Red Raiders in the NFL: Week 1 Recap
The 2026 NFL season opened this past week with 21 former Red Raiders in the NFL, including 18 on active 53-man rosters to start the season. This past April, a record nine Red Raiders were selected in the NFL Draft, with eight of the nine active in Week 1 and four starting — David Bailey, Caleb Douglas, Lee Hunter and Jacob Rodriguez.
A complete list of statistics by former Red Raiders in the NFL is below.
ARIZONA CARDINALS at Los Angeles Chargers (W, 26-14)
S Dadrion Taylor-Demerson (2019-23):
- Taylor-Demerson this week: No stats
- Taylor-Demerson this season: 0 GP / 0 GS
WR Reggie Virgil (2025): Virgil was listed as a healthy scratch Sunday afternoon.
- Virgil this week: No stats
- Virgil this season: 0 GP / 0 GS
BALTIMORE RAVENS at Indianapolis Colts (W, 41-23)
DL Broderick Washington Jr. (2016-19): Washington Jr., who battled through most of last season with injuries, saw playing time in Week 1, recording one solo tackle and one pass breakup. The seven-year veteran played 26 snaps in total (five on special teams).
DL Broderick Washington Jr. (2016-19): Washington Jr., who battled through most of last season with injuries, saw playing time in Week 1, recording one solo tackle and one pass breakup. The seven-year veteran played 26 snaps in total (five on special teams).
- Washington Jr. this week: 1 solo tackle, 1 PD
- Washington Jr. this season: 1 GP / 0 GS
CAROLINA PANTHERS vs Chicago Bears (L, 59-37)
DL Lee Hunter (2025): Named a starter prior to the season opener, Hunter kicked off his NFL career recording six tackles (four solo). He went in the books for 34 snaps on defense and added eight more on special teams.
DL Lee Hunter (2025): Named a starter prior to the season opener, Hunter kicked off his NFL career recording six tackles (four solo). He went in the books for 34 snaps on defense and added eight more on special teams.
- Hunter this week: 6 tackles (4 solo)
- Hunter this season: 1 GP / 1 GS
CINCINNATI BENGALS vs Tampa Bay Buccaneers (W, 33-27)
RB Tahj Brooks (2020-24): Brooks opened his second year in the league primarily on special teams. He had two kickoff returns for a combined total of 49 yards (24.5 avg.). Brooks also lined up for two snaps in the backfield.
RB Tahj Brooks (2020-24): Brooks opened his second year in the league primarily on special teams. He had two kickoff returns for a combined total of 49 yards (24.5 avg.). Brooks also lined up for two snaps in the backfield.
- Brooks this week: 2 kickoff returns for 49 yards
- Brooks this season: 1 GP / 0 GS | 2 returns (24.5 avg.)
DALLAS COWBOYS at New York Giants (L, 28-20)
OL Terence Steele (2016-19): Steele and the Cowboys opened the season on Sunday Night Football visiting the New York Giants. Steele played each offensive snap and added three more on special teams.
OL Terence Steele (2016-19): Steele and the Cowboys opened the season on Sunday Night Football visiting the New York Giants. Steele played each offensive snap and added three more on special teams.
- Steele this week: No stats
- Steele this season: 1 GP / 1 GS
DETROIT LIONS vs New Orleans Saints (W, 31-30, OT)
DL Skyler Gill-Howard (2025): Gill-Howard rotated into the Lions’ mix, playing 47 percent of the snaps as he totaled three tackles (one solo) to begin his NFL career.
DL Skyler Gill-Howard (2025): Gill-Howard rotated into the Lions’ mix, playing 47 percent of the snaps as he totaled three tackles (one solo) to begin his NFL career.
- Gill-Howard this week: 3 tackles (1 solo)
- Gill-Howard this season: 1 GP / 0 GS
KANSAS CITY CHIEFS vs. Denver Broncos (W, 31-10)
QB Patrick Mahomes II (2014-16): Mahomes II made his return from an ACL injury that knocked him out following Week 14 of the 2025 season. In his return on Monday Night Football, Mahomes II completed 15 of his 27 passes for 184 yards, throwing for two touchdowns and scoring one on the ground. His scramble to the end zone was his 18th rushing touchdown since 2018, only trailing Josh Allen’s 26 in that span.
QB Patrick Mahomes II (2014-16): Mahomes II made his return from an ACL injury that knocked him out following Week 14 of the 2025 season. In his return on Monday Night Football, Mahomes II completed 15 of his 27 passes for 184 yards, throwing for two touchdowns and scoring one on the ground. His scramble to the end zone was his 18th rushing touchdown since 2018, only trailing Josh Allen’s 26 in that span.
