2026 NFL Hokies: Week One

BLACKSBURG - The first week of the 2026 NFL regular season officially kicked off this past Wednesday, treating fans to a massive 16-game, four-day slate of nonstop action. From Melbourne to MetLife Stadium, every team across every division took to the gridiron as they begin their journey towards lifting the Lombardi Trophy in Super Bowl LXI next February.  

A plethora of Hokies found themselves making waves in their season debuts this past weekend. Read below to see how Tech alumni continue to excel on both sides of the ball at the professional level. 

Tremaine Edmunds – Linebacker, New York Giants 
Linebacker Tremaine Edmunds joins the New York Giants in what is his ninth season in the professional leagues. The former 2018 first round pick most recently spent time with the Chicago Bears, racking up a staggering 335 total tackles over three seasons (2023-25) with the team. 

Edmunds continued to display his elite strength and defensive prowess with his new squad in the primetime matchup against the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday. The 2017 First Team All-ACC linebacker registered a team-high eight tackles (seven solo) while playing 100% of defensive snaps in the contest, anchoring a defense that allowed only 244 total yards of offense.  

Edmunds’ most significant play of the evening, came late in the third quarter of the matchup. As Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott rolled right and found tight end Jake Ferguson in open space at the one-yard line, Edmunds corralled Ferguson and brought him to the ground, stopping Dallas momentum in its tracks. 

New York would go on to earn a 28-20 victory over their NFC East foe and will face the Los Angeles Rams this upcoming Monday. A win in Los Angeles would give the Giants their first 2-0 start since the 2022 season.  

Bhayshul Tuten – Running Back, Jacksonville Jaguars 
Questions surrounding Bhayshul Tuten in his sophomore year circulated when Jacksonville’s starting running back, Travis Etienne, signed with the New Orleans Saints in free agency this past offseason.  

Those questions were answered on Sunday afternoon.  

In a dominant 34-10 victory over the Cleveland Browns, Tuten shined in the backfield with a team-high 66 yards on 15 carries while adding a 22-yard reception. The Hokie alumnus also lead all running backs in snap percentage (48%) while leading the entire offense in total touches (16) and yards from scrimmage (88) in the afternoon contest. The 22-yard catch and run early in the third quarter allowed the Jaguars to move into Cleveland territory, and the subsequent touchdown from quarterback Trevor Lawrence would give Jacksonville a staggering 31-point lead.  

Tuten finds himself in an advantageous position heading into the second game of the regular season. The Jaguars will face a Denver Broncos team whose inconsistencies in run defense gave way to 220 rushing yards in a loss to the Kansas City Chiefs this past Monday night.  

Chuck Clark – Safety, Detroit Lions 
Safety Chuck Clark joined the Detroit Lions in free agency this past offseason in what is now his ninth season at the professional level. Clark most recently spent time with the Pittsburgh Steelers, registering 51 total tackles (31 solo) and a forced fumble in 15 appearances with the team in 2025.  

On a new team and in a new division, Clark immediately made his presence known against the New Orleans Saints on Sunday afternoon. While the safety picked up three total tackles (two solo) in the contest, the Suffolk, Va. native's most impressive feat was his second quarter interception on quarterback Tyler Shough, halting the Saints' momentum and preserving a 7-0 Detroit lead into halftime. The interception was Clark’s first in the season and first since posting a two-interception game with the Baltimore Ravens on Jan. 2, 2022.  

The Lions escaped week one with a 31-30 overtime win this past Sunday, making a defensive stop on the Saints’ extra-time touchdown to emerge victorious. Detroit will look to extend their win streak as they travel to face the Buffalo Bills on Thursday night.  

Joey Slye – Placekicker, Tennessee Titans 
Joey Slye’s booming leg and pinpoint accuracy return for another season at the professional level in 2026. The former Hokie finds himself in his eighth season in the NFL but his second season with the Tennessee Titans, where he went 28 for 35 on field goal tries in 2025.  

Slye converted on his only try of the game against the New York Jets on Sunday, successfully making a 42-yard try in the first quarter. The 2015 and 2016 Lou Groza Award semifinalist also found success in his only extra point try of the game that followed an 11-yard touchdown from Titans quarterback Cam Ward.  

The Titans’ valiant effort was not enough Sunday, as New York would go on to secure victory, 23-10. Tennessee will look to find their first win of the 2026 season as they host the Philadelphia Eagles this upcoming Sunday.  

Divine Deablo – Linebacker, Atlanta Falcons 
Linebacker Divine Deablo began his sixth season in the NFL and his second season with the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday afternoon. The 2020 First Team All-ACC linebacker played in 13 games this past season, registering 73 tackles (38 solo) and seven pass deflections.  

Deablo picked up where he left off in 2025 with a dominant defensive performance against the Pittsburgh Steelers in week one, securing seven total tackles (three solo) while playing in 100% of the defensive snaps in the contest (67). The 6-foot-3 linebacker also recovered a forced fumble in the first quarter, after teammates Mike Hughes and Cameron Thomas worked to jar the ball from Steelers tailback Jaylen Warren’s hands. Deablo’s efforts secured the first turnover for the Falcons in 2026. 

Atlanta will look to find themselves in the win column as they host the Carolina Panthers in the second week of the NFL season. 

Notable Matchups: Week Two of the 2026 NFL Regular Season 

New Orleans Saints at Baltimore Ravens: Sunday, Sept. 20 at 1 p.m. ET on CBS 
The Baltimore Ravens – who utilized explosive offensive performances from wideout Zay Flowers and running back Derrick Henry in their win this past weekend – will seek to secure consecutive victories as they host the New Orleans Saints on Sunday afternoon. The two teams have not played each other since November 2022, where Baltimore traveled to New Orleans and secured a 27-13 road win. 

Tech fans should keep their eyes peeled for Ravens defensive lineman and Tech alumnus Aeneas Peebles, who posted a quarterback hit in last week’s 41-23 win over the Indianapolis Colts. The Saints offensive line allowed 22 pressures, 15 hurries, four quarterback hits and three sacks in the loss to Detroit last Sunday.  

Washington Commanders at Dallas Cowboys: Sunday, Sept. 20 at 4:25 p.m. ET on FOX 
The Washington Commanders and the Dallas Cowboys will play their second divisional matchup in as many weeks as the two teams face off on Sunday afternoon. Both teams are looking to secure their first victory of the 2026 regular season, as the Philadelphia Eagles and the New York Giants emerged victorious during the first week of action.  

Former Hokies can be found on both sides of the ball for the Commanders in Sunday’s contest. Washington wideout Jaylin Lane, who snagged a 4-yard reception this past Sunday, and defensive lineman Tim Settle, who gathered three tackles, are both expected to suit up.