Former Texas A&M players wasted no time leaving their mark in the opening week of the 2026 NFL season, with a handful turning in productive debuts and others dealing with lighter workloads, injuries or inactive status.
Green Bay linebacker Edgerrin Cooper delivered one of the sharpest stat lines of the bunch even in a 39-22 loss to the Minnesota Vikings. He paced the Packers with seven total tackles and added a sack, giving Green Bay an early defensive spark.
Chicago wideout Jahdae Walker made his presence felt in more than one way during the Bears’ 59-37 win over Carolina. He caught a touchdown pass and also chipped in with key blocks and special teams tackles as Chicago opened with a huge offensive showing.
In Cleveland, rookie receiver KC Concepcion stepped right into the passing game in his NFL regular-season debut. He led the Browns with five targets, finishing with four catches for 43 yards in a 34-10 loss to Jacksonville.
Jacksonville had a pair of Aggies contribute in its 34-10 win over Cleveland. Tight end Nate Boerkircher made his NFL debut and recorded his first pro catch, a nine-yard reception, while safety Antonio Johnson added four total tackles, including three solo stops and one assisted tackle. Fellow Jaguar Albert Regis also debuted, posting one combined tackle across 12 defensive snaps.
Cashius Howell wasted little time making an impression for Cincinnati. In the Bengals’ 33-27 win over Tampa Bay, the rookie defensive end logged four pressures and half a sack in his first NFL game.
Miami running back De’Von Achane had a quieter opener in the Dolphins’ 27-13 loss to Las Vegas, carrying 11 times for 36 yards and adding four catches for 30 yards for 15 total touches.
There were also several former Aggies who contributed in smaller roles. Michael Clemons played 14 defensive snaps for Indianapolis in the Colts’ matchup with Baltimore, good for a 21 percent share, and still finished with the team’s second-highest defensive grade from Pro Football Focus at 64.2. Trey Zuhn III did not take any offensive snaps for the Raiders in their 27-13 win over Miami, but he was on the field for six special teams plays.
On the offensive line, Jermaine Eluemunor had a strong showing at right tackle in the Giants’ 28-20 win over Dallas, helping anchor New York’s front. Erik McCoy, meanwhile, had a tougher night for New Orleans as the Saints came up just short in a 31-30 loss to Detroit. Jake Matthews also had a rough opening week in Atlanta’s 31-24 loss to Pittsburgh.
There were a few quiet stat lines, too. Myles Garrett did not record a tackle, sack or quarterback hit in his Rams debut during Los Angeles’ 27-7 loss to San Francisco.
Ryan McCollum did not see a snap in Pittsburgh’s win over Atlanta and finished without offensive or defensive statistics. Braden Mann opened the season with a strong performance for Philadelphia in the Eagles’ 24-22 win, though no stat line was listed.
Carolina’s Bobby Brown III recorded two combined tackles in the Panthers’ loss to Chicago while playing through a back injury. In New England, Dametrious Crownover logged two special teams snaps but did not play on offense. Buddy Johnson did not record any regular-season statistics for Chicago, and Demani Richardson did not play a defensive snap for Carolina.
Several Aggies were out of action entirely. Chase Bisontis missed the opener after suffering a season-ending torn MCL, and Nic Scourton is also out for the season after tearing his ACL during training camp.
Christian Kirk was sidelined by a calf injury and placed on injured reserve, while Nnamdi Madubuike was inactive as he continues to recover from offseason neck surgery. Tyrel Dodson was on Carolina’s practice squad and did not see any action.
With Week 1 now in the books, the former Aggies head into Week 2 with a mix of momentum, limited reps and injury recoveries to track.
In Other News...
Texas A&M Practice Scare Casts A Shadow Over Kentucky Week
Texas A&M got a brief scare in practice this week when an anonymous player suffered a heat-related medical emergency and was taken to a hospital for evaluation. The program later confirmed the incident in a statement, and the player has since been released, easing immediate concern as the Aggies turn their attention to Kentucky.
The timing still adds an uneasy note to a week that should be centered on preparation, especially with early-season conditions often making practice management part of the conversation. Even with the player expected to be available for the game, the episode is a reminder of how quickly a routine practice can become something much more serious. [Read more 🡒]
Texas A&Ms SEC Opener Comes With One Uncomfortable Advantage For Kentucky
Kentuckys trip to Kyle Field for the SEC opener brings an unusual layer of familiarity into a game that already carries real early-season weight. Defensive coordinator Jay Bateman, who spent two seasons as Texas A&Ms defensive coordinator, returns to a place where he knows the personnel, the building and, just as importantly, the way the Aggies like to operate on that side of the ball.
For Texas A&M, the comfort goes both ways, because Bateman also knows enough about the Aggies to make this a sharper chess match than most September conference games. The wrinkle is that his insight into offensive coordinator Holmon Wiggins adds another wrinkle for both staffs, with each side expected to lean on its understanding of the others tendencies as the opener unfolds. [Read more 🡒]
Texas A&M's Place In College Football's Spending Race Says Plenty
Texas A&Ms place in college footballs spending race sits inside a larger picture the sport can no longer ignore. The Athletics survey of roster-building budgets across 68 Power Four programs and Notre Dame showed just how wide the gap has become, with the top end of the market pushing far beyond what many schools can match. The figures blend athletic department revenue, booster money and program-controlled funds, but leave out independent player income, which only adds another layer to the financial picture.
For Aggies fans, the bigger story is not simply who leads the list, but what it says about where A&M fits as the sport keeps tilting toward resource-driven competition. Ohio State landed at the top with an estimated range of $49 million to $54 million, while Boston College checked in at the low end at $8 million to $13 million. Where Texas A&M lands in that spread says plenty about how aggressively it is trying to keep pace in a market where spending has become part of the arms race. [Read more 🡒]