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Michigan in the NFL: Wolverine on Buckeye crime, Rashan Gary's redemption story highlight Week 12

clayton-sayfieby: Clayton Sayfie11/28/23CSayf23
Rashan Gary
(Photo by Lon Horwedel-USA TODAY Sports)

The Green Bay Packers were grateful for former Michigan Wolverines football edge rusher Rashan Gary after his monster performance in a 29-22 win over the Detroit Lions Thanksgiving Day.

Gary tied his career high with 3 sacks and had his first-ever game with 2 forced fumbles in the triumph. He was nearly unblockable, registering 4 pressures and a 90.2 Pro Football Focus (PFF) pass-rush grade, tied for the third highest among NFL edge rushers in Week 12.

One of the plays of the game came when Gary stripped Lions quarterback Jared Goff, before teammate Jonathan Owens returned the fumble 27 yards for a touchdown to put the Packers up 20-6 late in the second quarter.

Thursday’s game was a moment of redemption for Gary, who tore his ACL while playing the Lions last season. The scene in the locker room postgame was emotional, with Gary being awarded a game ball.

The former Michigan defensive end now has 8.5 sacks on the season and 4 in the last two outings. He’s laid hits on the quarterback 16 times.

“Rashan Gary quietly inserted himself into that Defensive Player of the Year conversation [Thursday]!” NFL Network’s Peter Schrager said on air. “He was the best player on the field. Rashan Gary was all over the field and he’s their emotional leader too.”

Fitting for Michigan vs. Ohio State week, Gary dominated former Ohio State offensive lineman and Lions left tackle Taylor Decker on numerous snaps.

“Rashan Gary victimizing Taylor Decker surely isn’t an omen or a harbinger for anything else that’s happening this holiday weekend,” Fox Sports’ David Helman posted on X, alluding to Michigan’s game against Ohio State, which the Wolverines wound up winning 30-24. “Surely.”

There was more Wolverine on Buckeye crime Monday night, after the Maize and Blue took care of business to cap off a 12-0 regular season. Former Michigan safety Josh Metellus stripped former Ohio State quarterback Justin Fields late in his Vikings’ 12-10 loss to Fields’ Chicago Bears. The Vikings recovered but didn’t capitalize, and the Bears went on a game-winning, field-goal-scoring drive.

Here’s a look at how every former Michigan player in the NFL performed in Week 12:

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Ronnie Bell (played at Michigan from 2018-22), WR, San Francisco 49ers

Recovered a Seattle muffed punt in a 31-13 Thanksgiving Day win over the Seattle Seahawks … Played in all 11 games for the 8-3 49ers, hauling in 4 catches for 51 yards and a touchdown and returning 1 punt for 8 yards.

Ben Bredeson (2016-19), G, New York Giants

Started in a 10-7 win over the New England Patriots … Allowed 2 pressures and no sacks … Started all 11 games in which he’s played for the 4-7 Giants.

Devin Bush (2016-18), LB, Seattle Seahawks

Played on special teams in a 31-13 loss to the San Francisco 49ers … Tallied 5 tackles in seven appearances this season.

Zach Charbonnet (2019-20), RB Seattle Seahawks

The former Michigan and UCLA running back made his first career start, carrying 14 times for 47 yards and catching 4 passes for 11 yards in a 31-13 loss to the San Francisco 49ers … Competed in 10 games with 67 rushes for 308 yards and 23 catches for 103 yards for the 6-5 Seahawks.

Camaron Cheeseman (2016-19), LS, Washington Commanders

Snapped in all 12 games for the 4-8 Commanders, including a Thanksgiving Day 45-10 loss to the Dallas Cowboys.

Frank Clark (2011-14), DE, Seattle Seahawks

Inactive for a 31-13 loss to the San Francisco 49ers despite not appearing on the injury report … Totaled 7 tackles in six games — two with the Denver Broncos and four for the Seattle Seahawks.

Mason Cole (2014-17), OL Pittsburgh Steelers

Started in a 16-10 win over the Cincinnati Bengals, posting a 64.0 overall PFF grade and allowing 1 pressure as a center … Opened all 11 games for the 7-4 Steelers.

Nico Collins (2017-19), WR, Houston Texans

Made 7 grabs for 104 yards, the third-most he’s amassed in a game this season, and his fifth touchdown of the year in a 24-21 setback to the Jacksonville Jaguars … Leads the team with 50 receptions and 800 yards with 5 touchdowns, appearing in 10 outings with five starts.

Michael Danna (2019), DE, Kansas City Chiefs

Started and racked up 3 tackles in a 31-17 win over the Las Vegas Raiders … Opened all 11 games for the 8-3 Chiefs, posting 35 tackles, 5.5 sacks, 6 tackles for loss, 8 quarterback hits and 2 pass breakups.

