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Red Raiders in the NFL: Week 1
September 16, 2026 | Football
Red Raiders in the NFL | 2026 Regular Season Week 1, Sept. 9-Sept. 14
LUBBOCK, Texas – The 2026 NFL season opened this past week with 21 former Red Raiders in the NFL, including 18 on active 53-man rosters to start the season. This past April, a record nine Red Raiders were selected in the NFL Draft, with eight of the nine active in Week 1 and four starting — David Bailey, Caleb Douglas, Lee Hunter and Jacob Rodriguez.
A complete list of statistics by former Red Raiders in the NFL is below.
ARIZONA CARDINALS at Los Angeles Chargers (W, 26-14)
S Dadrion Taylor-Demerson (2019-23): Taylor-Demerson was listed on the inactive list prior to Sunday's game as he starts the year dealing with a rib injury.
DL Broderick Washington Jr. (2016-19): Washington Jr., who battled through most of last season with injuries, saw playing time in Week 1, recording one solo tackle and one pass breakup. The seven-year veteran played 26 snaps in total (five on special teams).
DL Lee Hunter (2025): Named a starter prior to the season opener, Hunter kicked off his NFL career recording six tackles (four solo). He went in the books for 34 snaps on defense and added eight more on special teams.
RB Tahj Brooks (2020-24): Brooks opened his second year in the league primarily on special teams. He had two kickoff returns for a combined total of 49 yards (24.5 avg). Brooks also lined up for two snaps in the backfield.
OL Terence Steele (2016-19): Steele and the Cowboys opened the season on Sunday Night Football visiting the New York Giants. Steele played each offensive snap and added three more on special teams.
DL Skyler Gill-Howard (2025): Gill-Howard rotated into the Lions' mix, playing 47 percent of the snaps as he totaled three tackles (one solo) to begin his NFL career.
QB Patrick Mahomes II (2014-16): Mahomes II made his return from an ACL injury that knocked him out following Week 14 of the 2025 season. In his return on Monday Night Football, Mahomes II completed 15 of his 27 passes for 184 yards, throwing for two touchdowns and scoring one on the ground. His scramble to the end zone was his 18th rushing touchdown since 2018, only trailing Josh Allen's 26 in that span.
OL Caleb Rogers (2020-24): Rogers only saw action on special teams playing six snaps.
WR Caleb Douglas (2024-25): Douglas led the Dolphins in receiving as he hauled in five of seven targets for 94 yards, with his longest catch of the day being 30 yards. It was the most receiving yards by a Dolphins player in their NFL debut.
QB Behren Morton (2021-25): Morton was listed on the inactive list prior to the game as the emergency No. 3 quarterback.
DE Tyree Wilson (2020-22): Traded to the Saints in the offseason, Wilson assisted on a tackle and added one more on the kickoff to start overtime.
DE David Bailey (2025): The No. 2 overall pick in April's draft, Bailey was fourth on the team in tackles with four (all solo), registering his first NFL sack for a loss of one yard and one quarterback hit. He played 70 percent of the defensive snaps Sunday.
DB Tyler Owens (2022-23): Owens only saw playing time on special teams, recording 22 snaps but went viral for one of his two tackles. Click here to view the play.
DL Romello Height (2025): Height kicked off his rookie season on the other side of the world as he played 49 percent of the defensive snaps in the NFL's first-ever game in Australia.
Red Raiders on Practice Squads
RED RAIDERS IN THE NFL WEEK 2 SCHEDULE
Thursday, Sept. 17 | 7:15 p.m.
Lions (Gill-Howard) at Bills | Prime Video
Sunday, Sept. 20 | 12:00 p.m.
Panthers (Hunter) at Falcons | FOX
Saints (Wilson) at Ravens (Washington Jr.) | CBS
Vikings at Bears | FOX
Bengals (Brooks, Lux) at Texans (Kelly) | CBS
Steelers at Patriots (Morton) | CBS
Packers at Jets (Bailey, McNamara) | FOX
Browns at Buccaneers | CBS
Eagles (Wisniewski) at Titans | FOX
Sunday, Sept. 20 | 3:05 p.m.
Raiders (Rogers) at Chargers | CBS
Sunday, Sept. 20 | 3:25 p.m.
