Wolverines in the NFL: Kwity Paye and Rashan Gary on hot streaks, Tom Brady leads comeback win, more
Former Michigan defensive end and current Indianapolis Colts rookie Kwity Paye has battled through a hamstring injury this season, missing two games, but has come on strong midway through the year.
He hadn’t made a hit on an opposing quarterback until he notched two in a Week 9 win over the New York Jets. The following week, he recorded the first sack of his career in a victory over the Jacksonville Jaguars, which spurred a three-game sack streak that included a forced fumble on Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen in Week 11. In a 38-31 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Paye got a sack on former Michigan signal-caller Tom Brady.
Paye’s three consecutive contests with a sack make him the first Colts rookie to do so since linebacker Darius Leonard from Weeks 2-4 in the 2018 season.
Brady, meanwhile, led his team to a comeback win after trailing 24-14 at halftime, improving to 16-4 against the Colts during his career. The Buccaneers’ final four possessions resulted in three touchdowns and a field goal, all engineered by Brady and a strong run game.
Former defensive end Rashan Gary has also stepped up his game as of late, with five sacks in the last four outings. This past week, he had a strip sack that set up the go-ahead touchdown in his team’s 36-28 victory over the Los Angeles Rams. The win kept the Packers at second in the NFC standings with a 9-3 record.
Here is an update on every former Michigan player in the NFL for Week 12:
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Tom Brady (Played at U-M from 1995-99), QB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Connected on 25 of his 34 pass attempts for one touchdown with one interception in a 38-31 comeback win over the Indianapolis Colts … Completed 67.6 percent of his passes for a league-high 30 touchdowns and 3,403 yards while starting all 11 contests for the 8-3 Buccaneers.
Ben Bredeson (2016-19), OL, New York Giants
Did not play in a 13-7 win over the Philadelphia Eagles … Started one of his four appearances for the 4-7 Giants, posting a 43.7 overall PFF grade.
Devin Bush Jr. (2016-18), LB, Pittsburgh Steelers
Started and compiled four tackles in a 41-10 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals … Compiled 50 tackles, two stops for loss, four quarterback hurries, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery in 10 starts for the 5-5-1 Steelers.
Taco Charlton (2013-16), DE, Pittsburgh Steelers
Made two stops in a 41-10 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals … Picked up by the club before Week 8 and has started in one of his five appearances for the 5-5-1 Steelers … Made 10 tackles, a half-sack and one quarterback hit.
Camaron Cheeseman (2016-19), LS, Washington Football Team
Snapped on punts and kicks in all 11 games for the 5-6 Football Team, including a 17-15 Monday night victory over the Seattle Seahawks.
Frank Clark (2011-14), DE, Kansas City Chiefs
Team had a bye over the weekend … Tallied 14 tackles, two stops for loss, two sacks and 10 quarterback hits in eight starts in as many tilts for the 7-4 Chiefs.
Mason Cole (2014-17), OL, Minnesota Vikings
Started and played 100 percent of offensive snaps in a 34-26 loss to the San Francisco 49ers … Began four straight clashes and has made 11 appearances for the 5-6 Vikings, with a 71.8 overall PFF rating.
Nico Collins (2017-19), WR, Houston Texans
Made his third start of the season and hauled in two grabs for 28 yards in a 24-21 setback to the New York Giants … Opened three of his eight contests, recording 18 catches for 228 yards.
Mike Danna (2019), DE, Kansas City Chiefs
Had a bye over the weekend … Started six of his 11 games for the 7-4 Chiefs, with three sacks (second on team), 20 tackles, three stops for loss, seven quarterback hurries, one pass breakup and two forced fumbles.
Chris Evans (2016-20), RB, Cincinnati Bengals
The former Michigan running back nabbed one reception for five yards in a 41-10 win over the Pittsburgh Steelers … Made 10 appearances off the bench for the 7-4 Bengals, notching 11 receptions for 127 yards and one score, while also rushing nine times for 41 yards.
Rashan Gary (2016-18), LB, Green Bay Packers
Started and made three tackles, one sack, two quarterback hits and one forced fumble in a 36-28 win over the Los Angeles Rams … Started 11 clashes for the 9-3 Packers, registering 34 stops, including three behind the line of scrimmage, a team-best 6.5 sacks, 21 quarterback hurries.
Zach Gentry (2015-18), TE, Pittsburgh Steelers
Opened the game and made one catch for 10 yards in a 41-10 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals … Started in six of his 11 contests, hauling in seven receptions for 70 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
Competed on special teams in a 38-31 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers … Played in seven games, with the bulk of his snaps coming on special teams, for the 6-6 Colts … Recorded five tackles.
Brandon Graham (2006-09), DE, Philadelphia Eagles
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
The former Michigan signal-caller did not play this week … Completed 11 of 16 pass attempts for 82 yards in two appearances on the season.
Khaleke Hudson (2016-19), LB, Washington Football Team
Notched one tackle in a Monday night win over the Seattle Seahawks … Made 11 appearances for the 5-6 Football Team, generating six tackles and one quarterback hit while mostly playing special teams.
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 6-5 49ers.
Taylor Lewan (2009-13), OL, Tennessee Titans
Started, played every offensive snap and had a fumble recovery in a 36-13 loss to the New England Patriots … Opened all nine of his outings for the 8-4 Titans, posting a 72.4 overall PFF grade.