Chris Evans (2016-18, 20), RB, Cincinnati Bengals

Inactive this week, with his team falling to the Pittsburgh Steelers … Appeared in eight contests, rushing twice for 12 yards and catching 1 pass for minus-1 yard … Returned 2 kicks for 45 yards.

Rashan Gary (2016-18), LB, Green Bay Packers

Exploded for a career-high 3 sacks in a Thanksgiving Day win over the Detroit Lions, 29-22 … Totaled 7 tackles and laid 3 hits on the quarterback with 2 forced fumbles and a fumble recovery … Opened the last seven outings after coming off the bench in the first four, totaling 30 tackles, 16 quarterback hits, 6 tackles for loss, 8.5 sacks, 1 pass breakup, 2 forced fumbles and 1 fumble recovery.

Graham Glasgow (2011-15), OL, Detroit Lions

Allowed a team-high 8 pressures and had a 2.0 PFF pass-blocking grade in a 29-22 loss to the Green Bay Packers, starting at right guard … Opened the last nine games and played in all 11 for the 8-3 Lions.

Brandon Graham (2006-09), DE, Philadelphia Eagles

Registered 2 tackles, a stop for loss, a sack and a quarterback hit in a 37-34 overtime win over the Buffalo Bills Sunday night … Totaled 9 stops, 3 tackles for loss, 3 sacks, 6 quarterback hits and 1 pass breakup in 11 games this season.

Dax Hill (2019-21), S, Cincinnati Bengals

The former Michigan defensive back made 7 tackles and a pass breakup in a 16-10 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers … Started all 11 games for the 5-6 Bengals, tallying 74 tackles, 5 stops for loss, 1.5 sacks, 3 quarterback hits, 2 interceptions and 9 passes defended.

James Hudson (2017-18), OT, Cleveland Browns

Saw 1 offensive snap and 2 special teams plays in a 29-12 loss to the Denver Broncos … Appeared in 10 outings with two starts for the 7-4 Browns.

Khaleke Hudson (2016-19), LB, Washington Commanders

Notched 3 tackles while playing defense off the bench and special teams in a 45-10 blowout loss to the Dallas Cowboys … Seen time in all 12 clashes for the 4-8 Commanders, totaling 18 tackles, a sack, 1 tackle for loss and a quarterback hit.

Maurice Hurst II (2014-17), DT, Cleveland Browns

Made a tackle in a 29-12 loss to the Denver Broncos … Came off the bench in all 11 tilts for the 7-4 Browns, with 18 tackles, a half-sack, 2 tackles for loss, 3 quarterback hits, 1 interception and 3 passes defended.

Aidan Hutchinson (2018-21), DL, Detroit Lions

The former Michigan Heisman Trophy runner-up made 2 tackles, including 1 behind the line of scrimmage, and a quarterback hit in a 29-22 setback to the Green Bay Packers … Leads the team with 5.5 sacks, adding 15 quarterback hits, 5 tackles for loss, 34 total stops, 1 interception, 4 pass breakups, 2 fumble recoveries and 2 forced fumbles while opening all 11 clashes for the 8-3 Lions.

Jourdan Lewis (2013-16), CB, Dallas Cowboys

Started and posted 6 tackles in a 45-10 victory over the Washington Commanders on Thanksgiving Day … Competed in 10 games with three starts for the 8-3 Cowboys, registering 29 tackles, 2 tackle for loss, 1 pass breakup, 2 forced fumbles and a fumble recovery.

David Long Jr. (2016-18), CB, Carolina Panthers

Started for the first time since being picked up by the Carolina Panthers ahead of Week 9, posting 7 tackles in a 17-10 loss to the Tennessee Titans … Appeared in three games with his new team, which just fired head coach Frank Reich.

Jalen Mayfield (2018-20), G, New York Giants

Has not played since Week 7 … Appeared in three contests as a reserve for the 4-8 Giants.

Cameron McGrone (2018-20), LB, Indianapolis Colts

Inactive the last two weeks for the 6-5 Colts … Played on special teams in eight contests this season with no stats.

Josh Metellus (2016-19), S, Minnesota Vikings

The former Michigan defensive back forced a huge fumble late in the game with his team up 10-9 in a 12-10 loss to the Chicago Bears … Added 9 tackles, a half-sack, a quarterback hit and another forced fumble … Started all 12 outings or the 6-6 Vikings, tallying 81 tackles, 1.5 sacks, 5 stops for loss, 1 interception, 4 pass breakups, 3 forced fumbles and 1 fumble recovery.

