Week One of the NFL season kicks off Wednesday night as the Super Bowl Champion Seattle Seahawks host the New England Patriots in a rematch of Super Bowl LX. One former Gopher will hopefully dress for that game, but over the course of the rest of the week one schedule you will see many other former Gophers. As the season kicks off a total of 18 former Gophers are on 53-man active NFL rosters with another five on a team’s practice squad. We cover them all below along with their Week 1 schedule.
Arizona Cardinals
Week 1 @ Los Angeles Chargers
Jamison Geers—TE-Injured Reserve
Geers
was not released with an injury settlement and remains on IR with the Cardinals. He will not play in 2026 but could use the season as a redshirt year as Justin Walley did a season ago with the Colts and hopefully will be back and fighting for a job in fall camp with Arizona next fall.
Jack Gibbons-LB
Gibbons will either start at linebacker for the Cardinals or be the first backer off the bench as Arizona heads to LA to take on the Chargers.
Baltimore Ravens
Week 1 @ Indianapolis Colts
Rashod Bateman-WR
Bateman was not put on the commissioners exempt list and will begin the season on the Ravens active roster while awaiting his legal issues to play out. He’s currently listed as a starting WR alongside Zay Flowers, but it will be interesting to see how promising rookie Ja’Kobi Lane eats into his snaps.
Cincinnati Bengals
Week 1 vs Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Boye Mafe—DE
Mafe will start for the Bengals in Week 1 and may line up against former teammate Ko Kieft at some point in the game.
Dallas Cowboys
Week 1 @ New York Giants—Sunday Night
Brevin Span-Ford—TE
Span-Ford will be TE2 for Dallas as they open the season against a slew of former teammates on the Giants roster. His playing time will fluxuate but he will see plenty of special teams action as well as offensive snaps.
Green Bay Packers
Week 1 @ Minnesota Vikings
Benjamin St. Juste—CB
St. Juste will either start in the Packers secondary or be one of the first corners off of the bench as Green Bay returns to the Twin Cities to face the Vikings in Week 1.
Houston Texans
Week 1 vs Buffalo Bills
Aireontae Ersery—OT
Ersery will start at left tackle as the Texans open the season hosting Buffalo.
Indianapolis Colts
Week 1 vs Baltimore Ravens
Justin Walley—CB
Walley will start at slot corner for the Colts in his NFL debut after missing the 2025 season with a torn ACL. Could he cover fellow former Gopher Rashod Bateman at times?
Jacksonville Jaguars
Week 1 vs Cleveland Browns
Eric Murray—S
Murray will stat at safety against the Browns on Sunday
Daniel Faalele—OG
Faalele made the Jas after they traded for him during camp and will be the backup swing guard for Jacksonville to start the season.
Danny Striggow—DE
Striggow will be a rotational piece on the defensive line and likely see special teams snaps as well to open the season.
Las Vegas Raiders
Week 1 vs Miami Dolphins
Cody Lindenberg—LB
Lindenberg earned the trust of the new Raiders coaching staff and will be a backup LB for the silver and black and also see plenty of special teams snaps.
Minnesota Vikings
Week 1 vs Green Bay Packers
Max Brosmer—QB-Practice Squad
Brosmer initially made the final 53-man roster for the Vikings and then after they added a pair of offensive linemen via waivers was cut and added to the practice squad. He will await a resolution to the JJ McCarthy saga to see if he gets promoted back to the active roster.
Blake Cashman—LB
Cashman will start at linebacker against the Packers in Week 1
New Orleans Saints
Week 1 @ Detroit Lions
Jordan Howden—S
Howden clung to his spot barely and will be a backup safety for New Orleans and will see plenty of special teams snaps.
New York Giants
Week 1 vs Dallas Cowboys—Sunday Night
John-Michael Schmitz—C
JMS will start at center for the Giants against Dallas in Week 1.
Tyler Nubin—S
Nubin is the likely starter at safety in week one for the Giants and could see himself matched up against former teammate Brevan Span-Ford at one point during the game.
Pittsburgh Steelers
Kyler Baugh-DT—Practice Squad
Baugh did not make the active roster but the Steelers did sign him to the practice squad for the season season in a row.
Esezi Otomewo—DT—Practice Squad
Otomewo did not make the active roster but could be the first DL called up if an injury happens.
Seattle Seahawks
Week 1 Vs New England Patriots—Wednesday Night
Deven Eastern—DT—Practice Squad
Eastern did not have a great rookie camp but apparently showed enough that Seattle wanted him to stick around on their practice squad.
Nick Kallerup—TE
Kallerup stuck on the roster due to his great blocking ability and his special teams talents. He may be inactive some weeks but he did make the final 53-man roster and will be on the sidelines on Wednesday.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Week 1 @ Cincinnati Bengals
Ko Kieft-TE
Kieft will once again be a special teams ace and blocking tight end for the Bucs this season.
Antoine Winfield, JR—S
Winfield obviously will start at safety Week 1.
Washington Commanders
Terell Smith—CB— Practice Squad
Smith was banged up again in camp with the Bears this fall and Chicago decided they could not trust him, so Smith was cut. He ended up signing with Washington’s practice squad and hopefully can work his way back to the active roster.
Free Agents:
Le’ Meke Brockington—WR
Brockington did not sing with anyone after being cut from Atlanta with an injury designation and is a free agent.
Ethan Robinson—CB
Robinson was cut by the Dolphins with an injury designation and was not picked up by any other NFL team. He spend much of 2025 on the Dolphins practice squad so if he is healthy he cold be a mid-season addition to a practice squad somewhere.
Tyler Cooper—OG
Cooper was cut by Washington early in camp and didn’t sign anywhere else.
Drew Biber—TE
Biber was cut by both the Packers and Browns in camp and did not catch onto a practice squad. He awaits a call.
Tyler Johnson—WR
Johnson was cut by the Cowboys at the end of camp and currently is a free agent.
Jai’Onte’ McMillan—CB
McMillan was cut by the Colts after previously being cut by the Dolphins.
Jack Henderson-S
Henderson was cut by the Steelers and could potentially be a later season practice squad add for somebody with his versataility.
