How former Rutgers Football players performed in the NFL's Week One
Three weeks of football are officially in the books, with Rutgers two games into its schedule and the NFL finishing its opening week.
Several former Scarlet Knights continue to hold roster spots in the league, some off the bench and some in their respective teams’ starting lineups.
Here is how every former Rutgers standout performed in Week One of NFL action.
Former Scarlet Knights currently on 53-man rosters
| PLAYER | POSITION | NFL TEAM | NUMBER OF WEEK ONE SNAPS (PER PFF) |
| Isiah Pacheco | RB | Kansas City Chiefs | 31 |
| Kyle Monangai | RB | Chicago Bears | 9 |
| Sebastian Joseph-Day | DL | Tennessee Titans | 35 |
| Max Melton | CB | Arizona Cardinals | 75 |
| Bo Melton | CB | Green Bay Packers | 13 (All special teams) |
| Eric Rogers | CB | Los Angeles Chargers | DNP (On Injured Reserve) |
| Christian Braswell | CB | Jacksonville Jaguars | 13 (All special teams) |
| Christian Izien | S | Tampa Bay Buccaneers | DNP (Oblique) |
| Andrew DePaola | LS | Minnesota Vikings | 10 |
| Mike Burton **Injured Reserve** | FB | Denver Broncos | DNP (On Injured Reserve) |
| Kyonte Hamilton **Injured Reserve** | DL | Houston Texans | DNP (On Injured Reserve) |
| Robert Longerbeam **Injured Reserve** | CB | Baltimore Ravens | DNP (On Injured Reserve) |
RB Isiah Pacheco, Kansas City Chiefs
Pacheco entered his fourth year in the NFL looking to regain his footing on the Chiefs’ offense after dealing with a fractured fibula suffered early in 2024.
In Kansas City’s dramatic loss to the Chargers in Brazil, Pacheco carried the ball five times for 25 yards, also catching two passes for three yards. 16 of his 25 yards on the ground came after contact. The Vineland native appears to be in a timeshare alongside Kareem Hunt, with rookie Brashard Smith also fighting for carries, though Pacheco’s 31 snaps led all halfbacks on the team.
Pacheco’s production may not be as gaudy, especially with Hunt receiving several of the goal-line snaps. The 252nd pick in the 2022 Draft still holds plenty of value to the Chiefs, however, thanks to his work in early downs and relatively strong efficiency on the ground. His defined role remains to be seen, but at the very least, Pacheco and Hunt continue to tote the rock next to one of the NFL’s top signal-callers.
RB Kyle Monangai, Chicago Bears
The other Scarlet Knight running back in the league, Monangai made his NFL debut on Monday Night Football, which saw the Bears fall to the Minnesota Vikings after a furious comeback led by first-time starting quarterback J.J. McCarthy.
The 2023 Big Ten rushing champion saw plenty of buzz during training camp and the preseason, thanks in large part to the creative mind of new head coach Ben Johnson, as well as Monangai’s progress throughout the offseason. D’Andre Swift held firm on the starting job, while Monangai and veteran Roschon Johnson fought for backup duties, though Johnson’s time as the Detroit Lions’ offensive coordinator showcased his creativity and variation in the run game leaving the door open for all three to contribute.
Add in the fact that Johnson was ruled out for Week One due to a foot injury, Monangai’s NFL debut saw plenty of intrigue for his role and production ahead of the game.
It did not quite pan out that way, as the Don Bosco product did not record a rushing attempt in his debut. His lone recorded stat came in Chicago’s opening drive, when quarterback Caleb Williams found him for a checkdown on a long-developing play-action pass. Monangai rumbled ahead for 11 yards for his first career reception.
While he did not light up the stat sheet, Monangai did see the field for nine total snaps. The Bears used him in several passing downs, where he stood out as a pass blocker in his college days. He picked up a few blitzes, though he was also whistled for a holding penalty that was declined after a third-down incompletion.
Johnson (the running back)’s availability and Johnson (the head coach)’s comfort level with the position group will determine Monangai’s participation and effectiveness early in his career.
CB Max Melton, Arizona Cardinals
Melton kicked off his second year in a young – but promising – Cardinals secondary, helping Arizona take down the New Orleans Saints 20-13, while playing all 75 defensive snaps.
