Week 6 gave a handful of former Michigan players a chance to leave their mark, but J.J. McCarthy made the loudest one. The New York Giants quarterback stepped in and nearly dragged his team all the way back from a huge hole in a 34-27 loss to New Orleans.
McCarthy entered with New York down 34-10 in the fourth quarter and immediately helped turn the game into a fight. He finished 11 of 21 for 243 yards with one touchdown and one interception, while also adding 26 rushing yards on two carries. He also completed a two-point conversion during the comeback push, and the Giants got within seven before time ran out.
Elsewhere, Colston Loveland turned in one of his strongest outings of the season in Chicago’s 31-23 win over Atlanta. The Bears tight end caught six passes for 65 yards and a touchdown on seven targets, notching his first receiving score of the year as Chicago improved to 4-2.
Blake Corum kept his scoring streak rolling for the Rams, even though Los Angeles fell 18-16 to Arizona. The former Michigan running back scored on a touchdown catch for the second straight week, finishing with nine carries for 42 yards and two receptions for 18 yards. That gave him 60 total yards from scrimmage, and after scoring a rushing touchdown in Week 5, he has now found the end zone in back-to-back games.
Nico Collins stayed busy as a downfield threat in Houston’s 34-31 win over Jacksonville. He hauled in three catches for 74 yards, with his longest grab covering 42 yards, and he also added five rushing yards.
On the defensive side, Devin Bush came through with a timely play for Chicago in the same win over Atlanta. He posted seven tackles, including four solo stops, and recovered a key fourth-quarter fumble that helped the Bears hold onto the eight-point victory.
Kwity Paye added another sack to his season total in Las Vegas’ 33-30 loss to Buffalo. The former Michigan edge rusher recorded three tackles and brought down the quarterback on a third-down play in the second quarter. He now has three sacks on the season.
A few other Wolverines also contributed around the league. Josaiah Stewart finished with five tackles, including two solo stops, in the Rams’ loss to Arizona.
Dominic Zvada was perfect for the Giants, making both field goals from 34 and 41 yards and his only extra-point try in the loss to New Orleans. AJ Barner caught three passes for 16 yards on four targets in Seattle’s 17-14 loss to Denver.
Jourdan Lewis had three solo tackles in Jacksonville’s loss to Houston.
In Other News...
Michigans Zach Marshall Absence Just Fueled A Bigger Discipline Debate
Michigans offense has been searching for answers, and Zach Marshalls absence against Penn State only added another layer to the conversation. Head coach Kyle Whittingham said the tight end missed the game for a non-injury reason, which immediately pointed attention back to the weeks most uncomfortable subplot: the leak of Marshalls private messages criticizing offensive coordinator Jason Beck.
Marshalls comments had already stirred debate around the direction of the offense, and his sudden absence made it easy for outside speculation to fill the gap. With Michigan still trying to steady itself on that side of the ball, the timing of the situation has turned a personnel move into something bigger, at least in the public eye, and left the larger discipline question hanging over the program. [Read more 🡒]
Michigans Rhino Usage Is Raising A Real Offensive Question
For much of the first half of the season, Michigans Rhino package has become more than just a niche wrinkle. The hybrid offensive lineman-tight end role has shown up on nearly half of the offenses snaps through six games, giving the Wolverines a heavier, more physical look at tight end while also opening the door to some unusual personnel groupings.
Jason Beck has framed the Rhino as a useful tool, but the tradeoff is starting to show in the passing game, where the structure can make things easier to read. Even with that concern hanging around, Michigan has continued to get real production from its true tight ends, and the arrival of Hogan Hansen has added another layer to the position group at a time when the Wolverines are still sorting out exactly how much they want to lean on the Rhino identity. [Read more 🡒]
Michigan Just Landed A Needed Boost For Its 2027 Passing Future
Michigan picked up a useful addition for its 2027 class with the commitment flip of Yuto Kawamura-Johnson, a three-star receiver prospect who moved from Toledo to Ann Arbor. For a program always looking to keep its pipeline stocked on the perimeter, it is the kind of under-the-radar recruiting win that can matter later, especially as the 2027 class now sits at 22 commitments.
Kawamura-Johnson said he was excited to join Michigan and play under Coach Whittingham, giving the Wolverines another young target to develop as the class takes shape. The flip does not answer every question about how the future passing game will look, but it does add another piece to a group that keeps growing as Michigan tries to build depth and options for what comes next. [Read more 🡒]