Cyclones in the NFL: Week 1 Recap

The 2026-27 NFL season officially kicked off this past week, with 13 Cyclones taking the field. A handful of Cyclones (Purdy, Montgomery, Hall) found paydirt while many others had standout plays of their own.

Jalen Travis will be the only Cyclone in primetime this weekend, as the Colts head to Kansas City to take on the Chiefs on SNF. Charlie Kolar and the Chargers will face Darien Porter and the Raiders in an AFC West showdown.

Brock Purdy – QB, #13, San Francisco 49ers (1-0)
Purdy opened his 2026 campaign with a statement game against the prohibitive Super Bowl favorite Los Angeles Rams and their big-name defense in Australia. Purdy was efficient and made it look easy against a division rival halfway across the world. This weekend, Purdy will face the Dolphins, the team he made his first NFL appearance against.
Last Time Out: W vs. LAR, 27-7 // 25-34 for 205 yards and 3 TDs, 5 rushes for 29 yards
Up Next: Sept. 20, vs. MIA (3:25 pm on FOX)

Brock Purdy has the highest completion % by a QB in their first 50 career games in NFL history. pic.twitter.com/gMfUDJ05F1
— Real App (@realapp) September 11, 2026

David Montgomery – RB, #32, Houston Texans (0-1)
It took little time for Montgomery to make an impact on his new team, as the eight-year vet scored three times on Sunday. Montgomery found the end zone twice on the ground and once through the air as he powered the Texans' offense. Montgomery's three scores tied a single-game career high.
Last Time Out: L vs. BUF, 31-36 // 20 rushes for 60 yards and 2 TDs, 3 catches for 19 yards and 1 TD
Up Next: Sept. 20, vs. Cincinnati (12 pm on CBS)

More to come. pic.twitter.com/hDoO10wQAX
— Houston Texans (@HoustonTexans) September 13, 2026

Breece Hall – RB, #20, New York Jets (1-0)
Hall proved why he got paid over the summer, turning in a workhorse performance in a road win over Tennessee. He finished with 118 total yards of offense, accounting for roughly 32% of New York's offense. It was Hall's sixth career game with at least 100 rushing yards and a touchdown.
Last Time Out: W at TEN, 23-10 // 22 rushes for 102 yards and 1 TD, 2 catches for 16 yards
Up Next: Sept. 20, vs. Green Bay (12 pm on FOX)

Jaylin Noel – WR, #13 – Houston Texans (0-1)
It should be no surprise to Cyclone fans, but Noel continues to be a walking explosive play. Noel averaged 26.5 yards per catch and 23.3 yards per return on Sunday. Noel appears to have earned the slot receiver role for Houston.
Last Time Out: L vs. BUF, 31-36 // 2 catches for 53 yards, 3 kick returns for 70 yards
Up Next: Sept. 20, vs. Cincinnati (12 pm on CBS)

Xavier Hutchinson – WR, #19, Houston Texans (0-1)
Hutchinson had the second-most offensive snaps among all Texans wideouts Sunday, playing 44 snaps. Hutchinson received the third-most targets behind WR1 Nico Collins and tight end Dalton Schultz. His role will likely continue to expand with Jayden Higgins on IR.
Last Time Out: L vs. BUF, 31-36 // 3 catches for 32 yards, 44 total snaps
Up Next: Sept. 20, vs. Cincinnati (12 pm on CBS)

Will McDonald IV – EDGE, #9, New York Jets (1-0)
McDonald opened the year doing what he does best, getting after the quarterback. McDonald hit his patented spin move for a fourth-quarter sack of Tennessee QB Cam Ward. Along with second overall pick in the 2026 draft David Bailey, McDonald and the Jets' D-Line finished with three sacks and limited the Titans to just 68 yards rushing.
Last Time Out: W at TEN, 23-10 // 1 tackle (solo), 1 sack, 1 TFL, 1 QB Hit
Up Next: Sept. 20, vs. Green Bay (12 pm on FOX)

First sack of the year for Will McDonald. Expect double digits again in 2026. pic.twitter.com/HVXaS0zVk9
— Glenn Naughton (@JNRadio_Glenn) September 13, 2026

