Week 1 of the NFL season is complete and it had a few thrilling contests that captured fans across the country. Among those was Baltimore's road loss at Buffalo, which saw MVP QBs Lamar Jackson and Josh Allen provide plenty of highlights in the Bill's 41-40 win.
Here's a few news items of former Louisville players from Week 1 in the NFL.
While the Baltimore Ravens may have lost a 41-40 thriller at Buffalo in the season opener, many NFL executives still project Lamar Jackson as the eventual MVP. The two-time MVP accounted for 279 yards and three touchdowns, without a turnover, in the loss to the Bills.
"Although Allen made a compelling opening case to go back-to-back – 'he's the ultimate difference-maker,' an NFL personnel evaluator noted postgame – Jackson figures to be in the race because of a few factors: His dual-threat ability typically keeps his touchdown total high, he consistently wins games (.736 career win percentage) and he limits turnovers, averaging one interception roughly every third game since 2024," ESPN's Jeremy Fowler wrote.
Tennessee starting cornerback Jarvis Brownlee had nine tackles in the Titan's opener, but he was also flagged three times. Reducing his penalty total is something that the team is working towards.
"I want him to play with the tenacity that he plays with. I want him to play hard, but the penalties must stop. At the end of the day, we have to clean it up. I been raised with the thought that if you allow it to happen, it's not good. We've addressed it," defensive coordinator Dennard Wilson said.
Teddy Bridgewater didn't play in Tampa Bay's season-opening win at Atlanta, but the veteran quarterback is having an impact. Speaking on the Buccaneers Radio Network, starter Baker Mayfield noted Bridgewater's positive presence.
"He's another voice for this quarterback room; he can make sure we're all on the same page," Mayfield said. "That's, I mean, you can't replace that. That's extremely vital for us to have that communication throughout the year. A great guy on the sideline to have."
Unfortunate news for Miami starting cornerback Storm Duck. Duck played 29 snaps in the team's season opener before suffering an ankle injury that led to him being carted off the field. Duck is expected to miss multiple weeks recovering from the injury.
Yasir Abdullah | Linebacker | Jacksonville Jaguars
Abdullah was a fifth-round pick in the 2023 draft. In two seasons with the Jaguars, Abdullah has recorded 17 tackles.
2025: Played 13 snaps on special teams in season-opening win vs Carolina.
Jaire Alexander | Cornerback | Baltimore Ravens
Alexander was a first-round pick in the 2018 draft. Following seven seasons with Green Bay, Alexander is in his first season at Baltimore. A two-time All-Pro selection, he has 287 career tackles, along with 12 interceptions.
2025: Made debut for Ravens on Sunday night, a 41-40 loss at Buffalo. Alexander had a rough first game with Baltimore. He played 33 snaps and was PFF's lowest-graded athlete on the Raven's defense, which included a 28.2% grade for his coverage.