- Mahomes this week: 15-for-27, 184 yards, 2 TD, 1 rushing TD, 1 INT
- Mahomes this season: 1 GP / 1 GS
LAS VEGAS RAIDERS vs Miami Dolphins (W, 27-13)
OL Caleb Rogers (2020-24): Rogers only saw action on special teams playing six snaps.
OL Caleb Rogers (2020-24): Rogers only saw action on special teams playing six snaps.
- Rogers this week: No stats
- Rogers this season: 1 GP / 0 GS
MIAMI DOLPHINS at Las Vegas Raiders (L, 27-13)
WR Caleb Douglas (2024-25): Douglas led the Dolphins in receiving as he hauled in five of seven targets for 94 yards, with his longest catch of the day being 30 yards. It was the most receiving yards by a Dolphins player in their NFL debut.
WR Caleb Douglas (2024-25): Douglas led the Dolphins in receiving as he hauled in five of seven targets for 94 yards, with his longest catch of the day being 30 yards. It was the most receiving yards by a Dolphins player in their NFL debut.
- Douglas this week: 5 receptions, 94 receiving yards
- Douglas this season: 1 GP / 1 GS
LB Jordyn Brooks (2016-19): Brooks started his seventh year in the league registering nine tackles (six solo) and added one quarterback hit. His nine tackles were good for third on the team.
- Brooks this week: 9 tackles (6 solo), 1 QBH
- Brooks this season: 1 GP / 1 GS
LB Jacob Rodriguez (2023-25): Rodriguez was named a starter prior to the season and was given the play-calling duties (green dot) as well. He finished with a game-high 14 tackles (five solo), the most by a Dolphins rookie since Zach Thomas had 16 in his second game of his career. The 14 tackles were the second-most in Week 1 – 16 by Anthony Hill Jr. of Tennessee.
- Rodriguez this week: 14 tackles (5 solo)
- Rodriguez this season: 1 GP / 1 GS
NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS at Seattle Seahawks (L, 13-10)
QB Behren Morton (2021-25): Morton was listed on the inactive list prior to the game as the emergency No. 3 quarterback.
QB Behren Morton (2021-25): Morton was listed on the inactive list prior to the game as the emergency No. 3 quarterback.
- Morton this week: No stats
- Morton this season: 0 GP / 0 GS
NEW ORLEANS SAINTS at Detroit Lions (L, 31-30, OT)
DE Tyree Wilson (2020-22): Traded to the Saints in the offseason, Wilson assisted on a tackle and added one more on the kickoff to start overtime.
DE Tyree Wilson (2020-22): Traded to the Saints in the offseason, Wilson assisted on a tackle and added one more on the kickoff to start overtime.
- Wilson this week: 2 tackles (1 on special teams).
- Wilson this season: 1 GP / 0 GS
NEW YORK JETS at Tennessee Titans (W, 23-10)
DE David Bailey (2025): The No. 2 overall pick in April’s draft, Bailey was fourth on the team in tackles with four (all solo), registering his first NFL sack for a loss of one yard and one quarterback hit. He played 70 percent of the defensive snaps Sunday.
DE David Bailey (2025): The No. 2 overall pick in April’s draft, Bailey was fourth on the team in tackles with four (all solo), registering his first NFL sack for a loss of one yard and one quarterback hit. He played 70 percent of the defensive snaps Sunday.
- Bailey this week: 4 solo tackles, 1 sack, 1 QBH
- Bailey this season: 1 GP / 1 GS
P Austin McNamara (2020-23): McNamara punted three times for 139 yards, landing two inside the 20. His longest boot of the day went for 50 yards.
- McNamara: 3 punts for 139 yards, 2 i20
- McNamara this season: 1 GP / 0 GS
WASHINGTON COMMANDERS at Philadelphia Eagles (L, 24-22)
DB Tyler Owens (2022-23): Owens only saw playing time on special teams, recording 22 snaps but went viral for one of his two tackles. Click here to view the play.
DB Tyler Owens (2022-23): Owens only saw playing time on special teams, recording 22 snaps but went viral for one of his two tackles. Click here to view the play.
- Owens this week: 2 special teams solo tackles
- Owens this season: 1 GP/ 0 GS
SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS vs. Los Angeles Rams (Melbourne, Australia)
DL Romello Height (2025): Height kicked off his rookie season on the other side of the world as he played 49 percent of the defensive snaps in the NFL’s first-ever game in Australia.
