FB Kyu Blu Kelly with Raiders in 2025 Week 1FB Kyu Blu Kelly with Raiders in 2025 Week 1
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Football

Stanford in the NFL: Week 1 Recap

Elic Ayomanor became the 271st Cardinal to play in an NFL or AFL regular-season game

STANFORD, Calif. — The 2025 NFL season began this past week, and many former members of Stanford football made their mark. Notably, Elic Ayomanor made his NFL debut with the Tennessee Titans, becoming the 271st Stanford alumnus to play in an NFL or AFL regular-season game. 13 former Cardinal started in Week 1, with two making their first career starts (Ayomanor, Kyu Blu Kelly).

Below is a breakdown of each performance by a former Cardinal in Week 1:

Philadelphia Eagles 24, Dallas Cowboys 20

  • Solomon Thomas (DT): Recorded five tackles in his Dallas Cowboys debut, including a tackle-for-loss…was on the field for 25 snaps…added two quarterback hurries.

Los Angeles Chargers 27, Kansas City Chiefs 21

  • Kendall Williamson (S): Played in his third NFL game, recorded one tackle in the season-opening win for Los Angeles. 

Indianapolis Colts 33, Miami Dolphins 8

  • Jake Bailey (P): Punted once in Miami’s season-opening loss, a 42-yard boot that pinned the Colts inside their own 15-yard line.

Las Vegas Raiders 20, New England Patriots 13

  • Kyu Blu Kelly (CB): Earned his first career start and his best game as a professional…set a new career-high in tackles with nine, including seven solo tackles…finished second on the Raiders in tackles…entered the game with only seven tackles in his brief NFL career…recorded his first pass defended.
  • Thomas Booker (DT): Started at defensive tackle in his Raiders debut, his third career start…recorded three tackles and added a quarterback hurry and pass defended.
  • Austin Hooper (TE): Caught his only target for 10 yards in the first game of his tenth NFL season.

FB Thomas Booker with Las Vegas Raiders in Week 1 of the 2025 NFL season

Arizona Cardinals 20, New Orleans Saints 13

  • Justin Reid (S): Made his New Orleans debut on Sunday, starting in the secondary and recorded six tackles, including three solo tackles.
  • Michael Wilson (WR): Was targeted four times and made one reception for five yards.
  • Elijah Higgins (TE): Saw a pair of targets against the Saints as one of the starting tight ends and caught one pass for three yards.

Pittsburgh Steelers 34, New York Jets 32

  • Harrison Phillips (DT): Drew the start in his New York Jets debut and recorded a pair of solo tackles.

Washington Commanders 21, New York Giants 6

  • Zach Ertz (TE): Caught three passes for 26 yards in the first game of his 13th season in the NFL…scored the first touchdown of the season for Washington on a seven-yard strike from Jayden Daniels…has caught nine touchdown passes in 21 games with Washington, including one in the postseason last year.
  • Bobby Okereke (LB): Piled up 16 tackles in his first game of the season, including seven solo tackles…most tackles in the NFL in Week 1…second most tackles in a game in his career (17 with Indianapolis on Jan. 1, 2023).
  • Paulson Adebo (CB): Drew the start at cornerback in his Giants debut and recorded seven tackles, ranking third on the team…broke up one pass

Jacksonville Jaguars 26, Carolina Panthers 10

    • Walker Little (OL): Drew the start at left tackle and played every offensive snap in the Jaguars’ season-opening win…part of an offensive line that did not allow a sack.
    • Brycen Tremayne (WR): Appeared in his third NFL game and first with the Panthers…played on 19 offensive snaps but did not receive a target.

Denver Broncos 20, Tennessee Titans 12

    • Elic Ayomanor (WR): Started in his NFL debut and caught two passes for 13 yards…finished second on the Titans in Week 1 targets with seven…first NFL reception was a three-yard gain for a first down.

San Francisco 49ers 17, Seattle Seahawks 13

    • Christian McCaffrey (RB): Started at running back for San Francisco and carried the ball 22 times for 69 yards, adding nine receptions for 73 yards…142 total yards of offense is his most since Super Bowl LVIII (160 yards)…most receptions in a game as a 49er.
    • Curtis Robinson (LB): Played 16 snaps on special teams…highest-rated 49ers player on special teams in Week 1, per PFF (73.6).

Los Angeles Rams 14, Houston Texans 9

      • Dalton Schultz (TE): Started at tight end in the opener for Houston…tied for the team lead in targets with five, finishing with three receptions for 28 yards.
      • Joshua Karty (K): Made both of his extra points for the Rams…handled kickoff duties and recorded two touchbacks on three kickoffs.
      • Colby Parkinson (TE): Played 29 snaps in the Rams’ opener, primarily as a run-blocker…finished third on the team in receptions (2), losing six yards total on those two catches.

Minnesota Vikings 27, Chicago Bears 24

      • Drew Dalman (OL): Started at center in his Chicago debut and was one of two Bears to play all 67 snaps (Caleb Williams). 

Did not play in Week 1: Ethan Bonner (MIA), Simi Fehoko (ARI), Tucker Fisk (LAC), Tanner McKee (PHI), Davis Mills (HOU), Andrus Peat (PIT), Foster Sarell (LAC)