The NFL delivered the highest-scoring Week 1 of the Super Bowl era (tying the 2012 season with 791 total points) over the weekend, and several former Virginia Cavaliers cashed in with hot starts.
Here’s every notable performance this week from the ’Hoos in the pros.
Olamide Zaccheaus | WR, Atlanta Falcons
While Zaccheaus logged just one reception for five yards in the Falcons’ season-opening 20-13 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers, he earned some headlines after being named both Atlanta’s emergency quarterback and emergency running back in Week
1.
Though Zaccheaus hasn’t attempted a pass in the pros, the do-it-all vet was 2-for-2 as a passer at UVA, including a 15-yard touchdown strike to Evan Butts in a 2015 win over Duke at Scott Stadium.
Malik Washington | WR, Miami Dolphins
Washington led Miami with eight targets on Sunday, catching three balls for 53 yards in the Dolphins’ 27-13 loss to the Las Vegas Raiders.
It’s looking like it could be a long season for the Dolphins, but Washington should continue to be a featured part of the Miami offense. The former ’Hoo flashed on special teams as well against the Raiders, ripping off a 17-yard punt return.
Jonas Sanker | NB, New Orleans Saints
Sanker generated a lot of preseason buzz heading into year two, and he delivered on the hype with a strong Week 1 showing. The Charlottesville native led the Saints with 10 total tackles (seven solo), including one tackle for a loss.
The second-year nickelback’s day was nearly even better. Sanker scooped up a Jared Goff fumble in the second quarter and took it into the end zone for what would have been his first NFL touchdown, but the play was controversially overruled and deemed an incomplete pass. Nevertheless, the former Virginia defensive standout looks to be in store for a huge season in New Orleans.
Dontayvion Wicks | WR, Philadelphia Eagles
Perhaps it’s too early to take a victory lap, but Wicks is already making good on my prediction that he’d be one of the league’s biggest breakout players this season after delivering two catches for 73 yards and a touchdown in Philadelphia’s 24-22 win over the Washington Commanders on Sunday.
The fourth-year wideout got his afternoon started by beating the Commanders’ secondary over the top for a 64-yard gain in the first quarter.
Wicks later put his route-running skills on display with a nifty move to get open in the back of the end zone for a nine-yard touchdown.
Honorable mention: Malachi Fields | WR, New York Giants
Despite spending four seasons at UVA, Charlottesville native Malachi Fields doesn’t officially get recognized as a former ’Hoo by the NFL due to his final collegiate season being played at Notre Dame.
Nevertheless, Fields will always have a special place in the hearts of Virginia fans, and he got his NFL career off to a promising start on Sunday Night Football. The rookie third-round selection caught two passed for 25 yards in his NFL debut as the Giants upset the Dallas Cowboys in primetime. Fields’s four targets were tied for third-most on the team, as it seems the rookie has already earned himself a prominent spot in New York’s offensive gameplan.