DL Romello Height (2025): Height kicked off his rookie season on the other side of the world as he played 49 percent of the defensive snaps in the NFL’s first-ever game in Australia.
- Height this week: No stats
- Height this season: 1 GP / 0 GS
Red Raiders on Practice Squads
- Josh Kelly, WR (2024), Houston Texans
- Bralyn Lux, DB (2023-24), Cincinnati Bengals
- Cole Wisniewski, S (2025), Philadelphia Eagles
RED RAIDERS IN THE NFL WEEK 2 SCHEDULE
Thursday, Sept. 17 | 7:15 p.m.
Lions (Gill-Howard) at Bills | Prime Video
Sunday, Sept. 20 | 12:00 p.m.
Panthers (Hunter) at Falcons | FOX
Saints (Wilson) at Ravens (Washington Jr.) | CBS
Vikings at Bears | FOX
Bengals (Brooks, Lux) at Texans (Kelly) | CBS
Steelers at Patriots (Morton) | CBS
Packers at Jets (Bailey, McNamara) | FOX
Browns at Buccaneers | CBS
Eagles (Wisniewski) at Titans | FOX
Sunday, Sept. 20 | 3:05 p.m.
Raiders (Rogers) at Chargers | CBS
Sunday, Sept. 20 | 3:25 p.m.
Seahawks at Cardinals (Taylor-Demerson) | FOX
Commanders (Owens) at Cowboys (Steele) | FOX
Dolphins (Brooks, Douglas, Rodriguez) at 49ers (Height) | FOX
Sunday, Sept. 20 | 7:20 p.m.
Colts at Chiefs (Mahomes II) | NBC/Peacock
Monday, Sept. 21 | 7:15 p.m.
Giants at Rams | ESPN
Thursday, Sept. 17 | 7:15 p.m.
Lions (Gill-Howard) at Bills | Prime Video
Sunday, Sept. 20 | 12:00 p.m.
Panthers (Hunter) at Falcons | FOX
Saints (Wilson) at Ravens (Washington Jr.) | CBS
Vikings at Bears | FOX
Bengals (Brooks, Lux) at Texans (Kelly) | CBS
Steelers at Patriots (Morton) | CBS
Packers at Jets (Bailey, McNamara) | FOX
Browns at Buccaneers | CBS
Eagles (Wisniewski) at Titans | FOX
Sunday, Sept. 20 | 3:05 p.m.
Raiders (Rogers) at Chargers | CBS
Sunday, Sept. 20 | 3:25 p.m.
Seahawks at Cardinals (Taylor-Demerson) | FOX
Commanders (Owens) at Cowboys (Steele) | FOX
Dolphins (Brooks, Douglas, Rodriguez) at 49ers (Height) | FOX
Sunday, Sept. 20 | 7:20 p.m.
Colts at Chiefs (Mahomes II) | NBC/Peacock
Monday, Sept. 21 | 7:15 p.m.
Giants at Rams | ESPN
RED RAIDERS IN THE NFL
- David Bailey, DE (2025), New York Jets
- Tahj Brooks, RB (2020-24), Cincinnati Bengals
- Jordyn Brooks, LB (2016-19), Miami Dolphins
- Caleb Douglas, WR (2024-25), Miami Dolphins
- Skyler Gill-Howard, DL (2026), Detroit Lions
- Romello Height, DL (2025), San Francisco 49ers
- Lee Hunter, DL (2025), Carolina Panthers
- Josh Kelly, WR (2024), Houston Texans
- Bralyn Lux, DB (2023-24), Cincinnati Bengals
- Patrick Mahomes II, QB (2014-16), Kansas City Chiefs
- Austin McNamara, P (2020-23), New York Jets
- Behren Morton, QB (2021-25), New England Patriots
- Tyler Owens, DB (2022-23), Washington Commanders
- Jacob Rodriguez, LB (2023-25), Miami Dolphins
- Caleb Rogers, OL (2020-24), Las Vegas Raiders
- Terence Steele, OL (2016-19), Dallas Cowboys
- Dadrion Taylor-Demerson, S (2019-23), Arizona Cardinals
- Reggie Virgil, WR (2025), Arizona Cardinals
- Broderick Washington Jr., DL (2016-19), Baltimore Ravens
- Tyree Wilson, DE (2020-22), New Orleans Saints
- Cole Wisniewski, S (2025), Philadelphia Eagles
Release provided by MATT BURKHOLDER Texas Tech Athletics