Ex-Huskies Come Up Big With Sunday NFL Outings

Broncos running back Jonah Coleman (20), the ex-Husky, is shown earlier in the season after a win over Jacksonville. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

Ex-Huskies Come Up Big With Sunday NFL Outings

Originally posted on Washington Huskies on SI
By Dan Raley | Last updated Oct 25, 2026 10:43 PM ET

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Following a five-week injury absence, Jonah Coleman celebrated his return to NFL active duty as a rookie running back by rushing for 54 yards for the Denver Broncos.

On national tight-ends day, Drew Sample caught a 16-yard touchdown pass, the sixth score of his eight-year career, for the Cincinnati Bengals.

And Michael Penix Jr. absolutely picked apart the San Francisco 49ers secondary by throwing 3 touchdown passes for the Atlanta Falcons for the third time in his career in a 29-20 victory at home.

Such were the highlighted performances by former University of Washington football players on Sunday across the pro football landscape.

Dealing with an ankle injury, the 5-foot-8, 220-pound Coleman ran the ball more times than any other Denver running back as the Broncos beat the Arizona Cardinals 30-16 on the road. He had a long gainer of 15 yards. He also caught 2 passes for 15 yards.

Only Broncos quarterback Bo Nix, who had a 62-yard run among seven carries for 73 yards, had more ground game production.

The 6-foot-5, 260-pound Sample, best known for his blocking prowess, capped off the Bengals' 35-13 victory in Baltimore. He finished with 2 catches for 24 yards.

Penix was at his best as he brought the Falcons back from a 14-3 deficit by throwing a 1-yard TD pass to tight end Nick Muse in the secod quarter, a 5-yard scoring toss to wide receiver Kyle Pitts in the third quarter to put his team ahead for good at 19-14 and a 21-yard TD strike to wide receiver Drake London in the fourth quarter.

Standing cool in the pocket, the 6-foot-3, 220-pound lefty quarterback completed 25 of 34 passes for 213 yards and avoided a sack as his team improved to 3-4, 3-2 with him running the show.

Elsewhere for former Huskies, rookie wide receiver Denzel Boston caught 3 passes for 27 yards, with a long of 15, to help the rejuvenated Cleveland Browns pull out a 27-24 victory over the Tennessee Titans in Nashville. The Browns are 5-2.

In Minnesota, cornerback Byron Murphy had 3 tackles and a pass break-up in the Vikings' 16-10 win over the Indianapolis Colts to help keep his team unbeaten at 6-0.

For Tampa Bay, veteran defensive tackle Vita Vea came up with a sack in the Buccaneers' 43-13 rout of the Carolina Panthers in Charlotte. It was his first sack of the season and 36th in his career.

This article first appeared on Washington Huskies on SI and was syndicated with permission.

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