Jake Moody (2018-22), K, San Francisco 49ers

Drilled a 32-yard field goal in a 31-13 triumph over the San Francisco 49ers Thanksgiving Day, before attending Michigan’s 30-24 win over Ohio State Saturday in Ann Arbor … Is 6-for-6 on field goals in his last four games and 17-of-20 in 11 outings on the year … Perfect 37-for-37 on extra points for the 8-3 49ers.

Mike Morris (2019-22), DE, Seattle Seahawks

Out for the season with a shoulder injury after recording 3 tackles in Week 1.

David Ojabo (2019-21), OLB, Baltimore Ravens

Underwent surgery on his torn ACL last week and will miss the rest of the season … Played in the first three games, starting one, and made 6 tackles, 1 sack, 1 quarterback hit and 1 forced fumble.

Olu Oluwatimi (2022), C, Seattle Seahawks

Saw time on special teams in a 31-13 loss to the San Francisco 49ers … Appeared in 10 outings, including two on offense with one start, for the 6-5 Seahawks.

Mike Onwenu (2016-19), OL, New England Patriots

The former Michigan offensive lineman started and posted a stellar 80.3 overall PFF grade, allowing no sacks on 37 pass-blocking snaps, in a 10-7 loss to the New York Giants … Opened nine games for the 2-9 Patriots.

Kwity Paye (2017-20), DE, Indianapolis Colts

The former Michigan defensive end started and posted 2 tackles, a tackle for loss, 1 sack and a quarterback hit in a 27-20 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers … Opened 10 games for the 6-5 Colts, tallying 33 tackles, 6 stops for loss, 5.5 sacks, 7 quarterback hits and 2 fumble recoveries.

Donovan Peoples-Jones (2017-19), WR, Detroit Lions

Played eight snaps in a 29-22 loss to the Green Bay Packers … Has been targeted once in two games with no catches for the 8-3 Lions, after being traded from the Cleveland Browns … With his previous team, he recorded 8 catces for 97 yards and returned 13 punts with a 6.5-yard average.

Jabrill Peppers (2014-16), DB, New England Patriots

The former Michigan Heisman finalist started and tacked on 3 tackles, 1 sack, 1 quarterback hit and 1 tackle for loss in a 10-7 loss to the New York Giants … Started all 11 clashes for the 2-9 Patriots, posting 62 tackles, 1 sack, 5 tackles for loss, 2 quarterback hits, 1 interception, 6 pass breakups, 1 forced fumble and 1 fumble recovery.

Brad Robbins (2017-22), P, Cincinnati Bengals

Punted 6 times with a 41.8-yard average, allowing 12 return yards, in a 16-10 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers … Attempted 54 punts with a 44.5-yard average in 11 games this season.

Cesar Ruiz (2017-19), C/G, New Orleans Saints

Allowed 3 pressures and no sacks while starting at right guard in a 24-15 loss to the Atlanta Falcons … Opened 10 outings for the 5-6 Saints.

Jon Runyan (2015-19), G, Green Bay Packers

The former Michigan offensive lineman started at right guard, allowed 1 pressures and registered a 46.7 overall PFF rating in a 29-22 win over the Detroit Lions … Opened all 11 clashes for the 5-6 Packers.

Luke Schoonmaker (2018-22), TE, Dallas Cowboys

Hauled in 1 catch, his sixth of the season, for 12 yards in a 45-10 win over the Washington Commanders … Recorded 49 receiving yards and 2 touchdowns while coming off the bench in all 11 tilts for the 8-3 Cowboys.

Mazi Smith (2019-22), DT, Dallas Cowboys

The first-round draft choice and rookie posted a tackle in a 45-10 win over the Washington Commanders … Marked his third straight game with at least 1 tackle … Tallied 10 stops, including 2 behind the line of scrimmage, in 11 outings off the bench for the 8-3 Cowboys.

Ambry Thomas (2017-20), CB, San Francisco 49ers

The former Michigan cornerback had an interception and 2 pass breakups with 1 tackle in a 31-13 win over the Seattle Seahawks … Played in 10 games with two starts for the 8-3 49ers, registering 24 tackles, 1 interception, 3 pass breakups, 1 forced fumble and 1 fumble recovery.

DJ Turner II (2019-22), CB, Cincinnati Bengals

Started his seventh consecutive game, a 16-10 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers in which had broke up a career-high 2 passes and made a career-best 5 tackles … Totaled 25 tackles, 1 sack, 1 stop for loss, 1 quarterback hit and 5 pass breakups in 11 clashes for the 5-6 Bengals.

Josh Uche (2016-19), LB, New England Patriots

Came off the bench and didn’t have any stats in a 10-7 loss to the New York Giants … Made 6 tackles, including 1 for loss and 2 sacks, with 4 quarterback hits in nine games.

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