The 2014 NFL regular season continued this week with 39 former Florida Gators spread out over 22 of the 32 teams in the league.
Eleven teams had multiple Florida players on their rosters including Miami (four); Indianapolis and Philadelphia (three each); and Baltimore, Cincinnati, Denver, Kansas City, N.Y. Jets, Pittsburgh, St. Louis and Tampa Bay (two each).
Below are full game statistics for all 28 players (18 starters^) that saw action along with select status and injury updates on some Gators during the eighth week of the regular season.
^ Kickers and returners not counted as starters.
PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
CB JOE HADEN, Cleveland Browns: Started | nine tackles (eight solo, one for loss) [team-highs], two pass defenses, fumble recovery
TE JORDAN REED, Washington: Seven receptions [team-high] for 40 yards (long: 16)
» Two of Reed’s receptions came on Washington’s first drive in overtime, which ended with a game-winning field goal.
PLAY OF THE WEEK
Check out how the rest of the Gators in the NFL performed…after the break!
BALTIMORE RAVENS
S Matt Elam: Started | three tackles (two solo), pass defense
S Will Hill: Two solo tackles
BUFFALO BILLS
LB Brandon Spikes: Started | two tackles (one solo)
CHICAGO BEARS
LB Jon Bostic: Inactive/injured (back)
CINCINNATI BENGALS
DE Carlos Dunlap: Started | three tackles (two solo), QB hit
S Reggie Nelson: Started | six tackles (three solo)
CLEVELAND BROWNS
CB Joe Haden: Started | nine tackles (eight solo, one for loss) [team-highs], two pass defenses, fumble recovery
DALLAS COWBOYS
DE Jeremy Mincey: Started | four tackles (two solo, one for loss), sack, two QB hits
DENVER BRONCOS
WR Andre Caldwell: Started | two kick returns for 64 yards (long: 34); tackle
LB Lerentee McCray: QB hit
INDIANAPOLIS COLTS
C Jonotthan Harrison*: Started
CB Loucheiz Purifoy*: Solo tackle
JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS
S Josh Evans: Started | four solo tackles
KANSAS CITY CHIEFS
WR Frankie Hammond Jr.: Reception for nine yards
DE Jaye Howard: Started | two tackles (one solo), 0.5 sack
MIAMI DOLPHINS
LB Jelani Jenkins: Started | six tackles (two solo), forced fumble
C Mike Pouncey: Started at right guard
K Caleb Sturgis: 2/2 on field goals (made: 43, 29); 3/3 on extra points
MINNESOTA VIKINGS
DT Sharrif Floyd: Started | eight tackles (seven solo, one for loss), sack, QB hit
NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS
DT Dominique Easley*: Started | three tackles, 0.5 sack, QB hit
» Easley registered the first (half) sack of his NFL career.
NEW ORLEANS SAINTS
LB Ronald Powell*: Played as a reserve
NEW YORK JETS
WR Percy Harvin: Started | three receptions for 22 yards (targets: 9, long: 11); four carries for 28 yards (long: 9); six kick returns for 144 yards (long: 35); solo tackle
» Harvin played in his first game with New York after being traded by Seattle.
PHILADELPHIA EAGLES
TE Trey Burton*: Solo tackle
WR Riley Cooper: Started | five receptions for 88 yards (targets: 9, long: 50)
DB Jaylen Watkins*: Inactive
PITTSBURGH STEELERS
OT Marcus Gilbert: Started
C Maurkice Pouncey: Inactive/injured (concussion)
SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS
DT Ray McDonald: Bye Week
ST. LOUIS RAMS
CB Janoris Jenkins: Inactive/injured (knee)
CB Marcus Roberson*: Started | four solo tackles
» Roberson earned the first start of his NFL career in place of Jenkins.
TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS
WR Louis Murphy: Two receptions for 11 yards (long: 7)
S Major Wright: Played as a reserve
WASHINGTON
TE Jordan Reed: Seven receptions [team-high] for 40 yards (long: 16)
» Two of Reed’s receptions came on Washington’s first drive in overtime, which ended with a game-winning field goal.
PRACTICE SQUAD
WR Solomon Patton (Arizona), WR Deonte Thompson (Baltimore), DE Justin Trattou (Minnesota)
» Patton was cut by Tampa Bay last week and picked up by Arizona.
INJURED RESERVE (DESIGNATED TO RETURN)
OT Xavier Nixon (Indianapolis, knee)
INJURED RESERVE (SEASON)
DE Jermaine Cunningham (N.Y. Jets, ACL), RB Mike Gillislee (Miami, hamstring)
NOTABLE FREE AGENTS
Veterans: S Ahmad Black, RB Jeff Demps, QB Rex Grossman, P Chas Henry, OL Maurice Hurt, WR David Nelson, RB Chris Rainey, OT Max Starks, QB Tim Tebow
Rookies: OG Jon Halapio*, DT Damien Jacobs*, LB Darrin Kitchens*, OL Kyle Koehne*
* Rookie
Hey, Rex Ryan, how does that taste? You loving this as much as I am?