The Wyoming Cowboys had 14 former players who are on NFL rosters to start the 2020 NFL season, the most among schools in the Mountain West. The first week of NFL play saw 12 of those players on the field on Sunday for their respective NFL clubs and compiled a 6-6 record in week one.
In the first game of the 2020 NFL season, and his third in the league, Josh Allen set a new standard for himself throwing for a career-high 312 yards while completing 71.7 percent of his passes. Allen became the first Bills QB to throw for over 300 yards since 2016 and in addition to setting a new career high for himself he entered the Bills record book with the most passing yards in the team's season opener.
Allen led the Bills on three consecutive scoring drives in the first half to build a 21-point lead that the Jets could not recover from. Allen posted his first touchdown of the year on a 2-yard run in the first quarter. He promptly followed that up with his first throwing score of the young season, hooking up with Zack Moss for the four-yard TD. Allen didn't wait long to post his third and final TD of the afternoon as he and John Brown connected for a 17-yard screen pass that resulted in the Bills going up 21-0. The Bills went on to win 27-17 over the New York Jets sealing Allen's second consecutive win on the first weekend of the season.
Coming off his rookie season in the NFL, Andrew Wingard showed up for the Jaguars when it mattered most. Right after his offense put the Jaguars up by four late in the fourth quarter, Wingard picked off Phillip Rivers for his first career interception and all but sealed the game for the Jags. His INT led to three more points for the Jags and they were able to pull off the win in Week 1. The former undrafted free agent played in his 17th NFL game, and in addition to his interception made two tackles for the Jags defense.
Logan Wilson made his NFL debut Sunday for the Cincinnati Bengals in a 13-16 loss. A 2020 3rd-round draft pick, Wilson made his presence known early with a tackle in the first three plays of action. Wilson saw the field on 30 percent of the defensive snaps for the Bengals and finished the game with three tackles.
Entering his ninth season in the league, Tashaun Gipson made his 2020 debut for the Chicago Bears after signing a one-year deal in the offseason. Gipson made his 105th career start in the NFL and wrapped up a team-high seven tackles for his new squad on Sunday. The Bears posted 21 unanswered points in the fourth quarter to edge the Detroit Lions for their first win of the season.
Carl Granderson and the New Orleans Saints opened up the season against the revamped offense of Tom Brady and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. In the first game of his second season in the league, Granderson pick up a sack, forced a fumble and recorded two tackles as the Saints edged out Tampa Bay with a 34-23 win.
Chase Roullier continues to be a force on the Washington Football Team's offensive line. Roullier and his line mates didn't miss a snap as the Redskins overcame a 17-0 deficit to score 27 unanswered points against the Philadelphia Eagles at FedEx Field. Roullier aided the running game to the tune of 80 yards and two scores in the home-opening win. Marcus Epps was on the field for the Eagles and made two tackles in the contest.
Coming off a season where he made seven starts, Mike Purcell and the Denver Broncos faced off against the Tennessee Titans on Monday Night Football. Purcell got the start on the defensive line and piled up five tackles but the Broncos fell to the Titans 14-16 on a final-drive field goal.
Brian Hill, in his fourth season in the NFL, had five touches for the Atlanta Falcons in the 25-38 loss to the Seattle Seahawks. Hill rushed for 12 yards on three carries and caught two passes for eight yards. Jacob Hollister made his first appearance in week one of the season in his fourth year in the league. In his second season with the Seahawks Hollister caught one pass for nine yards on the opposite side of the field to Hill in the Seahawks win.
Eddie Yarbrough made his Minnesota Vikings debut against the Green Bay Packers. In his third year in the league, Yarbrough picked up two tackles in the Vikings 34-43 loss.
Mark Nzeocha, the second longest tenured former Cowboy in the NFL, took the field on Sunday for the San Francisco 49ers in his six season in the NFL. Nzeocha did not see the field on defense but was a major player on special teams, on the field for 82 percent of the snaps. The 49ers fell 20-24 to the Arizona Cardinals.
Cassh Maluia, who made the Patriots 53-man roster earlier in the week, was inactive for week one as was former Cowboy Rico Gafford for the Las Vegas Raiders.
