Nate Landman - Los Angeles Rams
There was plenty of hype surrounding the Rams defense entering Week 1, with a unit featuring Myles Garrett, Aaron Donald and former Buff Nate Landman.
Unfortunately, the result didn’t match the anticipation.
Los Angeles fell 27–7 to division rival San Francisco, but Landman still put together a productive afternoon, finishing with eight tackles and one pass deflection.
Coming off the best season of his NFL career, Landman has already established himself as much more than simply another former Buff trying to find a role. He’s become a legitimate piece of the Rams defense, and despite a disappointing Week 1 for Los Angeles, his production picked up right where he left off last season.
LaJohntay Wester - Baltimore Ravens
Wester quietly put together one of the more encouraging performances from a former Buff this weekend.
Baltimore rolled past Indianapolis 41–23, and Wester contributed in multiple ways. He finished with two receptions for 15 yards, but his impact extended beyond the offense.
Wester added a 30-yard kickoff return and three punt returns totaling 30 yards, showing exactly why he continues to have value for Baltimore.
For a player trying to expand his offensive role in Year Two, being useful in multiple phases is exactly how you keep earning opportunities.
Jimmy Horn Jr. - Carolina Panthers
Unfortunately, the toughest Buffs news came out of Carolina.
The Panthers waived second-year receiver Jimmy Horn Jr. following their 59–37 loss to Chicago.
Horn wasn’t much of a factor offensively, receiving just one target without recording a catch. He did surpass 100 yards as a kick returner, but his afternoon will largely be remembered for a muffed punt that Chicago recovered.
Whether that mistake ultimately tipped the scales in Carolina’s decision is impossible to know, but the timing certainly doesn’t help.
Now we wait.
Horn has always faced an uphill battle because of his size, but his speed and return ability give him something NFL teams covet. I wouldn’t be surprised to see another organization give him an opportunity.
Travis Hunter - Jacksonville Jaguars
After a long offseason, Travis Hunter is finally back.
Jacksonville eased Hunter into his return in an interesting way, playing him 29 snaps defensively compared to just four offensively.
That uneven split was reminiscent of Hunter’s rookie season, when his workload seemed to fluctuate between offense and defense. Finding rhythm while constantly changing roles isn’t easy, but Week 1 also offered a reminder of just how natural Hunter looks at cornerback.
Cleveland targeted him only once, and Hunter looked comfortable playing both man and zone coverage.
Offensively, his opportunities were limited, but the message was still clear: Jacksonville intends to use No. 12 on both sides.
Considering his 2025 season ended prematurely and the expectations that come with being the No. 2 overall pick, perhaps Week 1 was simply about getting Hunter back onto an NFL field without asking for too much too quickly.
The talent hasn’t gone anywhere.
Now we wait to see the workload increase.
Shedeur Sanders - Cleveland Browns
As expected, Shedeur Sanders didn’t start Cleveland’s opener.
What was slightly more surprising was that even as Jacksonville built a commanding lead, Sanders never entered the game. Deshaun Watson played from start to finish as Cleveland was blown out 34–10.
So, there weren’t any Shedeur highlights to break down this week.
But there was one moment Colorado fans could appreciate.
After the game, Sanders and Hunter found each other on the field, embracing and showing love between two former teammates who helped create some unforgettable memories in Boulder.
For a brief moment, the NFL storylines didn’t matter.
It was just No. 2 and No. 12 again.
Different jerseys. Different teams. Different NFL journeys.
But still Buffs.
Brady Russell - Seattle Seahawks
The former undrafted Buff has carved out his place in Seattle primarily through special teams, but Week 1 gave him a chance to contribute offensively as well.
Russell caught both of his targets for 20 yards in Seattle’s 13–10 win over New England, recording the first two receptions of his NFL career.
Chidobe Awuzie — Baltimore Ravens
LaJohntay Wester wasn’t the only former Buff celebrating Baltimore’s convincing Week 1 victory.
Veteran cornerback Chidobe Awuzie also made his Ravens debut, although his workload was extremely limited.
Awuzie played just six defensive snaps against Indianapolis, which isn’t necessarily surprising considering the depth Baltimore has assembled in its secondary. Nate Wiggins, Marlon Humphrey and Jalyn Armour-Davis Martin all received considerably more work at cornerback in the opener. (Baltimore Ravens)
It’s also worth remembering that the veteran battled injuries last season. Baltimore doesn’t need to force Awuzie into a massive workload in September if it believes he can become an important piece later in the year.
This Ravens team has much bigger goals than winning Week 1.
If they’re playing meaningful football in December and January, a healthy and experienced Awuzie could become much more valuable than six snaps in September would suggest.
B.J. Green II - Jacksonville Jaguars
Unfortunately, Travis Hunter wasn’t the only Buff storyline coming out of Jacksonville.
B.J. Green II suffered an elbow injury during the first quarter of Jacksonville’s 34–10 victory over Cleveland and was unable to return. As of now, the severity of the injury and how much time Green could potentially miss remain unclear. (Jacksonville Jaguars)
What happened afterward, however, is worth monitoring.
Jacksonville reportedly moved to add former Arizona Cardinals edge rusher B.J. Ojulari, a former second-round pick. The timing certainly catches your attention considering Green’s injury, although it would be premature to assume the signing tells us anything definitive about Green’s prognosis or future role. (SI)
That’s what makes Green’s situation one to follow closely.
Coming into 2026, this felt like an opportunity for the former Buff to take a meaningful step forward within Jacksonville’s defense. Hopefully, the Ojulari addition is simply insurance while Green recovers rather than an indication that those opportunities are about to disappear.
For now, we wait for an update on that elbow.
Will Sherman - New Orleans Saints
There wasn’t much to report from Will Sherman in Week 1, but sometimes simply sticking on an NFL roster is part of the story.
Sherman was active for New Orleans’ 31–30 loss to Detroit but did not record an offensive snap. After appearing in seven games and making two starts for the Saints last season, Sherman remains an important depth piece along the New Orleans offensive line. (New Orleans Saints)
For an offensive lineman, his opportunity could come at any moment. For now, Sherman remains another former Buff firmly on an NFL roster heading into Week 2.