Overall, Melton finished a solid season-opener even after an up-and-down start. He led all Arizona defenders in targets (10), receptions (five), and yards (60) allowed, and also committed an illegal contact penalty that wiped out an interception by rookie Will Johnson.
The 43rd overall pick in the 2024 Draft cleaned up his coverage in the second half and finished as the Cardinals’ second-highest graded cornerback, according to Pro Football Focus, behind Johnson. He also allowed only five yards after the catch, meaning the receptions he did allow were shut down quickly after. Melton also ranked near the top of Arizona’s defense with a 68.8 passer rating allowed.
Despite a bit of a slow start, Melton’s first game of his sophomore season in the NFL was largely a success and showcased the ceiling of the Cardinals’ entire youth movement in the secondary.
DL Sebastian Joseph-Day, Tennessee Titans
Joseph-Day entered his seventh NFL season with his fourth team. He suited up for his second season with the Titans in the season-opening 20-12 loss to the Denver Broncos on the road.
Despite facing a strong Broncos offensive line, Joseph-Day and fellow interior defensive lineman Jeffery Simmons wreaked havoc in the backfield. The former was solid as always defending the run, finishing with five tackles, and made a splash play with his interior running mate.
Midway through the second quarter in a 3-3 tie game, Denver quarterback Bo Nix took a deep play-action dropback and tried to step up in the pocket before being clobbered by Simmons. The ball flew out of Nix’s hand as he was about to enter his throwing motion, and landed right next to Joseph-Day, who fell on top of it for a turnover in opposing territory.
The ensuing drive for Tennessee and No. 1 overall pick Cam Ward resulted in a field goal.
Joseph-Day’s role in the league continues to serve as a solid veteran presence and run-stuffer on the interior, but a star like Simmons next to him only helps his effectiveness.
CB Bo Melton, Green Bay Packers
One of the surprises of training camp, Melton officially changed positions and joined his brother Max as a defensive back after three years as a wide receiver in Green Bay. The Packers dominated the division rival Detroit Lions 27-13 to open the season.
Melton’s season debut – and first game on defense – did not exactly go to plan, as he left the game with a shoulder injury in the first half and did not return. He also did not log a snap on defense, instead seeing all of his action on special teams. Melton and rookie Savion Williams served as Green Bay’s two kick returners, though both of the Lions’ returned kickoffs went to Williams.
Melton did not practice on Monday due to the shoulder injury, and with a short week ahead of the Packers hosting the Washington Commanders on Thursday, it may be another week until he sees the field fully healthy.
Getting back to 100 percent will be important for both Melton and Green Bay, considering the lack of both high-end talent and depth in the team’s cornerback room.
CB Christian Braswell, Jacksonville Jaguars
Not very often does a sixth-round pick survive a coaching change, but Braswell did enough ahead of his third NFL season to earn the trust of new head coach Liam Coen and staff, including former Rutgers safeties coach and new Jaguars assistant defensive backs coach Drew Lascari.
Braswell’s season-opener – similar to Melton’s – saw all 13 snaps played on special teams, including seven on kickoff coverage.
The former Scarlet Knight and Temple transfer had a solid training camp, however, standing out in scrimmages when called upon due to other injuries in Jacksonville’s cornerback room. He currently stands as a depth piece in the secondary with the potential to get called upon if needed.
LS Andrew DePaola, Minnesota Vikings
Rutgers has a fair case to stake a claim for the title of “Long Snapper U,” thanks in large part to the efforts of DePaola, who seeks his fourth straight All-Pro nod in his sixth season with the Vikings and 14th overall in the NFL.
The 38-year-old was named a team captain and has kept a stronghold on the starting long-snapping gig in Minneapolis. He was plenty busy facing off against Monangai and the Bears on Monday night, as Minnesota punted seven times and kicked two field goals.
DePaola remained steady all game long, as kicker Will Reichard converted on both of his field goal attempts – including a 59-yarder to close the first half – and punter Ryan Wright cleanly handled his kicks, averaging 47.6 yards per punt.
Even as one of the NFL’s oldest active players – a bit over a year younger than quarterback Josh Johnson, who ranks as the tenth-oldest – DePaola appears to still be at his best snapping the ball on special teams.
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