Week 1 of the 2026 NFL season gave a handful of former Indiana players a chance to make their mark, and a few of them did exactly that in limited roles.
Kaelon Black had the busiest day of the group. The San Francisco 49ers running back logged 28 offensive snaps and turned them into 14 carries for 65 yards, plus one catch for 5 yards. He also drew attention for helping keep the offense moving when Christian McCaffrey came off the field.
CJ West also got on the field for San Francisco, playing 23 defensive snaps and one special teams snap. He finished with two tackles, including one solo stop.
Myles Price made his presence felt in the return game for Minnesota. He played three offensive snaps and nine on special teams, then piled up 179 kick return yards on five returns and added 13 yards on one punt return.
The Jets got a contribution from Omar Cooper, Jr., who played five offensive snaps and caught one pass for 30 yards. He was injured during the game.
Marcelino McCrary-Ball was active for New York too, logging five defensive snaps and 20 special teams snaps. He recorded a tackle and forced a fumble.
Kahlil Benson had a major workload for Kansas City, starting at left tackle and playing 69 offensive snaps along with five on special teams. Riley Nowakowski saw action for Pittsburgh, with eight offensive snaps and 17 special teams snaps, and he finished with two tackles, one solo.
A few former Hoosiers were on the field in smaller roles. Ian Thomas played 31 offensive snaps for Las Vegas but did not record any stats.
Micah McFadden appeared on 11 special teams snaps for the Giants without posting a stat. Pat Coogan played two special teams snaps for Tennessee, while Luke Haggard had five special teams snaps for Tampa Bay.
Several others did not get into the game. Fernando Mendoza was a backup quarterback for the Raiders and did not play.
Ke’Shawn Williams was inactive for Cincinnati. Kurtis Rourke was inactive for San Francisco, as was Aiden Fisher for Houston.
D’Angelo Ponds was inactive for the Jets, Elijah Sarratt was inactive for Baltimore, and Dan Feeney did not play for Tampa Bay as a reserve offensive lineman.
In Other News...
Indiana Defense Faces A Big Week 3 Boost Before Big Ten Play
Indianas defense looked the part in Week 2, smothering Howard for just 57 total yards while piling up five sacks and a pick-6. Even with both starting cornerbacks, Jamari Sharpe and AJ Harris, sidelined since Week 1, the back end held firm, and the Hoosiers have reason to feel better about their depth after backups Ryland Gandy and Jaylen Bell stepped in and handled the assignment.
The bigger development now is the possibility of getting healthier before the schedule tightens. Curt Cignetti has sounded optimistic about Sharpes chances of returning for Week 3 against Western Kentucky, and Indiana would like to get both corners some live reps before Big Ten play begins. How quickly that secondary gets back to full strength could matter just as much as the shutout-style performance it put on last week. [Read more 🡒]
Former Hoosier Kahlil Benson Just Landed A Massive Week 1 Test
Kahlil Bensons path from Indiana to the Chiefs just got a whole lot more interesting. The undrafted rookie offensive lineman, who signed a three-year deal in Kansas City, was moved into the mix at left tackle after an injury to starter Josh Simmons, and now he has been named to open the 2026 season at the position.
For Hoosier fans, it is a notable development because Benson is being asked to handle one of the most demanding jobs on the line after doing his college work at right tackle and right guard, not left tackle. He has started games at both spots, but this is a different level of responsibility, and it gives him an immediate chance to prove he can hold up in a premium role right out of the gate. [Read more 🡒]
Indiana Has One Edge Ohio State Fans Suddenly Can't Ignore
The kicking game has become one of the quiet reasons this Indiana-Ohio State matchup deserves extra attention. When the Hoosiers and Buckeyes meet Oct. 17, Indiana will bring a weapon that could matter in a tight game: Nico Radicic has been steady and accurate, giving the Hoosiers a level of trust at the end of drives that can shape how an offense is called and how a defense is forced to react.
Ohio State, meanwhile, has had to live with some recent kicking frustrations in pressure moments, including a missed 45-yard try against Texas and other important misses in recent games. In a matchup that could be decided by field position and a single possession, that kind of contrast is hard for Buckeyes fans to overlook, and it gives Indiana a subtle but real edge heading into the showdown. [Read more 🡒]