Jalen Travis – OL, #75, Indianapolis Colts (0-1)
Travis reinforced why the Colts named him their starting right tackle on Sunday, as Travis graded out with a 78.8 PFF mark – the third-highest by any offensive player for Indianapolis. Former Cyclone Tyrese Haliburton was at the game was the "striker of the anvil" for the Colts in the season-opener.
Last Time Out: L vs. BAL, 23-41 // 54 offensive snaps, 4 special teams snaps
Up Next: Sept. 20, at Kansas City (7:20 pm on NBC)

Tyrese Haliburton on the anvil for the @Colts season opener 🐴🔨 pic.twitter.com/Saz1JnyiVz
— Indiana Pacers (@Pacers) September 13, 2026

Darien Porter – DB, #26, Las Vegas Raiders (1-0)
Porter, like Travis, showed why he was named a full-time starter over the summer as he allowed just one catch on five targets for 15 total yards. His speed flashed as he made a pair of tackles and broke up a pair of passes.
Last Time Out: W vs. MIA, 27-13 // 2 tackles, 2 passes defended, 54 total snaps
Up Next: Sept. 20, at LAC (3:05 pm on CBS)

Domonique Orange – DT, #97, Minnesota Vikings (1-0)
Orange got his first taste of NFL action and divisional rivalry on Sunday afternoon as the Vikings rallied to beat the Packers. Orange had a pivotal, momentum-changing play when he stuffed a fourth-and-one quarterback sneak that helped springboard the Vikings' comeback.
Last Time Out: W vs. GB, 39-22 // 2 tackles, 1 TFL, 29 total snaps
Up Next: Sept. 20, at Chicago (12 pm on FOX)

Vikings rookie DL Domonique Orange was feeling himself after stopping Jordan Love's QB sneak attempt in the fourth quarter 🍊 pic.twitter.com/Pc3k7IdovV
— Yahoo Sports (@YahooSports) September 14, 2026

Charlie Kolar – TE, #88, Los Angeles Chargers (0-1)
Though Kolar is listed as TE1 on the Chargers' depth chart, the fifth-year pass-catcher was tasked primarily with run blocking against the Cardinals.
Last Time Out: L vs. ARI, 14-26 // 43 total snaps, 30 offensive snaps
Up Next: Sept. 20, vs. Las Vegas (3:05 pm on CBS)

Enyi Uwazurike – DL, #96, Denver Broncos (0-1)
Uwazurike and the Broncos had a tough opening task, dealing with the return of Patrick Mahomes on the road. Uwazurike got a heavy defensive snap load and came away with three tackles on the night.
Last Time Out: L at KC, 10-31 // 3 tackles (1 solo), 46 total snaps
Next Up: Sept. 20, vs. Jacksonville (3:05 on CBS)

"We all know how to work together, we have great chemistry and it definitely feels good to know that I've earned respect from them."

Following a productive 2025 campaign, DL Eyioma Uwazurike is aiming for more in 2026 » https://t.co/uVFJumttOb pic.twitter.com/HivUgBTtJZ
— Denver Broncos (@Broncos) September 11, 2026

T.J. Tampa – CB, #27, Baltimore Ravens (1-0)
Tampa was limited in the opener, playing some early special teams snaps and earning a tackle before getting hurt and missing the rest of the game.
Last Time Out: W at IND, 41-23 // 1 tackle, 5 special teams snaps
Up Next: Sept. 20, vs. New Orleans (12 pm on CBS)

Jake Hummel – LB, #33, Houston Texans (0-1)
Hummel played only special teams snaps in the loss to Buffalo. Hummel had to leave Sunday's contest early with an abdominal injury.
Last Time Out: L vs. BUF, 31-36 // 17 special teams snaps
Up Next: Sept. 20, vs. Cincinnati (12 pm on CBS)

Kene Nwangwu – RB, #3, New York Jets (1-0)
Nwangwu missed the opening week due to injury.
Last Time Out: W at TEN, 23-10 // OUT (back)
Up Next: Sept. 20, vs. Green Bay (12 pm on FOX)

Players Mentioned

Domonique Orange

Sponsors

Iowa State University Athletics