By R.L. Bynum
Mack Hollins’ touchdown reception, British Brooks’ impressive hit and Mike Hughes’ big day highlighted Week 1 of the NFL season for Carolina alums.
All three quarterbacks watched as the starters playing ahead of them led their teams to victories.
Drake Maye will have to wait another day for his NFL debut after former N.C. State quarterback Jacoby Brissett went the whole way in New England’s 16–10 win at Cincinnati. As expected, Mitch Trubisky (Josh Allen’s backup in Buffalo’s 34–28 home win over Arizona) and Sam Howell (Geno Smith’s backup in Seattle’s 26–20 home win against Denver) didn’t play.
Maye and Howell could play against each other next week when Seattle visits New England at 1 p.m. Sunday (Fox).
Inactive for Week 1 were Indianapolis wide receiver Josh Downs (still recovering from a high ankle sprain but getting closer to returning), Houston strong safety M.J. Stewart (knee injury) and Baltimore rookie wide receiver Tez Walker.
Moving from Atlanta to Buffalo in the offseason has worked nicely for Hollins, who could catch a pass at some point from Trubisky. They were UNC teammates from 2014 to 2016.
After the veteran wide receiver went from four touchdown passes two seasons ago for Las Vegas to no touchdown passes last season for the Falcons, Hollins snagged one in the Bills’ victory over Arizona for the 11th scoring reception of his career.
Hollins ran a crossing pattern and caught an 11-yard touchdown pass from Allen on a pass over the middle to tie the game at 17 with 9:51 left in the third quarter. It was his first touchdown pass since Dec. 18, 2022, for Las Vegas in a 30–24 home win over New England.
All depth charts listed Hollins, who caught both passes targeted at him for 25 yards and got 11.0 fantasy points, as starting ahead of Keon Coleman. Coleman started and caught four of the team-high five passes targeted to him for 51 yards. He played 36 offensive snaps and10 special-teams snaps.
Brooks again showed that he’ll take full advantage of his opportunities. The rookie Houston fullback didn’t play any offensive snaps but had a memorable hit to get a tackle on kickoff coverage in one of his 17 special-teams snaps.
After Houston had taken a 3–0 lead by scoring on its first drive, the Colts’ Anthony Gould’s return of the ensuing kickoff had gone 22 yards before it came to a crashing halt. Brooks flattened him with a hit to make the tackle during the Texans’ 29–27 win at Indianapolis.
Hughes, Atlanta’s starting left cornerback, collected seven tackles (three for losses) and 7.0 fantasy points in the Falcons’ 18–10 home loss to Pittsburgh. He played 63 total snaps.
Ty Chandler ran for 17 yards on eight carries and caught all three passes targeted to him for 25 yards in Minnesota’s 28–8 road victory over the New York Giants. Chandler played 22 snaps, 19 on offense.
Giants left tackle Joshua Ezeudu played two special-teams snaps.
Running back Javonte Williams started but had a quiet day in the Broncos’ loss. He ran for 23 yards (including a nine-yard gain) on eight carries, netting no yards in catching one of two targets in just over half the offensive snaps (36).
It was the lowest yardage output of his career in a game with at least seven carries since collecting only 12 rushing yards in a 17–13 road loss to the Las Vegas Raiders on Dec. 26, 2021, as a rookie. He had two carries for no yards in a 70–20 loss to Miami on Oct. 1, 2023, before suffering a shoulder injury.
In his NFL debut, Miami rookie cornerback Storm Duck played off the bench, recording one tackle (which was for a loss) and one tackle on kickoff coverage in the Dolphins’ 20–17 home win over Jacksonville. Ten of his 18 snaps were on special teams.
Dyami Brown had been listed as one of Washington’s starting wide receivers but came off the bench in the Commanders’ 37–20 loss at Tampa Bay and had no passes targeted to him in 33 offensive snaps and also played eight special-teams snaps.
Second-year Dallas left tackle Asim Richards one offensive snap and seven special-teams snaps in the Cowboys’ 31–17 win at Cleveland.
Rookie linebacker Amari Gainer played 19 special-teams snaps (68%) for Las Vegas in the Raiders’ 22–10 road loss to the Los Angeles Chargers.
In the New York Jets’ 31–19 loss Monday at San Francisco, Chazz Surratt had one tackle in punt coverage and only played two special-teams snaps.
