Hawkeyes in the NFL: Week 13 Top Performers
We are back for another week of ‘Hawkeyes in the NFL’ and this was a week full of highlights for former Hawkeyes during the Thanksgiving weekend. As it stands, with five weeks remaining in the regular season, 13 Hawks are on the teams that currently sit in the playoffs, while six more players play for teams that are still in the hunt. We take a look at the top performances from former Hawkeyes during week 13 of the NFL season.
Honorable Mention Performers
TE TJ Hockenson – 3 rec, 28 yds vs Arizona
TE Noah Fant – 3 rec, 26 yds vs NYJ
1. Carolina LB Josey Jewell
Although the Panthers are not going to be headed to the playoffs, linebacker Josey Jewell has been playing some really good football over the past couple weeks. The 7th-year veteran totaled ten tackles, two tackles for loss and one sack in Carolina’s overtime loss to the Buccaneers. Not known for sacks (11.0 in his career), Jewell could have been credited for two of them on Sunday. He sacked Baker Mayfield for a seven-yard loss in the third quarter, but got to Mayfield on the first drive of the game (below), however, it was deemed to be a fumble recovery for Mayfield and not a sack. On the season, Jewell has totaled 71 tackles, five tackles for loss, two sacks, five passes defended and one interception.
2. Detroit TE Sam LaPorta
It wasn’t the most eye-popping stat line for tight end Sam LaPorta on Thanksgiving Day, but he played a huge part in the Lions 23-20 win over the Bears. He finished with three receptions for a whopping six yards, but had two touchdowns. His one-yard touchdown reception in the third quarter put Detroit up 23-7, which ended up being just enough to secure a win.
On the season, LaPorta has 31 receptions for 391 yards and five touchdowns. He’s going to finish well short of the numbers he put up as a rookie last season, but if it ends in a Super Bowl for the Lions, all will be fine for him.
3. Tampa Bay DE Anthony Nelson
Anthony Nelson appears on the list after making the game-winning defensive play for the Buccaneers in their 26-23 overtime win over Carolina. His forced fumble gave the ball back to Tampa Bay and they eventually kicked a 30-yard field goal to win, which keeps them squarely in the playoff hunt. Nelson finished with a season-high six tackles, four quarterback pressures and one forced fumble. On the season, Nelson has totaled 31 tackles, five tackles for loss and three sacks, while his 22 quarterback hurries rank third on the Tampa Bay defense.
4. Philadelphia DB Cooper DeJean
The respect across the league is growing exponentially for rookie corner Cooper DeJean and it took another big jump on Sunday afternoon against the Ravens. DeJean finished with five tackles and one pass defended, but it was his fourth quarter tackle of Derrick Henry that got people talking. On 3rd and 11, Lamar Jackson dumped a pass off to Henry in the open field and DeJean made the big hit to force a punt.
Top 10
- 1Hot
12-Team CFP bracket
The updated field is set
- 2
Miami AD shot at Alabama
Dan Radakovich has CFP issues
- 3
Bama over Miami
CFP Chair addresses controversy
- 4New
CFP Top 25 revealed
Controversy is here
- 5Breaking
Kobe Prentice
Alabama WR to transfer
On the season, DeJean has totaled 35 tackles, two tackles for loss and six passes defended, while his 84.3 coverage grade by Pro Football Focus is third-best amongst all NFL corners. His 82.4 overall grade also ranks third-best amongst all NFL corners.
5. Chicago P Tory Taylor
The Bears weren’t able to pull the upset on Thanksgiving Day, but Tory Taylor had a good punting game in his first ever Thanksgiving appearance. He punted four times, for 223 yards (55.8 avg), including a 55-yard punt that pinned Detroit at their own 10-yard line in the first quarter. On the season, Taylor has punted 57 times for 2,751 yards (48.3 avg), including 21 punts inside the 20-yard line.
6. Tampa Bay OT Tristan Wirfs
This week’s list has had a lot from that Carolina-Tampa Bay game, and we will finish things off with one more from that matchup. Bucs left tackle Tristan Wirfs allowed just one pressure over 39 pass blocking snaps, allowing Baker Mayfield to throw for 235 yards in the win. Wirfs 86.1 overall game grade by PFF ranked 9th-best for all offensive lineman during week 13, while his 84.4 pass blocking grade was 5th-best amongst all offensive tackles.
On the season, Wirfs is the NFL’s top pass blocker, with a 92.7 pass blocking grade. He has allowed just seven quarterback pressures and zero sacks over 412 pass blocking snaps. Overall, his 86.6 grade ranks 12th-best in the league.
