We’re seven weeks into the NFL season — time flies when you’re having fun — and there’s more than a few former Michigan Wolverines making an impact for their respective teams. Let’s start off this week’s
edition of Pro Blue with a player whose first sack of the season came at a great time.
Joshua Uche records sack in fourth quarter of Eagles win, Brandon Graham coming out of retirement
Carson Wentz and the Minnesota Vikings were driving down the field trailing by nine points and hoping to pull within one score of the Philadelphia Eagles late in the fourth quarter on Sunday. Sacks are more valuable in the red zone, and Joshua Uche recorded a sack on 1st-and-goal with the Vikings on the precipice of scoring.
The drive was stalled, the Vikings kicked a field goal, and the Eagles ended up winning, 28-22. Uche finished with three tackles, two tackles for loss and this sack, which also counted as a quarterback hit. In this same game, Vikings safety Joshua Metellus recorded eight tackles, a tackle for loss and half a sack.
Next week, Uche won’t be the only Michigan player to be part of Michigan’s front seven. Brandon Graham, who played for the Philadelphia Eagles from 2010-2024, is expected to come out of retirement to rejoin the Eagles.
Graham won two Super Bowls with the Eagles (2017, 2024), and over 15 seasons, he was named an All-Pro in 2016 and a Pro Bowler in 2020. His 76.5 sacks rank third in franchise history.
Graham and Uche will be terrorizing backfields together soon.
Forcing and gathering fumbles
Two former Wolverines, who are now division rivals, have been a huge part of the pass rush for their respective teams. In a win against the Arizona Cardinals, Green Bay Packers defensive end Rashan Gary recorded a sack and forced Jacoby Brissett to fumble in the process.
On Pro Football Focus, Gary has earned a defense grade of 70.3 (37th out of 110 defenders) and is ranked as the 11th best run defender among edge defenders (76.3 grade).
In that same game, Cardinals cornerback Will Johnson recorded three tackles, one of them solo.
Gary is teammates with the No. 1 edge defender on PFF (Micah Parsons, 93.3), but Aidan Hutchinson isn’t far behind him (92.2). In a win for the Detroit Lions on Monday Night Football, Hutchinson fell on a key fumble late in the second half.
Hutchinson ended with two tackles and a pass defensed. In that same game, Lions center Graham Glasgow helped Detroit rush for 164 yards and two scores, although the unit did allow Jared Goff to be sacked four times. For the Buccaneers, center Ben Bredeson helped his squad rush for 41 yards and gave up four sacks.
Other notable performances
-In a win over the Pittsburgh Steelers on Thursday Night Football, Bengals cornerback DJ Turner II had one of the most insane picks you’ll ever see.
In that same game, safety Dax Hill recorded three tackles and a quarterback hit.
-In a blowout win over the Jacksonville Jaguars in London, Los Angeles Rams edge rusher Josiah Stewart recorded two tackles and his second sack of the season. In that same game, Blake Corum rushed for 37 yards on 12 carries.
-In a win over the Miami Dolphins, Cleveland Browns linebacker Devin Bush recorded six tackles. Among 77 linebackers, he has the fifth-highest grade on PFF (86.7).
-In a win over the New Orleans Saints, Chicago Bears kicker Jake Moody made all four field goal attempts, including a long of 39 yards.
-In a blowout win over the Las Vegas Raiders, Kansas City Chiefs defensive end Mike Danna recorded a tackle and a quarterback hit.
-In a win over the Los Angeles Chargers, Indianapolis Colts defensive end Kwity Paye recorded two quarterback hits.
-In a loss to the Dallas Cowboys, Washington Commanders cornerback Mike Sainristil recorded two tackles and two passes defensed.
-In a loss to the Seattle Seahawks on Monday Night Football, Houston Texans wide receiver Nico Collins caught four passes for 27 yards. He also sustained a concussion in the loss and may miss some time.
