Wolverines in the NFL: Former Michigan D-linemen rack up sacks in Week 11
Former Michigan Wolverines football defensive linemen had huge performances over the weekend, with four notching sacks.
In his first start of the season, filling in for the injured T.J. Watt, Taco Charlton recorded a half-sack in the Pittsburgh Steelers’ 41-37 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers. He also added two tackles and one quarterback hit in his first significant bit of playing time this year, after being picked up by the club midseason.
Kansas City Chiefs defensive end Frank Clark had a slow start to the campaign and missed some time due to injuries, but he has heated up as of late. He even made a game-changing play in the team’s 19-9 win over the Dallas Cowboys, which has the league’s top-ranked offense. Clark had a strip sack that the Chiefs recovered in the first quarter, setting up a field goal to go up 9-0.
Indianapolis Colts rookie Kwity Paye, meanwhile, has battled injuries as well, but has put together a monster stretch over the last three weeks. In his last 10 quarters, he’s notched six quarterback hits, two sacks, two forced fumbles, a tackle for loss and one pass breakup. He has 26 pressures on the season, with 17 of those coming in the last three contests. After generating his first career strip sack in a 41-15 win over the Buffalo Bills this past weekend, he was nominated for the NFL’s Rookie of the Week honor.
Finally, interior defensive lineman Bryan Mone got in on the fun for the Seattle Seahawks. He had four tackles, 1.5 sacks, two quarterback hits and one forced fumble in the team’s 23-13 loss to the Arizona Cardinals. Despite not being a full-time starter, the mammoth former Michigan tackle has been critical for his team this year, with 27 stops.
Here is a complete update on every former Michigan football player in the NFL.
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Tom Brady (Played at U-M from 1995-99), QB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Completed 30 of his 46 pass attempts for 307 yards and two touchdowns with one interception in the 7-3 Buccaneers’ 30-10 win over the New York Giants Monday night … Leads the NFL with 317.7 passing yards per game and 29 touchdown tosses … Connecting on 67.1 percent of his passes for an average of 7.5 yards per attempt.
Ben Bredeson (2016-19), OL, New York Giants
Did not play in the 3-7 Giants’ 30-10 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers Monday night … Started one of his four appearances, posting a 48.2 overall Pro Football Focus (PFF) grade.
Devin Bush Jr. (2016-18), LB, Pittsburgh Steelers
Started and registered four tackles in the 5-4-1 Steelers’ 41-37 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers … Starting nine games, Bush has 45 tackles, including two stops for loss, four quarterback hits, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery and one pass defended.
Taco Charlton (2013-16), DE, Pittsburgh Steelers
Made his first start of the season in the 5-4-1 Steelers’ 41-37 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers, recording a half-sack, two tackles and one quarterback hit … In four appearances, he’s totaled eight tackles, a half-sack and one hit on the quarterback.
Camaron Cheeseman (2016-19), LS, Washington Football Team
Snapped on punts and placekicks 72 times in seven contests for the 4-6 Football Team, which beat the Carolina Panthers this past weekend, 27-21.
Frank Clark (2011-14), DE, Kansas City Chiefs
Opened the game and notched a strip sack, one tackle and three quarterback hits in the 7-4 Chiefs’ 19-9 win over the Dallas Cowboys … Started all eight contests in which he’s played, accumulating 10 stops, two tackles for loss, seven quarterback hits, two sacks and two forced fumbles.
Mason Cole (2014-17), OL, Minnesota Vikings
Made his third straight start in the 5-5 Vikings’ 34-31 victory over the Green Bay Packers … Played in all 10 games with three starts, primarily competing on special teams but also taking 203 offensive snaps … Has a 63.8 overall Pro Football Focus (PFF) rating for the year.
Nico Collins (2017-19), WR, Houston Texans
The former Michigan wideout had a touchdown called back and posted one catch for nine yards in the 2-8 Texans’ 22-13 upset win over the Tennessee Titans … In seven contests with three starts, he’s racked up 16 receptions for 200 yards and is averaging 8.3 yards per target.
