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Indiana Football Players in NFL: Micah McFadden Leads New York Giants in Tackles

Eight former Indiana football players for coaches Kevin Wilson and Tom Allen were on active rosters during Week 1 of the 2023 NFL season. The headliner was former Indiana linebacker Micah McFadden, who finished the first game of his season as the leading tackler for the New York Giants.

Daniel Olinger

Indiana Football Players in NFL: Micah McFadden Leads New York Giants in Tackles
Indiana Football Players in NFL: Micah McFadden Leads New York Giants in Tackles /
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BLOOMINGTON, Ind. — While former Indiana football players did not dominate headlines during Week 1 of the NFL season, several took to the field, and two in particular put up impressive stats. 

Here's a recap of what all eight former Indiana Hoosiers on active NFL rosters did during the first round of regular season action.

(Brief note — from now on, the Indiana in the NFL recap will be published on either Monday or Tuesday of each week, depending on whether any IU football players will be on the field for Monday night game. This week's rendition of the NFL roundup was delayed due to some logistical issues, but will be published in a more timely manner moving forward). 

Micah McFadden, LB, New York Giants

No Hoosier had a better Week 1 performance than Micah McFadden. The former four-year linebacker for coach Tom Allen and IU finished as the New York Giants' leading tackles against the Dallas Cowboys, racking up 11 total tackles on Sunday night. 

The Giants as a team had about as bad of a season opener as an NFL team has ever had, getting blanked 40-0 by a division rival on national television. But McFadden still starred in his debut for his second season in New York. 

Overall, Pro Football Focus (PFF) graded McFadden 21st out of 107 total linebackers in the NFL for his Week 1 performance. Most impressively, the Indiana linebacker received a grade of 78.7 out of 100 for his pass coverage against the Cowboys, which ranked as the twelfth-best mark for any linebacker in the league. 

McFadden and the Giants look to rebound in Week 2 when they play the Arizona Cardinals this Sunday at 4:05 p.m. ET. 

Nick Westbrook-Ikhine, WR, Tennessee Titans

While McFadden has the best season opener of any Indiana product in the NFL, Nick Westbrook-Ikhine entered as the most well established IU player in the league. 

He upheld that reputation with a solid outing in Week 1, finishing with four receptions for 58 yards in the Tennessee Titans' one-point loss to the New Orleans Saints. 

Westbrook-Ikhine played for Indiana for five seasons from 2015-19, first for coach Kevin Wilson, later for coach Allen. At the end of his collegiate career, Westbrook-Ikhine racked up 144 total receptions for 2,226 yards and 16 touchdowns. He is sixth all-time in total receptions in IU football history, and seventh all-time in total receiving yards. 

The 6-foot-2 pass catcher is now in his fourth season for the Titans and has emerged as one of the team's top receiving threats over his tenure. For his NFL career Westbrook-Ikhine currently has 70 receptions for 964 yards and seven touchdowns. 

The Titans take the field again this Sunday at 1:00 p.m. ET when they host quarterback Justin Herbert and the Los Angeles Chargers in an AFC matchup. 

Received Snaps, But No Stats Recorded

Aside from McFadden and Westbrook-Ikhine, the other six former Hoosiers did not produce any counting stats during Week 1 of the NFL season. However, these three still saw the field, and may get the opportunity to tally something in the box score later this season. 

  • Ian Thomas, TE, Carolina Panthers — 15 snaps played, per PFF.
  • Cam Jones, LB, Kansas City Chiefs — 18 special teams snaps played, per PFF. 
  • Peyton Hendershot, TE, Dallas Cowboys — 35 snaps played, per PFF. Zero catches, targeted once on a pass.

Here is when the Panthers, Chiefs and Cowboys play during Week 2, and when Indiana fans will have an opportunity to next see them take the field.

  • New Orleans Saints at Carolina Panthers, Monday, Sept. 18, 7:15 p.m. ET. 
  • Kansas City Chiefs at Jacksonville Jaguars, Sunday, Sept. 17, 1:00 p.m. ET.
  • New York Jets at Dallas Cowboys, Sunday, Sept. 17, 4:25 p.m. ET. 

Zero Snaps Played, On Active Rosters for NFL Teams

These three Hoosiers did not see the field at all on Sunday, despite each of them being on active NFL rosters. 

  • Dan Feeney, OL, Chicago Bears
  • Caleb Jones, OL, Green Bay Packers
  • Raheem Layne, DB, Los Angeles Chargers

In case that changes during Week 2 of the NFL season, here are the times when the Bears, Packers and Chargers will be taking the field next. 

  • Chicago Bears at Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Sunday, Sept. 17, 1:00 p.m. ET.
  • Green Bay Packers at Atlanta Falcons, Sunday, Sept. 17, 1:00 p.m. ET. 
  • Los Angeles Chargers at Tennessee Titans, Sunday, Sept. 17, 1:00 p.m. ET. 

Related Stories on Indiana Football:

  • HOMEGROWN HOOSIERS: Indiana has and always will be a basketball state, but the Hoosiers' passing attack on the football field is defined this season by three Indiana-raised talents in Tayven Jackson, Omar Cooper Jr. and Donaven McCulley. The trio wants to represent Indiana high school football well each and every Saturday that they take the field. CLICK HERE
  • CAMPER UPDATE: Indiana football coach Tom Allen spoke to media on Thursday and said that wide receiver Cam Camper, "had a good week of practice," when asked about his availability for Saturday's game against Louisville. Camper was injured in the second quarter of Indiana's Week 2 game against Indiana State. CLICK HERE
  • TRANSFER D-LINEMEN EXCELLING: Indiana had to replace nine starters on defense, but early signs show coach Tom Allen and staff did well to revamp the defense, especially up front. Against a Louisville team that ran rampant on its first two opponents, Indiana needs a productive day from the defensive line. CLICK HERE
  • IU-LOUISVILLE PREVIEW, XAVIER JOHNSON TALK: On Thursday's episode of the Hoosier Roundtable Podcast, Daniel Olinger and Jack Ankony talked about what they hoped to see from coach Tom Allen and the Indiana Hoosiers in their upcoming Saturday game against Louisville, before talking about Indiana basketball, and specifically, where the Hoosiers' Xavier Johnson ranks amongst all Big Ten point guards. CLICK HERE
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Daniel Olinger
DANIEL OLINGER

Daniel Olinger is a Sports Illustrated/FanNation reporter for HoosiersNow.com. He graduated from Northwestern University with degrees in both journalism and economics. 

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