Jourdan Lewis (2013-16), CB, Dallas Cowboys
Opened in a 36-33 loss to the Las Vegas Raiders on Thanksgiving, recording one sack and seven tackles … Began eight of his 11 games, totaling two interceptions, one fumble recovery, 42 tackles, one stop for loss and three quarterback hits.
David Long Jr. (2016-18), CB, Los Angeles Rams
The former Michigan cornerback played only on special teams in a 36-28 setback to the Green Bay Packers … Started four of his 11 games for the 7-4 Rams, with 26 tackles, three pass breakups and one interception.
Jalen Mayfield (2018-20), OL, Atlanta Falcons
Began his 11th straight contest, a 21-14 triumph over the Jacksonville Jaguars … Started all 11 tilts for the 5-6 Falcons and has a 50.4 overall PFF rating with seven sacks allowed and five penalties committed.
Cameron McGrone (2018-20), LB, New England Patriots
Recovering from a torn ACL suffered during his 2020 season at Michigan, McGrone has been designated for a return from the injured reserve after missing his entire rookie campaign to this point.
Sean McKeon (2016-19), TE, Dallas Cowboys
Scored a touchdown on a 10-yard reception in the Cowboys’ 36-33 loss to the Las Vegas Raiders on Thanksgiving … Began one of his four outings after returning from injury … Compiled four receptions for 27 yards and one touchdown for the 7-4 Cowboys.
Josh Metellus (2016-19), S, Minnesota Vikings
Made two tackles in a 34-26 loss to the San Francisco 49ers … Competed on special teams and seen a handful of defensive snaps for the 5-6 Vikings, tallying six tackles.
Bryan Mone (2014-18), DT, Seattle Seahawks
Posted three tackles in a 17-15 Monday night setback to the Washington Football Team … Started three of his 10 games, producing 30 tackles, 1.5 sacks, one forced fumble and three quarterback hits for the 3-8 Seahawks.
Quinn Nordin (2016-20), K, New England Patriots
The former Michigan kicker is on injured reserve with an abdomen injury and has not played during his rookie season.
Michael Onwenu (2016-19), OL, New England Patriots
Came off the bench for the third straight contest in a 36-13 thumping of the Tennessee Titans … Began seven of his 11 appearances for the 8-4 Patriots, generating an 88.5 overall PFF mark.
Kwity Paye (2017-19), DE, Indianapolis Colts
Posted one sack, one quarterback hit and two tackles in a 38-31 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers … Started all 10 of his contests for the 6-6 Colts, while registering 20 tackles, three stops for loss, three sacks, six quarterback hits and two fumble recoveries.
Donovan Peoples-Jones (2017-19), WR, Cleveland Browns
The former Michigan wideout notched two catches for 10 yards in a 16-10 loss to the Baltimore Ravens Sunday evening … Opened four of his nine contests and racked up 18 catches for 340 yards and three touchdowns for the 6-6 Browns.
Jabrill Peppers (2014-16), S, New York Giants
Suffered a high-ankle sprain and season-ending ACL injury in Week 7, after beginning five of six appearances, missing one prior contest with a different injury and recording 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
The former Michigan center played 100 percent of offensive snaps in a 31-6 loss to the Buffalo Bills on Thanksgiving … Started all 11 clashes for the 5-6 Saints and has a 57.9 overall PFF rating with four sacks allowed.
Jon Runyan (2015-19), OL, Green Bay Packers
Started and played every offensive snap in a 36-28 win over the Los Angeles Rams … Came off the bench in the season opener but has started all 12 games since for the 9-3 Packers, posting a 61.2 overall PFF grade with two sacks yielded.
Michael Schofield (2010-13), OL, Los Angeles Chargers
Made his sixth consecutive start in a 28-13 loss to the Denver Broncos … Picked up by the organization ahead of Week 3 and has started in six of his nine tilts for the 6-5 Chargers, recording a 59.2 overall PFF grade with one sack given up.
Ambry Thomas (2017-19), CB, San Francisco 49ers
Did not play in a 34-26 win over the Minnesota Vikings … Came off the bench in six outings and primarily played special teams for the 6-5 49ers … Returned four kicks for 70 yards and made seven tackles.
Josh Uche (2016-19), LB, New England Patriots
Currently on injured reserve after producing 10 tackles, three sacks, four quarterback hits and one fumble recovery in nine games off the bench for the 8-4 Patriots.
Jarrod Wilson (2012-15), S, New York Jets
Did not see action in a 21-14 victory over the Houston Texans … Seen time in five clashes with three starts, compiling 13 tackles, one sack and three quarterback hits.
Chase Winovich (2014-18), DE, New England Patriots
The former Michigan defensive end played but did not register any statistics in a 36-14 victory over the Tennessee Titans … Appeared in eight games in a backup role for the 8-4 Patriots, producing seven tackles and one quarterback hit.
Chris Wormley (2012-16), DT, Pittsburgh Steelers
Started and notched four tackles, one stop for loss, one sack and one quarterback hit in a 31-10 setback to the Cincinnati Bengals … Opened 10 of his 11 games for the 5-5-1 Steelers, with 32 tackles, 2.5 sacks, two stops behind the line of scrimmage, three quarterback hits, one forced fumble and two passes defended.