Mike Danna (2019), DE, Kansas City Chiefs
Played 20 snaps but did not record any statistics in the 7-4 Chiefs’ 19-9 win over the Dallas Cowboys … Started six of 11 games, with 20 tackles, three sacks, seven quarterback hits, two forced fumbles and one pass deflection.
Chris Evans (2016-20), RB, Cincinnati Bengals
Had one reception for seven yards in the 6-4 Bengals’ 32-13 win over the Las Vegas Raiders … Seen action off the bench in nine contests, totaling 10 receptions for 122 yards and one score, and four rushes for 18 yards.
Rashan Gary (2016-18), LB, Green Bay Packers
Missed the 8-3 Packers’ loss to the Minnesota Vikings with an elbow injury that is not expected to be serious … Started all 10 contests in which he’s played, with 31 tackles, 5.5 sacks, three stops for loss, 19 quarterback hits and one forced fumble.
Zach Gentry (2015-18), TE, Pittsburgh Steelers
Played 30 snaps but did not register any statistics in the 6-5-1 Steelers’ 41-37 setback to the Los Angeles Chargers … Began five of his 10 appearances, compiling six receptions for 60 yards.
Graham Glasgow (2011-15), OL, Denver Broncos
The former Michigan center started seven of nine games, but is now out for the season with an ankle fracture.
Jordan Glasgow (2015-19), LB, Indianapolis Colts
Made two tackles in the 6-5 Colts’ 41-15 blowout of the Buffalo Bills … Has five tackles in six appearances.
Brandon Graham (2006-09), DE, Philadelphia Eagles
The former Michigan defensive end is out for the season with a torn Achilles suffered in Week 1 … Compiled two tackles, including one stop for loss, before the injury.
Chad Henne (2004-07), QB, Kansas City Chiefs
Completed 11 of 16 pass attempts for 82 yards in two appearances on the season.
Khaleke Hudson (2016-19), LB, Washington Football Team
Saw action on special teams during the 4-6 Football Team’s 27-21 triumph over the Carolina Panthers … Played on special teams in all 10 outings and on defense in four, totaling five tackles and one quarterback hit.
Maurice Hurst (2013-17), DT, San Francisco 49ers
Currently out with a calf injury … Began the season on injured reserve but played two games (weeks four and five) … Has two tackles, including one behind the line of scrimmage, for the 4-5 49ers.
Taylor Lewan (2009-13), OL, Tennessee Titans
Started and played 100 percent of offensive snaps in the 8-3 Titans’ 22-13 loss to the Houston Texans … Started eight outings, posting a 72.4 PFF grade with four sacks allowed and two penalties committed.
Jourdan Lewis (2013-16), CB, Dallas Cowboys
Started his fourth straight contest for the 7-3 Cowboys in a 19-9 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs, recording four tackles … Opened seven of his 10 appearances, accumulating 34 tackles, a half-sack, three quarterback hits, one fumble recovery, five pass breakups and two interceptions.
David Long Jr. (2016-18), CB, Los Angeles Rams
The former Michigan cornerback and his 7-3 Rams had a bye over the weekend … Began the first four games of the season before playing a reserve role in the six most recent tilts … Registered 26 tackles, three pass breakups and one interception.
Jalen Mayfield (2018-20), OL, Atlanta Falcons
Played 100 percent of offensive snaps in the 4-6 Falcons’ 25-0 loss to the New England Patriots … Began all 10 contests this year and has a 47.7 overall PFF grade, with seven sacks allowed.
Cameron McGrone (2018-20), LB, New England Patriots
Recovering from a torn ACL suffered during his 2020 season at Michigan, McGrone remains on the reserve/non-football injury list and may miss the entirety of the campaign.
Sean McKeon (2016-19), TE, Dallas Cowboys
Caught one pass for two yards in the 7-3 Cowboys’ 19-9 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs … Has three receptions for 17 yards in three appearances, after being injured to start off the campaign.