Seahawks at Cardinals (Taylor-Demerson) | FOX
Commanders (Owens) at Cowboys (Steele) | FOX
Dolphins (Brooks, Douglas, Rodriguez) at 49ers (Height) | FOX
Sunday, Sept. 20 | 7:20 p.m.
Colts at Chiefs (Mahomes II) | NBC/Peacock
Monday, Sept. 21 | 7:15 p.m.
Giants at Rams | ESPN
RED RAIDERS IN THE NFL
LUBBOCK, Texas – The 2026 NFL season opened this past week with 21 former Red Raiders in the NFL, including 18 on active 53-man rosters to start the season. This past April, a record nine Red Raiders were selected in the NFL Draft, with eight of the nine active in Week 1 and four starting — David Bailey, Caleb Douglas, Lee Hunter and Jacob Rodriguez.
A complete list of statistics by former Red Raiders in the NFL is below.
ARIZONA CARDINALS at Los Angeles Chargers (W, 26-14)
S Dadrion Taylor-Demerson (2019-23): Taylor-Demerson was listed on the inactive list prior to Sunday's game as he starts the year dealing with a rib injury.
- Taylor-Demerson this week: No stats
- Taylor-Demerson this season: 0 GP / 0 GS
- Virgil this week: No stats
- Virgil this season: 0 GP / 0 GS
DL Broderick Washington Jr. (2016-19): Washington Jr., who battled through most of last season with injuries, saw playing time in Week 1, recording one solo tackle and one pass breakup. The seven-year veteran played 26 snaps in total (five on special teams).
- Washington Jr. this week: 1 solo tackle, 1 PD
- Washington Jr. this season: 1 GP / 0 GS
DL Lee Hunter (2025): Named a starter prior to the season opener, Hunter kicked off his NFL career recording six tackles (four solo). He went in the books for 34 snaps on defense and added eight more on special teams.
- Hunter this week: 6 tackles (4 solo)
- Hunter this season: 1 GP / 1 GS
RB Tahj Brooks (2020-24): Brooks opened his second year in the league primarily on special teams. He had two kickoff returns for a combined total of 49 yards (24.5 avg). Brooks also lined up for two snaps in the backfield.
- Brooks this week: 2 kickoff returns for 49 yards
- Brooks this season: 1 GP / 0 GS | 2 returns (24.5 avg.)
OL Terence Steele (2016-19): Steele and the Cowboys opened the season on Sunday Night Football visiting the New York Giants. Steele played each offensive snap and added three more on special teams.
- Steele this week: No stats
- Steele this season: 1 GP / 1 GS
DL Skyler Gill-Howard (2025): Gill-Howard rotated into the Lions' mix, playing 47 percent of the snaps as he totaled three tackles (one solo) to begin his NFL career.
- Gill-Howard this week: 3 tackles (1 solo)
- Gill-Howard this season: 1 GP / 0 GS
QB Patrick Mahomes II (2014-16): Mahomes II made his return from an ACL injury that knocked him out following Week 14 of the 2025 season. In his return on Monday Night Football, Mahomes II completed 15 of his 27 passes for 184 yards, throwing for two touchdowns and scoring one on the ground. His scramble to the end zone was his 18th rushing touchdown since 2018, only trailing Josh Allen's 26 in that span.
- Mahomes this week: 15-for-27, 184 yards, 2 TD, 1 rushing TD, 1 INT
- Mahomes this season: 1 GP / 1 GS
OL Caleb Rogers (2020-24): Rogers only saw action on special teams playing six snaps.
- Rogers this week: No stats
- Rogers this season: 1 GP / 0 GS
WR Caleb Douglas (2024-25): Douglas led the Dolphins in receiving as he hauled in five of seven targets for 94 yards, with his longest catch of the day being 30 yards. It was the most receiving yards by a Dolphins player in their NFL debut.
- Douglas this week: 5 receptions, 94 receiving yards
- Douglas this season: 1 GP / 1 GS
- Brooks this week: 9 tackles (6 solo), 1 QBH
- Brooks this season: 1 GP / 1 GS
- Rodriguez this week: 14 tackles (5 solo)
- Rodriguez this season: 1 GP / 1 GS
QB Behren Morton (2021-25): Morton was listed on the inactive list prior to the game as the emergency No. 3 quarterback.
