Eight former Mountaineers were on NFL fields in Week 1 of the 2026 season, and four of them were in the starting lineup for their teams.
The headliners were Geno Smith, Zach Frazier, Dante Stills and Colton McKivitz, each getting the start for his club. Smith led the way for the New York Jets in a 23-10 win over the Titans, completing 19 of 24 passes for 215 yards and posting a 104 QBR. He also added six carries for seven yards and was on the field for all 67 offensive snaps.
In Pittsburgh, Frazier logged every offensive snap in the Steelers’ 20-13 win over the Falcons. The third-year center has now played in 33 games and started all 33.
McKivitz was just as busy for San Francisco in the 49ers’ 27-7 win over the Rams. The veteran tackle played all 65 offensive snaps and also saw time on six special teams plays. He has appeared in 80 games with 57 starts.
Stills made his mark in Arizona’s 26-14 win over the Chargers. The fourth-year defensive end finished with one tackle, a sack that cost 10 yards, and one pass breakup while playing 32 defensive snaps.
Rasul Douglas also contributed in Washington’s narrow 24-22 loss to the Eagles. The 11th-year cornerback had one tackle and one pass breakup in 17 defensive snaps for the Commanders.
Elsewhere, several former Mountaineers saw limited action. Rex Sunahara played on five special teams snaps for Cleveland and recorded one tackle in the Browns’ 34-10 loss to Jacksonville.
Austin Brinkman was on the field for nine special teams plays in Houston’s 36-31 loss to Buffalo. Wyatt Milum saw nine offensive snaps for Jacksonville in that same game against Cleveland.
A few former Mountaineers were listed as not active or on reserve/injured lists: Tony Fields II for the Bears, Michael Coats Jr. for the Browns, Gary Jennings for the Chargers, Doug Nester for the Steelers, and Tampa Bay’s Garrett Greene and David Sills V.
In Other News...
WVU Could Finally Add A Needed Weapon Against Virginia
West Virginia came out of the UT Martin game in good shape, and that alone gave Rich Rodriguez a little more room to breathe heading into a bigger test against Virginia. The Mountaineers are still trying to settle in offensively, but the possibility of getting wide receiver Prince Strachan into the mix offers a timely lift for a group that could use another proven target as quarterback Mike Hawkins Jr. continues to build rhythm with the passing game.
Strachan has been practicing with limited contact, and his status for the Virginia game may hinge on how he handles the next stretch of practices. If that goes well, West Virginia could finally add another weapon to an offense that already needs every available piece, especially with the Mountaineers looking to sharpen the connection between Hawkins and a deeper receiver rotation. [Read more 🡒]
Jahiem White Is Already Reopening An Old WVU What-If
Two weeks after his return to the field, Jahiem White is already stirring up one of those old West Virginia questions that never really goes away. Now playing for North Texas under Neal Brown, White opened his season with 61 rushing yards and a touchdown against Indiana, then followed it with a 124-yard, one-score outing that pushed him past 2,000 career rushing yards.
For Mountaineers fans, the pull is obvious. White was already the programs 27th all-time leading rusher before a season-ending knee injury interrupted his time in Morgantown, and his latest run of production only adds fuel to the sense that WVU once had a back capable of being much more than a steady contributor. The what-if is back on the table, even if the answer will have to wait. [Read more 🡒]
Rich Rodriguez Just Framed West Virginias Biggest Concerns Before Virginia
Rich Rodriguez spent part of his media session Wednesday laying out the pressure points West Virginia is carrying into its matchup with Virginia, and the focus started up front. He praised the experience and discipline of his defensive line, the kind of steady interior presence the Mountaineers will need if they want to control the game and avoid chasing it from the opening series.
Rodriguez also pointed to the challenge posed by one of Virginias players, a reminder that this one may hinge on a few individual matchups as much as overall structure. On the roster front, he said one player has a hearing scheduled for Thursday in Indiana, while Talleys injury status remains day-to-day with a possible return in one to two weeks, leaving West Virginia with a little more uncertainty as kickoff approaches. [Read more 🡒]