The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1546678
OCTOBER 2026 ❱ THE WOLVERINE 63 BY CLAYTON SAYFIE T he former Michigan football edge rusher duo of Aidan Hutchinson and Kwity Paye was dubbed "Salt And Pepper" during their playing days in Ann Arbor. They're no longer team- mates — Hutchinson a star for the De- troit Lions and Paye a new addition to the Las Vegas Raiders — but they both had monster performances the first two weeks of the 2026 NFL season. Hutchinson led the NFL with 10 pres- sures, adding 2 sacks in a 31-30 overtime victory over the New Orleans Saints in Week 1. He's coming off a season in which he posted a career-best 14.5 sacks and was considered the No. 30 player in the NFL as voted on by the players com- ing into the 2026 campaign. Hutchinson followed that up by forc- ing a fumble and totaling 1 sack, 1 TFL and 3 tackles in a 41-31 loss to Buffalo the following Thursday. The Lions de- fense didn't record a stop until late in the second half, a rough performance that led to the outcome. "They got after us today, for sure," Hutchinson said. "That was not good enough. There will be changes." Paye, meanwhile, is lining up op- posite Maxx Crosby, the No. 24 player in the NFL 100, and seeing favorable matchups because of it. Paye notched his fifth-ever 2-sack game in a 27-13 win against the Miami Dolphins in Week 1. Paye signed a three-year, $48 million contract with the Raiders in free agency, after spending the first five years of his NFL career with the Indianapolis Colts. "I got more one-on-ones today, for sure," Paye said of the opener against the Dolphins. "The slide protection was away from me. "I think it proves the front office right for wanting to come and get me. It's a testament to those guys for wanting me, and I just have to prove them right." Paye laid a hit on Los Angeles Char- gers quarterback Justin Herbert in a 26- 14 victory in Week 2 and added 2 tackles. FORMER WOLVERINES IN THE NFL Through Sept. 21 • Erick All Jr. (played at U-M from 2019- 22), TE, Cincinnati Bengals: Caught 2 passes for 5 yards in two appearances off the bench for the 2-0 Bengals. • Jaishawn Barham (2024-25), LB, Dallas Cowboys: Tallied 13 tackles with 2 for loss in two games with one start for the 1-1 Cow- boys. • AJ Barner (2023), TE, Seattle Seahawks: Reeled in 3 receptions for 21 yards and rushed once for a 1-yard touchdown in a pair of starts for the 2-0 defending Super Bowl champions. • Ben Bredeson (2016-19), OG, Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Started at left guard in both games for the 0-2 Buccaneers, grading out at 57.9 overall per PFF. • Max Bredeson (2021-25), FB, Minnesota Vikings: Appeared in two games for the 2-0 Vikings, registering a 60.7 PFF run-blocking grade to rank fifth on the team. • Devin Bush (2016-18), LB, Chicago Bears: Broke up 1 pass and added 10 tackles and 1 TFL in two starts for the 1-1 Bears. ❱ MICHIGAN IN THE PROS 'Salt And Pepper' Start Strong Former U-M defensive end Kwity Paye has excelled with the Las Vegas Raiders early in the 2026 NFL season. PHOTO COURTESY LAS VEGAS RAIDERS