British Brooks, Houston Texans running back
Age 24 | 5–11, 225 | rookie NFL season | UNC 2018–23
Roster situation — Fourth-string running back
2023 statistics (UNC) — 12 games, 75 carries, 387 yards, 2 TDs; 2 catches, 14 yards
Season opener — 29–27 win at Indianapolis; 1 tackle on kickoff coverage; 17 special-teams snaps (68%)
Week 2 — 8:20 Sunday vs. Chicago, NBC, Peacock
Dyami Brown, Washington Commanders wide receiver
Age 24 | 6–0, 195 | fourth NFL season | UNC 2018–20
Roster situation — Second-string wide receiver
2023 statistics — 17 games, 1 start; 12 catches, 164 yards (35 longest), 1 TD; 1 rush, 0 yards; 1 assist; 2 special-teams tackles; 1 special-teams assist; 1 of 1 passing, 4 yards, 83.3 passer rating
Season opener — 37–20 loss at Tampa Bay; 33 offensive snaps (56%), 8 special-teams snaps (30%)
Week 2 — 1 p.m. Sunday vs. New York Giants, Fox
Ty Chandler, Minnesota Vikings running back
Age 26 | 5–11, 204 | third NFL season | UNC 2021
Roster situation — First-string kick returner behind Kene Nwangwu; second-string running back behind Aaron Jones
2023 statistics — 17 games, 102 carries, 461 yards (31 longest), 3 TDs; 21 catches, 159 yards (19 longest); 4 kick returns, 97 yards (33 longest), 24.2 average; 1 tackle
Season opener — 28–6 win at New York Giants; 8 rushes, 17 yards (6 longest); 3 catches on 3 targets, 25 yards (10 longest); no kick returns; 7.2 fantasy points; 19 offensive snaps (35%), 3 special-teams snaps (12%)
Week 2 — 1 p.m. Sunday vs. San Francisco, CBS
Josh Downs, Indianapolis Colts wide receiver
Age 23 | 5–9, 171 | second NFL season | UNC 2020–22
Roster situation — Starting slot wide receiver ahead of Anthony Gould
2023 statistics — 17 games, 7 starts; 68 catches, 771 yards (59 longest), 2 TDs; 2 tackles; 6 punt returns, 63 yards, 10.5 average (14 longest), 6 fair catches; 2 kickoff returns, 24 yards, 12.0 average, 1 fair catch
Season opener — 29–27 home loss to Houston; not active for the game, recovering from a high-ankle sprain
Week 2 — 1 p.m. Sunday at Green Bay, Fox
Storm Duck, Miami Dolphins cornerback
Age 23 | 6–0, 195 | rookie NFL season | UNC 2019–22
Roster situation — Third-string right cornerback
2023 statistics (Louisville) — 13 games, 23 tackles, nine assists, 1.5 tackles for losses
Season opener — 20–17 home win over Jacksonville; 1 tackle, 1 tackle for a loss, 1 tackle in kickoff coverage; 8 defensive snaps (15%), 10 special-teams snaps (40%)
Week 2 — 8:15 Thursday vs. Buffalo, Prime Video
Joshua Ezeudu, New York Giants offensive lineman
Turns 25 Sept. 19 | 6–4, 310 | third NFL season | UNC 2016–21
Roster situation — Second-string left tackle behind Thomas Andrew
2023 statistics — 6 games, 5 starts
Season opener — 28–6 home loss to Minnesota; played 2 special-teams snaps (8%)
Week 2 — 1 p.m. Sunday at Washington, Fox
Amari Gainer, Las Vegas Raiders linebacker
Age 24 | 6–3, 235 | rookie NFL season | UNC 2023
Roster situation — Fourth-string weakside linebacker
2023 statistics (UNC) — 13 games, 27 tackles (17 solo), 2.5 sacks, 2 passes defended, 1 forced fumble
Season opener — 22–10 loss at Los Angeles Chargers; played 19 special-teams snaps (68%)
Week 2 — 1 p.m. Sunday at Baltimore, CBS
Mack Hollins, Buffalo Bills wide receiver
Turns 31 Sept. 16 | 6–4, 221 | eighth NFL season | UNC 2013–16
Roster situation — Starting left wide receiver ahead of Keon Coleman
2023 statistics (Atlanta) — 14 games, 3 starts; 18 catches, 30 targets, 251 yards (45 longest), 3 catches of at least 20 yards, 1 catch of at least 40 yards; 3 special-teams tackles; 1 assist
Season opener — 34–28 home win over Arizona; didn’t start, 2 catches on 2 targets, 25 yards (14 longest), 1 touchdown, 1 tackle on punt coverage; 11.0 fantasy points; 36 offensive snaps (58%), 10 special-teams snaps (37%)
Week 2 — 8:15 Thursday at Miami, Prime Video
Sam Howell, Seattle Seahawks quarterback
Turns 24 Sept. 16 | 6–1, 225 | 3rd NFL season | UNC 2019–21
Roster situation — Second-string QB behind Geno Smith
2023 statistics (Washington) — 17 games, 17 starts; 388 of 612, 63.4%, 3,946 yards (51 longest), 21 touchdowns, 21 interceptions, 78.9 passer rating; 1 two-point conversion completion; 48 carries, 263 yards (24 longest), 5.5 average, 5 TDs
Season opener — 26–20 win vs. Denver; didn’t play
