The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1508023
62 THE WOLVERINE ❱ OCTOBER 2023 BY CLAYTON SAYFIE F or the first time since 1999, the NFL started a season without legend- ary former Michigan quarterback Tom Brady on a roster. Instead, Brady was in New England being honored by his for- mer franchise, with which he won six of his seven Super Bowls. Even without Brady strapping it up, former Wolverines — particularly those on defense — had a big Week 1. The season began with a 21-20 state- ment win by the Detroit Lions in Kansas City, home of the reigning Super Bowl champions. Lions defensive end Aidan Hutchinson finished with 7 pressures and a drawn holding call in the win. His former U-M teammate Mike Danna, meanwhile, had a sack for the Chiefs. On the season's first Sunday, three more Wolverines had sacks — Josh Uche (New England Patriots), Kwity Paye (In- dianapolis Colts) and David Ojabo (Bal- timore Ravens), whose hit was a strip sack on a familiar face, Houston Texan and former Ohio State quarterback C.J. Stroud. "O-JA-BO," as FOX play-by- play commentator Gus Johnson called him, sacked Stroud to help seal the Wol- verines' 42-27 victory over the Buckeyes in 2021. For the Colts, Paye followed up with another sack the next week. First-round pick and rookie Mazi Smith, meanwhile, added a tackle for loss in the opener for the Cowboys. Second-year safety Dax Hill had a big game for the Bengals, with 2 stops for loss and his first career interception. Packers outside linebacker Rashan Gary returned after missing much of last sea- son with a torn ACL and posted 5 pres- sures on 10 pass-down snaps. In Week 2, Cowboys cornerback Jour- dan Lewis made his season debut after missing most of last season with a bro- ken foot. He was on a "pitch count" but is close to making a big impact once again. FORMER WOLVERINES IN THE NFL Through Sept. 18 • Ronnie Bell (played at U-M from 2018-22), WR, San Francisco 49ers: Played in both outings for the 2-0 49ers but didn't record any statistics. • Ben Bredeson (2016-19), G, New York Giants: Started two clashes at left guard for the 1-1 Giants but left a 31-28 Week 2 win over the Arizona Car- dinals with a concussion. • Devin Bush (2016-18), LB, Seattle Seahawks: Made 1 tackle in a 30-13 loss to the Los Angeles Rams Week 1, before missing the next game with a shoulder injury. • Zach Charbonnet (2019-20), RB Seattle Se- ahawks: Carried 7 times for 27 yards and caught 2 passes for 14 yards in two appearances for the 1-1 Seahawks. • Camaron Cheeseman (2016-19), LS, Washing- ton Commanders: Snapped 10 times in each of the 2-0 Commanders' first two tilts. • Frank Clark (2011-14), DE, Denver Broncos: Considered "week to week" with a hip injury suf- fered in practice, after making 2 tackles in a 17-16 Week 1 loss to the Las Vegas Raiders … The Bron- cos stood 0-2. • Mason Cole (2014-17), OL Pittsburgh Steelers: Started both contests at center for the 1-1 Steelers. • Nico Collins (2017-19), WR, Houston Texans: Caught his fourth career touchdown pass and first of the season in a 31-20 Week 2 loss to the India- napolis Colts … Totaled 13 grabs for 223 yards and 1 score for the 0-2 Texans. • Michael Danna (2019), DE, Kansas City Chiefs: Started both outings for the 1-1 Chiefs, posting 8 tackles, 1.5 sacks, 1 tackle for loss, 2 quarterback hits and 1 pass breakup. • Chris Evans (2016-18, 20), RB, Cincinnati Ben- gals: Missed Week 2 with a hamstring injury, after rushing twice for 12 yards and making 1 catch for minus-1 yard in a 24-3 loss to the Cleveland Browns … The Bengals stood 0-2. • Rashan Gary (2016-18), LB, Green Bay Packers: Registered a half-sack and 2 tackles with 1 quarter- back hit while coming off the bench in two games for the 1-1 Packers. • Graham Glasgow (2011-15), OL, Detroit Lions: Played in both games on special teams and one along the offensive line for the 1-1 Lions. • Brandon Graham (2006-09), DE, Philadelphia Eagles: Came off the bench to make 1 tackle, 1 stop for loss and 1 quarterback hit in both outings for the 2-0 and defending NFC champion Eagles. • Ryan Hayes (2018-22), T, Indianapolis Colts: Picked up by the Colts after being waived by the ❱ MICHIGAN IN THE PROS Wolverine Defenders Feast To Kick Off NFL Season Detroit defensive end Aidan Hutchinson finished with 7 pressures and a drawn holding call in the Lions' 21-20 win over Kansas City to open the new NFL season. PHOTO BY JEFF NGUYEN/COURTESY DETROIT LIONS