The NFL season is here, and a fresh wave of former Minnesota Golden Gophers is spread across rosters, practice squads, and injury lists as Week 1 gets underway.
Eighteen ex-Gophers made active 53-man rosters, while five more landed on practice squads. One former Minnesota player is on injured reserve, and several others are still looking for their next opportunity after final cuts.
In Arizona, Jamison Geers is on injured reserve and will not play in 2026 after the Cardinals did not release him with an injury settlement. The season could function as a redshirt year, similar to what Justin Walley did a season ago with the Colts, and the hope is that Geers will be back competing for a spot in fall camp next fall. Jack Gibbons, meanwhile, is in line to either start at linebacker or be the first backup as the Cardinals open at the Chargers.
Baltimore has Rashod Bateman active for Week 1 at Indianapolis. He was not placed on the commissioners exempt list and is set to start at wide receiver alongside Zay Flowers while his legal situation plays out.
The article notes that rookie Ja’Kobi Lane could eat into his snaps. Also in Week 1, Boye Mafe is set to start for the Bengals against Tampa Bay and could line up against former teammate Ko Kieft at some point in the game.
Dallas will lean on Brevin Span-Ford as TE2 when the Cowboys visit the Giants on Sunday night. His playing time will fluctuate, but he should get work on special teams and offense.
Across the field, the Giants have two former Gophers in starting roles: John-Michael Schmitz is set to start at center, and Tyler Nubin is the likely starter at safety. Nubin could wind up matched with Span-Ford during the game.
Green Bay heads to Minnesota with Benjamin St. Juste either starting at corner or serving as one of the first options off the bench in the Packers secondary.
For the Vikings, Max Brosmer is on the practice squad after briefly making the final roster before being cut when Minnesota added two offensive linemen via waivers. His status now depends on what happens with the JJ McCarthy situation.
Aireontae Ersery will open the year as Houston’s starting left tackle against Buffalo. In Indianapolis, Justin Walley is set for his NFL debut as the Colts’ slot corner after missing the 2025 season with a torn ACL. The matchup could put him across from Bateman at times.
Jacksonville has a busy group of former Gophers. Eric Murray will start at safety against Cleveland.
Daniel Faalele made the Jaguars after being traded for during camp and is the backup swing guard. Danny Striggow is expected to work as a rotational defensive lineman and on special teams.
Las Vegas will use Cody Lindenberg as a backup linebacker who also should play plenty on special teams after earning the trust of the new coaching staff. New Orleans kept Jordan Howden barely, and he will back up at safety while handling special teams duties. In Tampa Bay, Ko Kieft returns as a special teams ace and blocking tight end, while Antoine Winfield, JR is set to start at safety in Week 1.
Seattle’s roster includes Nick Kallerup, who stuck because of his blocking and special teams value, and he will be on the sidelines Wednesday against New England. Deven Eastern is on the Seahawks’ practice squad after not having a strong rookie camp but showing enough to stay with the team.
On the practice squad side, Pittsburgh signed Kyler Baugh for the second straight season, and Esezi Otomewo could be the first defensive lineman called up if an injury hits. Washington added Terell Smith to its practice squad after the Bears cut him following another banged-up camp.
Several former Gophers are free agents after failing to catch on elsewhere. Le’Meke Brockington did not sing with anyone after being cut from Atlanta with an injury designation.
Ethan Robinson was cut by Miami with an injury designation and went unclaimed, though he spent much of 2025 on the Dolphins’ practice squad and could be a mid-season practice squad addition if healthy. Tyler Cooper was cut by Washington early in camp and never landed elsewhere.
Drew Biber was released by both Green Bay and Cleveland and did not make a practice squad. Tyler Johnson was cut by Dallas at the end of camp.
Jai’Onte’ McMillan was cut by Indianapolis after previously being cut by Miami. Jack Henderson-S remains among the free agents as well.
In Other News...
Cade Tyson's Gophers Return Comes With One Huge Catch
Cade Tyson is back around the program as Minnesota gets deeper into its offseason work, a welcome sight for a roster that can use every bit of continuity it can get. The Gophers wing has rejoined the team while the legal fight over his college future plays out, giving Minnesota a familiar presence in the building even as his status remains tied up in the courts.
The backdrop is a new NCAA five-year eligibility model that has wiped out the old redshirt system and most waiver paths, a change that has already pushed several athletes from the 2022 recruiting class to challenge the governing body. Tyson and others initially won a preliminary injunction, but the NCAA appealed and the order was temporarily stayed, leaving him ineligible for now even as he continues to work with the team. For Minnesota, it is a rare situation in which a player can be back in the mix without knowing whether he will ultimately be cleared to help in a meaningful way. [Read more 🡒]
Gophers Backfield Suddenly Has A Depth Question Behind Darius Taylor
The Gophers backfield took a hit in the season opener when true freshman Ryan Estrada went down with a knee injury against Eastern Illinois, leaving Minnesota with less margin behind starter Darius Taylor. Estrada was hurt early in the fourth quarter after catching a pass, and he was later seen wearing a leg brace after the game.
His absence is more than a short-term setback because Minnesota had been counting on added depth in the running back room as the season moved forward. With Estrada now out for the rest of the year, the Gophers will have to lean more heavily on Taylor and the other reserves while trying to keep the position stable. [Read more 🡒]
Gophers Have A Huge Cade Tyson Question Hanging Over This Season
Cade Tyson is back around the Minnesota mens basketball program, and that alone gives the Gophers a familiar name to build around as they look ahead to 2026-27. The University of Minnesota said Tyson has enrolled in classes and is practicing with the team while the school sorts out his eligibility status, with head coach Niko Medved publicly supporting him through the process.
For Minnesota, the appeal is obvious because Tyson was the teams leading scorer last season, and his presence on the floor would change the conversation around a roster still taking shape. For now, though, the key piece is still unresolved, leaving the Gophers with a significant question hanging over the offseason as they wait to see whether one of their most important returning pieces will be cleared to play. [Read more 🡒]