Week 2 — 1 p.m. Sunday at New England, Fox
Mike Hughes, Atlanta Falcons cornerback
Age 27 | 5–10, 191 | seventh NFL season | UNC 2015
Roster situation — Starting left cornerback ahead of Clark Phillips III
2023 statistics — 15 games, 3 starts, 20 tackles, 13 solo, 7 assists, 2 tackles for losses; 11 punt returns, 67 yards (16 longest), 6 fair catches; 3 kickoff returns, 46 yards (19 longest), 15.3 average
Season opener — 18–10 home loss to Pittsburgh; started, 7 tackles, 3 tackles for losses; 7.0 fantasy points; 57 defensive snaps (84%); 6 special-teams snaps (24%)
Week 2 — 8:15 Monday at Philadelphia, ESPN
Drake Maye, New England Patriots quarterback
Age 22 | 6–4, 225 | rookie NFL season | UNC 2021–23
Roster situation — Second-string QB behind Jacoby Brissett
2023 statistics (UNC) — 12 games, 269 of 425, 3,608 yards, 24 TDs, 9 INTs; 12 carries, 112 yards, 9 TDs; 2 punts, 40.5 average
Season opener — 16–10 win at Cincinnati; didn’t play
Week 2 — 1 p.m. Sunday vs. Seattle, Fox
Asim Richards, Dallas Cowboys offensive lineman
Turns 24 Oct. 2 | 6–4, 307 | second NFL season | UNC 2019–22
Roster situation — Second-string left tackle
2023 statistics — 7 games; 39 offensive snaps, 32 special-teams snaps
Season opener — 31–17 win at Cleveland; played 1 offensive snap (2%) and 7 special-teams snaps (19%)
Week 2 — 1 p.m. Sunday vs. New Orleans, Fox
M.J. Stewart, Houston Texans safety
Age 28 | 5–11, 205 | seventh NFL season | UNC 2014–17
Roster situation — Second-string strong safety
2023 statistics — 8 games, 1 start, 22 tackles (13 solo), 1 forced fumble; finished season on injured reserve with a shoulder fracture
Season opener — 29–27 win at Indianapolis; not active for the game because of a knee injury
Week 2 — 8:20 Sunday vs. Chicago, NBC, Peacock
Chazz Surratt, New York Jets linebacker
Age 27 | 6–2, 233 | fourth NFL season | UNC 2017–20
Roster situation — Third-string middle linebacker
2023 statistics — 11 games, 1 assist, 6 special-teams tackles, 1 special-teams assist
Season opener — 32–19 loss at San Francisco; 1 tackle in punt coverage; 2 special-teams snaps
Week 2 — 1 p.m. Sunday at Tennessee, CBS
Mitch Trubisky, Buffalo Bills quarterback
Age 30 | 6–2, 220 | eighth NFL season | UNC 2014–16
Roster situation — Second-string QB behind Josh Allen
2023 statistics (Pittsburgh) — 5 games, 67 of 107 (62.6%), 632 yards, 5.9 average; (26 longest), 4 TDs, 5 INTs, 1 two-point conversion completion, 71.9 passer rating; 16 rushes, 54 yards (15 longest), 3.4 average
Season opener — 34–28 home win over Arizona; didn’t play
Week 2 — 8:15 Thursday at Miami, Prime Video
Tez Walker, Baltimore Ravens wide receiver
Age 23 | 6–1, 198 | rookie NFL season | UNC 2023
Roster situation — Second-string right wide receiver behind Rashod Bateman
2023 statistics (UNC) — 8 games, 41 catches, 699 yards, 7 TDs; 3 carries, 23 yards
Season opener — 27–20 Thursday loss at Kansas City: not active for the game
Week 2 — 1 p.m. Sunday vs. Las Vegas, CBS
Javonte Williams, Denver Broncos running back
Age 24 | 5–10, 220 | fourth NFL season | UNC 2018–20
Roster situation — Starting running back ahead of Samaje Perine
2023 statistics — 16 games, 14 starts; 217 carries, 774 yards (21 longest), 3.6 average, 3 TDs; 47 catches, 50 targets, 228 yards (18 longest), 2 TDs; 2-point conversion run; 2-point conversion reception; 36 offensive snaps (52%)
Season opener — 26–20 loss at Seattle; 8 carries, 23 yards (9 longest); 1 catch on 2 targets, 0 yards
Week 2 — 4:25 Sunday vs. Pittsburgh, CBS
On PUP list
Pittsburgh linebacker Cole Holcomb (recovering from left knee injury)
On injured reserve
Tennessee linebacker Cedric Gray (shoulder)
Detroit wide receiver Antoine Green (concussion)
Las Vegas defensive tackle Tomari Fox
On practice squad
Arizona running back Michael Carter
New York Giants linebacker Tomon Fox
Waived during training camp
Offensive lineman Charlie Heck by the Houston Texans
Offensive lineman Marcus McKethan by the New York Giants
Cornerback Kyler McMichael by the Pittsburgh Steelers
Defensive end Myles Murphy by the Arizona Cardinals
Offensive lineman Spencer Rolland by the Minnesota Vikings
Linebacker Andre Smith by the Denver Broncos
Photos via @mackhollins
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