Former Florida Gators in the NFL: Week 15 (2012)

Now 15 weeks into the 2012 NFL regular season, there are 31 former Florida Gators football players spread over 23 teams.

A total of 23 players participated in week 15 action, many of whom had an impact on their respective team’s performance.

For the third-straight year, OGGOA has checked and re-checked the box scores to bring you a summary of what all of these Gators accomplished during the 15th week of the 2012 regular season.

PLAYER OF THE WEEK
TE AARON HERNANDEZ, New England Patriots: 10 receptions [team-high] for 92 yards (targets: 19 [team-high], long: 20), touchdown [Video]; solo tackle^

Check out how the rest of the Florida Gators in the NFL played this week…

ACTIVE (23)
LB MIKE PETERSON, Atlanta Falcons: Played as a reserve
WR LOUIS MURPHY, Carolina Panthers: Two receptions for 18 yards (targets: 6, long: 11)
S MAJOR WRIGHT, Chicago Bears: Five tackles (two solo)
DE CARLOS DUNLAP, Cincinnati Bengals: Three solo tackles (one for loss)
S REGGIE NELSON, Cincinnati Bengals: Started at free safety
CB JOE HADEN, Cleveland Browns: Three solo tackles, two pass defenses
DE JEREMY MINCEY, Jacksonville Jaguars: Solo tackle
LB BRANDON SILER, Kansas City Chiefs: Six tackles (five solo)
C MIKE POUNCEY, Miami Dolphins: Started at center
LB BRANDON SPIKES, New England Patriots: Six tackles (three solo)
S WILL HILL, New York Giants: Nine tackles (six solo, one for loss) [team-highs]
QB TIM TEBOW, New York Jets: 0/1 (QB rating: 39.6); three carries for 15 yards (long: 12)^
OG COOPER CARLISLE, Oakland Raiders: Started at left guard
WR RILEY COOPER, Philadelphia Eagles: Three receptions for 20 yards (targets: 7, long: 11), touchdown; two solo tackles^
C MAURKICE POUNCEY, Pittsburgh Steelers: Started at center
RB CHRIS RAINEY*, Pittsburgh Steelers: Three carries for 15 yards (long: 6); two targets; kick return for 33 yards
OT MAX STARKS, Pittsburgh Steelers: Started at left tackle
DE RAY MCDONALD, San Francisco 49ers: Four solo tackles (two for loss), two sacks, two QB hits
CB JANORIS JENKINS*, St. Louis Rams: Eight solo tackles [team-high] (one for loss); punt return for three yards, fumble (not lost)
SS AHMAD BLACK, Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Solo tackle, pass defense, QB hit
QB REX GROSSMAN, Washington Redskins: Active – did not play
OG MAURICE HURT, Washington Redskins: Played as a reserve

BYE / INACTIVE / INJURED (8)
WR DEONTE THOMPSON*, Baltimore Ravens: Inactive
WR DAVID NELSON, Buffalo Bills: Injured – ACL (season)
WR ANDRE CALDWELL, Denver Broncos: Inactive
WR PERCY HARVIN, Minnesota Vikings Injured – ankle (season)
DE JERMAINE CUNNINGHAM, New England Patriots: Suspension – game 3/4^
RB JEFF DEMPS, New England Patriots: “Injured” – leg (season)
OT MARCUS GILBERT, Pittsburgh Steelers: Injured – ankle (season)
DT JAYE HOWARD*, Seattle Seahawks: Inactive

^ NOTES
– Hernandez scored his third touchdown in the last two weeks.
– Tebow played for the first time since Nov. 18.
– Cooper scored his second touchdown in the last three weeks.
– Cunningham was suspended for using performance-enhancing drugs.

NOTABLE FREE AGENTS
WR Jabar Gaffney, P Chas Henry, TE Cornelius Ingram, QB John Brantley*, LB Andra Davis, LB Brandon Hicks, OT Phil Trautwein, DE Bobby McCray, DE William Green*, DE Derrick Harvey, DE Jarvis Moss, DE Justin Trattou, CB Lito Sheppard, DT Marcus Thomas, DT Gerard Warren

SPIKES, PATRIOTS LINEBACKERS TALK SEC FOOTBALL

* Rookie