Former Michigan Wolverines wasted little time making an impact during Week 1 of the 2026 NFL season. From Aidan Hutchinson getting after the quarterback to Nico Collins finding the end zone, here are some of the best performances from Michigan alumni to open the year.
Aidan Hutchinson, edge, Detroit Lions
New year, same Hutchinson. He started his season with five tackles, two sacks and two tackles for loss in Detroit’s wild 31-30 overtime victory over New Orleans. His performance helped the Lions survive despite New Orleans piling up
469 yards of offense and throwing for 410 yards.
Hutchinson’s two sacks also continued an impressive run for the former No. 2 overall pick, tying a Lions franchise record by recording a sack in seven consecutive games dating back to last season. Not a bad way to start his fifth year in the league.
Nico Collins, WR, Houston Texans
Collins remains a major part of Houston’s offense. The former Wolverine caught seven of 10 targets for 75 yards and a touchdown in the Texans’ 36-31 loss to Buffalo. He also carried the ball once for seven yards, giving him 82 yards from scrimmage.
Collins’ touchdown came with 26 seconds remaining in the first half, when C.J. Stroud found him for a 12-yard score to cut Buffalo’s lead to 24-21. Collins led Houston in receptions, targets and receiving yards in the opener.
Mason Graham, DT, Cleveland Browns
Cleveland’s opener wasn’t pretty, but Graham still found a way to make an impact. The defensive tackle recorded five combined tackles, including two solo stops, and a sack in the Browns’ 34-10 loss to Jacksonville. That sack was a big one, too, as Graham brought down Trevor Lawrence for an 11-yard loss.
It was already twice Graham’s sack total from his entire rookie season, when he finished with 49 tackles and half a sack across 17 starts. One game into this year, the former No. 5 overall pick is already off to a better start in that department.
Colston Loveland, TE, Chicago Bears
Chicago scored 59 points and racked up 552 yards of offense in its opener against Carolina. Somehow, Loveland didn’t get to join the stat-sheet party. The former Michigan tight end was targeted three times but did not record a reception in the Bears’ 59-37 victory.
Chicago threw for 269 yards and rushed for another 283, so it was certainly a strange afternoon for Loveland in an otherwise explosive offensive performance.
Quick hitters
- Linebacker Devin Bush recorded six tackles and a fumble recovery for Chicago in its 59-37 victory over Carolina.
- Edge rusher Kwity Paye recorded three tackles and two sacks for the Las Vegas Raiders in their win over the Miami Dolphins.
- Will Johnson made four tackles in Arizona’s 26-14 road victory over the Chargers.
- Mike Sainristil recorded five total tackles for the Commanders in a 24-22 loss at Philadelphia.
- Kris Jenkins had a sack and a quarterback hit in Cincinnati’s 33-27 win over Tampa Bay.
- Derrick Moore made his NFL debut for Detroit after the Lions selected the former Wolverine with the No. 44 overall pick in April’s draft. He did not record any stats in the win over the Saints.
- Max Bredeson also made his NFL debut with Minnesota after being selected in the fifth round of the 2026 NFL Draft.
- Ben Bredeson started along Tampa Bay’s offensive line in the Buccaneers’ 33-27 loss to Cincinnati. It was the 54th start of his NFL career.
