Cyclones in the NFL: Week 1 Recap

Four Cyclones made their NFL debut over the weekend, while 14 total Iowa Staters saw action. Brock Purdy led a game-winning drive, while both Breece Hall and Will McDonald had standout performances with the Jets.

Cyclone rookies Jayden Higgins, Jaylin Noel, Jalen Travis and Darien Porter all saw their first career action. Both Higgins and Noel saw plenty of action with the Texans' offense, while Porter and Travis saw special teams action.

Brock Purdy – #13, San Francisco 49ers (1-0)
It wasn't perfect on Sunday, but Purdy, again, led the 49ers to victory against Seattle. There were no hard feelings after a Cy-Hawk win, as he connected with former Iowa tight end George Kittle for an early score. Then, after Kittle went out with injury, down his top two receivers and facing the highest pressure rate of his career, he led a game-winning drive with a TD pass with 1:40 left on the clock.
Last Time Out: W at SEA, 17-13 // 26-35, 277 yards, two TD, two INT // five carries, 17 yards
Up Next: Sept 14, at New Orleans (12 pm on FOX)

Brock Purdy came up clutch when the @49ers needed him the most ‼️ pic.twitter.com/qwCkAIxULs
— NFL (@NFL) September 7, 2025

Breece Hall – #20, New York Jets (0-1)
Hall recorded his sixth 100-yard rushing game in the season opener and currently holds the third-most rushing yards in the league. He had just one 100-yard rushing output in 2024 and tallied 90 yards after contact against the Steelers.
Last Time Out: L vs. PIT, 32-34 // 19 carries, 107 yards & two catches, 38 yards
Up Next: Sept. 14, vs. Buffalo (12 pm on CBS)

not too shabby @BreeceH pic.twitter.com/BcHF9Eslbq
— New York Jets (@nyjets) September 8, 2025

Will McDonald IV – #9, New York Jets (0-1)
McDonald had a strong start to his 2025 campaign, racking up a pair of sacks, tying him for the second most in the league through one contest. His two-sack performance was the fourth multi-sack game of his career.
Last Time Out: L vs. PIT, 32-34 // three tackles (two for loss), two sacks, three QB hits
Up Next: Sept. 14, vs. Buffalo (12 pm on CBS)

Will McDonald week 1

💥 2 sacks
💥 3 QB hits
💥 3 QB pressures#Jets | 🎥 credit: @Michael_Nania pic.twitter.com/3exNFTPK2A
— Harrison Glaser (@NYJetsTFMedia) September 9, 2025

David Montgomery – #5, Detroit Lions (0-1)
Montgomery was heavily featured in Detroit's offense this past Sunday, but the team struggled to put points on the board. Montgomery would go on to lead the team in rushing (25 yards) and was tied for the third-most catches on the team with four.
Last Time Out: L at GB, 13-27 // 11 carries, 25 yards & four catches, 18 yards
Up Next: Sept. 14, vs. Chicago (12 pm on FOX)

Jayden Higgins – #81, Houston Texans (0-1)
Higgins made his professional debut this weekend and led the Texans in receiving, racking up 32 yards. Averaging 16 yards a catch, Higgins snagged his first career catch for 23 yards. He was part of an ISU trio that accounted for 36.7% of Houston's receiving yards.
Last Time Out: L at LAR, 9-14 // two catches, 32 yards
Next Up: Sept. 15, vs. Tampa Bay (6 pm on ESPN/ABC)

First career catch for @JaydenHiggins3‼️

HOUvsLAR on CBS/Paramount+https://t.co/ItbSRypzui
pic.twitter.com/Hzu4eEFuph
— Iowa State Football (@CycloneFB) September 7, 2025

Xavier Hutchinson – #19, Houston Texans (0-1)
With a few receivers out with injury, it was third-year pro Xavier Hutchinson who got the start opposite Nico Collins on Sunday. Hutchinson was second on the team in receiving yards and was tied for the longest reception on the team (23 yards).
Last Time Out: L at LAR, 9-14 // two catches, 30 yards & one carry, five yards
Next Up: Sept. 15, vs. Tampa Bay (6 pm on ESPN/ABC)

Jaylin Noel – #14 – Houston Texans (0-1)
Noel was targeted twice Sunday, securing one pass for his first career catch. Noel also handled punt return duties for the Texans after winning the position battle in camp. With three opportunities, Noel fair caught his first, but then totaled 20 return yards on his next two attempts.
Last Time Out: L at LAR, 9-14 // one catch, seven yards & two punt returns, 20 yards
Next Up: Sept. 15, vs. Tampa Bay (6 pm on ESPN/ABC)

Charlie Kolar – #88, Baltimore Ravens (0-1)
Despite not being targeted, Kolar played a vital role in an offense that put up 40 points on Sunday night football. Kolar was often on the field as part of 12 or 13 personnel and was a trusted and relied upon blocker as the Ravens rushed for 238 yards.
Last Time Out: L at BUF, 40-41 // no targets, played 31 offensive snaps (61%)
Up Next: Sept. 14, vs. Cleveland (12 pm on CBS)

Enyi Uwazurike – #96, Denver Broncos (1-0)
Uwazurike was stout on Sunday, helping the Broncos limit the Texans to just 12 points and 71 rushing yards. All of his tackles came in the run defense, as he assisted on three take downs.
Last Time Out: W vs. TEN, 20-12 // 3 tackles
Next Up: Sept. 14, at Indianapolis (3:05 pm on CBS)

T.J. Tampa – #27, Baltimore Ravens (0-1)
Like Hummel, Tampa made his impact for the Ravens on special teams. Tampa, in on both punt and kickoff opportunities, recorded two tackles.
Last Time Out: L at BUF, 40-41 // 2 tackles, 27 special teams snaps
Up Next: Sept. 14, vs. Cleveland (12 pm on CBS)

Jake Hummel – #35, Baltimore Ravens (0-1)
Though he didn't see a defensive snap, Hummel made his presence felt on special teams, hustling all over the field and recording one tackle.
Last Time Out: L at BUF, 40-41 // tackle, 27 special teams snaps
Up Next: Sept. 14, vs. Cleveland (12 pm on CBS)

Darien Porter – #26, Las Vegas Raiders (1-0)
Porter saw time on kickoffs, punts and PAT/FG attempts in his rookie debut.
Last Time Out: W at NE, 20-13 // 20 special teams snaps
Up Next: Sept. 15, vs. LAC (9 pm on ESPN)

Jalen Travis – #75, Indianapolis Colts (1-0)
Travis was a consistent sub for the Colts, entering in the jumbo packages. He was also on both field goal and extra point units.
Last Time Out: W vs. MIA, 33-8 // seven offensive snaps & seven special teams snaps
Up Next: Sept. 14, vs. Denver (3:05 pm on CBS)

Kene Nwangwu – #34, New York Jets (0-1)
Nwangwu had a solid kickoff return to start the season, taking back the opening kick for 33 yards. He would then be sidelined for the remainder of the contest with an injury.
Last Time Out: L vs. PIT, 32-34 // 1 kick return for 33 yards
Up Next: Sept. 14, vs. Buffalo (12 pm on CBS)

Allen Lazard – #10, New York Jets (0-1)
Lazard was a gameday scratch for the Jets.
Last Time Out: L vs. PIT, 32-34 // was inactive
Up Next: Sept. 14, vs. Buffalo (12 pm on CBS)

Players Mentioned

Jayden Higgins

Jaylin Noel

Darien Porter

Jalen Travis

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