Josh Metellus (2016-19), S, Minnesota Vikings
Did not play due to an illness in the 5-5 Vikings’ 34-31 win over the Green Bay Packers … Primarily playing on special teams, he’s accumulated four tackles in nine clashes.
Bryan Mone (2014-18), DT, Seattle Seahawks
Notched four tackles, 1.5 sacks, two quarterback hits and one forced fumble in the 3-7 Seahawks’ 23-13 loss to the Arizona Cardinals … Opened three of his nine games, racking up 27 stops, 1.5 sacks, two quarterback hits and one forced fumble.
Quinn Nordin (2016-20), K, New England Patriots
On injured reserve with an abdomen injury and has not played during his rookie season.
Michael Onwenu (2016-19), OL, New England Patriots
Played sparingly for the second straight week during the 7-4 Patriots’ 25-0 blowout of the Atlanta Falcons … Began seven of nine tilts this season, while registering an 88.7 PFF rating for the season.
Kwity Paye (2017-19), DE, Indianapolis Colts
Started and notched a sack for a second straight week in the 6-5 Colts’ 41-15 blowout of the Buffalo Bills … Missed two contests with a hamstring injury but has started nine games, generating 18 tackles, five quarterback hits, two sacks, one tackle for loss and two fumble recoveries.
Donovan Peoples-Jones (2017-19), WR, Cleveland Browns
Did not play in the 6-5 Browns’ 13-10 win over the Detroit Lions due to a groin injury … Has 16 receptions for 330 yards and three touchdowns in eight outings with four starts.
Jabrill Peppers (2014-16), S, New York Giants
The former Michigan viper linebacker and safety suffered a high-ankle sprain and season-ending ACL injury in Week 7 … Began five of six appearances, missing one prior contest with a different injury … Recorded 30 tackles, two stops for loss, four quarterback hits, one sack and one pass breakup, while returning nine punts for 58 yards.
Cesar Ruiz (2017-19), OL, New Orleans Saints
Opened the game and played every offensive snap in the 5-5 Saints’ 40-29 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles … Generated a 57.2 PFF rating while starting all 10 contests, with four sacks allowed and one penalty.
Jon Runyan (2015-19), OL, Green Bay Packers
Began his 10th straight tilt, after coming off the bench in the season opener, in the 8-3 Packers’ 34-31 loss to the Minnesota Vikings … Has a 65.8 PFF rating with two sacks allowed.
Michael Schofield (2010-13), OL, Los Angeles Chargers
Made his fifth straight start in the 6-4 Chargers’ 41-37 win over the Pittsburgh Steelers … Began five of his seven appearances after being picked up by the squad before Week 3 … Has a 60.3 PFF rating, with one sack allowed and three penalties.
Ambry Thomas (2017-19), CB, San Francisco 49ers
The former Michigan cornerback totaled four tackles in 20 snaps during the 5-5 49ers’ 30-10 victory over the Jacksonville Jaguars … Recorded seven tackles and brought back four kicks for 70 yards in five appearances.
Josh Uche (2016-19), LB, New England Patriots
Placed on injured reserve due to an ankle injury, forcing him to miss Sunday’s win … Played a backup role in 10 clashes, posting 10 tackles, three sacks, four quarterback hits and one fumble recovery.
Jarrod Wilson (2012-15), S, New York Jets
Did not play in the 2-8 Jets’ 24-17 setback to the Miami Dolphins … Began three of five games in which he’s appeared, totaling 13 stops, one sack, one stop for loss and three quarterback hits.
Chase Winovich (2014-18), DE, New England Patriots
Placed on injured reserve with a hamstring ailment following Week 6 but was activated this past week, playing 15 snaps in the team’s 25-0 win over the Atlanta Falcons … Has seven tackles and one quarterback hit for the 7-4 Patriots.
Chris Wormley (2012-16), DT, Pittsburgh Steelers
The former Michigan defensive lineman started and compiled four tackles in the 6-5-1 Steelers’ 41-37 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers … In nine outings with eight starts, he’s accumulated 28 tackles, 1.5 sacks, two quarterback hits, two pass breakups and one forced fumble.