- Morton this week: No stats
- Morton this season: 0 GP / 0 GS
DE Tyree Wilson (2020-22): Traded to the Saints in the offseason, Wilson assisted on a tackle and added one more on the kickoff to start overtime.
- Wilson this week: 2 tackles (1 on special teams).
- Wilson this season: 1 GP / 0 GS
DE David Bailey (2025): The No. 2 overall pick in April's draft, Bailey was fourth on the team in tackles with four (all solo), registering his first NFL sack for a loss of one yard and one quarterback hit. He played 70 percent of the defensive snaps Sunday.
- Bailey this week: 4 solo tackles, 1 sack, 1 QBH
- Bailey this season: 1 GP / 1 GS
- McNamara: 3 punts for 139 yards, 2 i20
- McNamara this season: 1 GP / 0 GS
DB Tyler Owens (2022-23): Owens only saw playing time on special teams, recording 22 snaps but went viral for one of his two tackles. Click here to view the play.
- Owens this week: 2 special teams solo tackles
- Owens this season: 1 GP/ 0 GS
DL Romello Height (2025): Height kicked off his rookie season on the other side of the world as he played 49 percent of the defensive snaps in the NFL's first-ever game in Australia.
- Height this week: No stats
- Height this season: 1 GP / 0 GS
Red Raiders on Practice Squads
- Josh Kelly, WR (2024), Houston Texans
- Bralyn Lux, DB (2023-24), Cincinnati Bengals
- Cole Wisniewski, S (2025), Philadelphia Eagles
RED RAIDERS IN THE NFL WEEK 2 SCHEDULE
Thursday, Sept. 17 | 7:15 p.m.
Lions (Gill-Howard) at Bills | Prime Video
Sunday, Sept. 20 | 12:00 p.m.
Panthers (Hunter) at Falcons | FOX
Saints (Wilson) at Ravens (Washington Jr.) | CBS
Vikings at Bears | FOX
Bengals (Brooks, Lux) at Texans (Kelly) | CBS
Steelers at Patriots (Morton) | CBS
Packers at Jets (Bailey, McNamara) | FOX
Browns at Buccaneers | CBS
Eagles (Wisniewski) at Titans | FOX
Sunday, Sept. 20 | 3:05 p.m.
Raiders (Rogers) at Chargers | CBS
Sunday, Sept. 20 | 3:25 p.m.
Seahawks at Cardinals (Taylor-Demerson) | FOX
Commanders (Owens) at Cowboys (Steele) | FOX
Dolphins (Brooks, Douglas, Rodriguez) at 49ers (Height) | FOX
Sunday, Sept. 20 | 7:20 p.m.
Colts at Chiefs (Mahomes II) | NBC/Peacock
Monday, Sept. 21 | 7:15 p.m.
Giants at Rams | ESPN
RED RAIDERS IN THE NFL
- David Bailey, DE (2025), New York Jets
- Tahj Brooks, RB (2020-24), Cincinnati Bengals
- Jordyn Brooks, LB (2016-19), Miami Dolphins
- Caleb Douglas, WR (2024-25), Miami Dolphins
- Skyler Gill-Howard, DL (2026), Detroit Lions
- Romello Height, DL (2025), San Francisco 49ers
- Lee Hunter, DL (2025), Carolina Panthers
- Josh Kelly, WR (2024), Houston Texans
- Bralyn Lux, DB (2023-24), Cincinnati Bengals
- Patrick Mahomes II, QB (2014-16), Kansas City Chiefs
- Austin McNamara, P (2020-23), New York Jets
- Behren Morton, QB (2021-25), New England Patriots
- Tyler Owens, DB (2022-23), Washington Commanders
- Jacob Rodriguez, LB (2023-25), Miami Dolphins
- Caleb Rogers, OL (2020-24), Las Vegas Raiders
- Terence Steele, OL (2016-19), Dallas Cowboys
- Dadrion Taylor-Demerson, S (2019-23), Arizona Cardinals
- Reggie Virgil, WR (2025), Arizona Cardinals
- Broderick Washington Jr., DL (2016-19), Baltimore Ravens
- Tyree Wilson, DE (2020-22), New Orleans Saints
- Cole Wisniewski, S (2025), Philadelphia Eagles
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