Stanford in the NFL: Week 8Stanford in the NFL: Week 8
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Football

Stanford in the NFL: Week 8

A summary of Cardinal performances from around the League

ON NATIONAL TIGHT END DAY, Tight End U. was represented by four NFL starters on Sunday with Zach Ertz having another big game while playing a role in Washington’s dramatic victory over the Bears.

The following is a summary of how former Stanford players fared in the NFL this week:

Washington starting tight end Zach Ertz had season highs in catches (seven) and yards (77) and played a role in the wildest play of the NFL season that gave the Commanders a dramatic 18-15 victory over visiting Chicago on Sunday. 

After the Bears took a 15-12 lead with 27 seconds left, Ertz was targeted on Washington’s two ensuing plays, an incomplete pass and 11-yard gain. On a play that began with two seconds left from the Commanders’ own 48-yard line, quarterback Jayden Daniels drifted in the pocket before firing a Hail Mary pass toward Ertz that was deflected by the Bears into the hands of Noah Brown in the end zone for the winning score with no time left. Ertz was in on 56 offensive plays as the Commanders improved to an NFC East-leading 6-2.


New York Giants starting inside linebacker Bobby Okereke forced and recovered a fumble in a 26-18 loss at Pittsburgh on Monday night. Okereke had a season-high 14 tackles, including seven solo. He also played every defensive snap for the seventh time in eight games. While joining teammate Micah McFadden on a fourth-quarter sack, Okereke stripped the ball from Steelers’ quarterback Russell Wilson and recovered. Okereke has two sacks this season and ranks 28th in the NFL with 55 tackles.

 

Arizona receiver Michael Wilson caught a 6-yard pass from Kyler Murray for the Cardinals’ first touchdown in a 28-27 victory at Miami. Murray evaded a rush and found Wilson alone on a crossing route in the back of the end zone to begin a rally from a 10-0 deficit. Wilson caught five passes for 31 yards. Teammate Elijah Higgins started at tight end and caught two passes for 13 yards as the Cardinal moved into a three-way tie for first at 4-4. Higgins was in on 46 offensive plays and Higgins was in on 19 on offense and 10 on special teams. Miami punter Jake Bailey had two punts for a 46-yard average, with one going out of bounds at the 11. Dolphins cornerback Ethan Bonner played 19 special teams downs in his second game this season.


Houston starting tight end Dalton Schultz caught four passes for 52 yards in the Texans’ 23-20 victory over visiting Indianapolis, with three of his catches resulting in first downs. Schultz was in on 47 offensive plays while Houston (6-2) extended its lead in the AFC South.

Minnesota starting nose tackle Harrison Phillips had four tackles in the Vikings’ 30-20 loss at the Los Angeles Rams on Thursday night. Phillips was in on 59 defensive plays while Minnesota dropped its second straight. Rams kicker Joshua Karty made all four of his extra-point attempts and teammate Colby Parkinson, who started at tight end, had two catches for 17 yards while playing 46 offensive snaps and one on special teams.

Jacksonville left offensive tackle Walker Little received his first start of the season in the Jaguars’ 30-27 loss to visiting Green Bay. Little was among three Jaguar linemen to play every offensive down. Little became the 16th Stanford alum to start in an NFL regular season game this season.

Kansas City starting strong safety Justin Reid played every defensive down in a 27-20 victory at Las Vegas that kept the Chiefs (7-0) undefeated. Reid had four tackles, including three solo, while playing all 58 defensive downs and four on special teams. Raiders’ offensive guard Andrus Peat was in on one offensive play and four on special teams.

New England tight end Austin Hooper caught three passes for 15 yards in a 25-22 victory over the visiting New York Jets. Hooper played 32 offensive downs and three on special teams. For the Jets, defensive tackle Solomon Thomas had four tackles and forced a fumble, stripping New England’s Antonio Gibson in the third quarter. Thomas was in on 31 defensive plays and three on special teams.

Cincinnati starting receiver Trenton Irwin had one catch for four yards in the Bengals’ 37-17 loss to visiting Philadelphia. Irwin’s catch to the 4-yard line was followed on the next play by a Bengals’ touchdown that tied the score, 17-17, in the third quarter. Irwin was in on 16 offensive plays. Philadelphia defensive tackle Thomas Booker was in on five defensive plays and one on special teams.

Los Angeles Chargers starting receiver Simi Fehoko was targeted on two deep passes in a 26-8 victory over visiting New Orleans. Fehoko was in on 52 offensive plays and one on special teams.

Buffalo defensive end Casey Toohill broke up a pass and assisted on a special teams tackle in the Bills’ 31-10 victory at Seattle. Toohill was in on 14 defensive plays and six on special teams.

Houston quarterback Davis Mills and Los Angeles Chargers offensive tackle Foster Sarell did not play.

Philadelphia quarterback Tanner McKee was inactive.

Los Angeles Chargers tight end Tucker Fisk and Washington receiver Brycen Tremayne were on practice squads.

New Orleans cornerback Paulson Adebo, Atlanta center Drew Dalman, Pittsburgh offensive guard Nate Herbig, and San Francisco running back Christian McCaffrey and linebacker Curtis Robinson were on injured reserve.