BBNFL Week 16 recap: Luke Fortner eclipses 1,000 snaps

Luke Fortner has not missed an offensive snap all season for the Jacksonville Jaguars, and now a comma is in that number. The rookie center out of Kentucky began the season as the Jags’ starter and never looked back. After the Jags’ victory over the New York Jets on Thursday, Fortner has now logged 1,010 snaps on the season, good for 5th most among centers in the NFL.

He has done more than just play, though; he has excelled. According to PFF, Fortner has allowed a mere one sack all season and committed just four penalties.

More importantly to him, the Jaguars claimed yet another victory and are now making a late-season surge toward the playoffs. They have won three games in a row and currently sit atop the AFC standings despite a 7-8 record. Moreover, they hold the tiebreaker over the Tennessee Titans who share the same record in the same division. These two teams will face off in week 18 in a matchup that could determine a playoff birth, depending on the outcome of their games this week.

His teammate and Kentucky brother Josh Allen had two tackles in the team’s win in Thursday Night Football.

Jamin Davis and Mike Edwards rack up tackles

Jamin Davis kept his tackle numbers climbing on Christmas Eve. He finished the day with eight (six solo) including one tackle for a loss, though the Washington Commanders fell to the San Francisco 49ers in a big game for playoff implications.

Davis has been on a tear during the back half of the season. He has 51 tackles over the last six games and 95 tackles overall. That ranks him in the top 50 in the league.

A slow start had some Washington fans frustrated with their first-round pick from a year ago, but his vast improvement has quieted the critics. The Commanders remain in playoff contention and actually control their own destiny. If they win out, they’re in, and Jamin Davis wants to help make sure that happens.

Another team battling to eke into the playoffs has a former Kentucky defenseman who racks up tackles in his own right. Mike Edwards had seven tackles (six solo) in the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ overtime victory over the Arizona Cardinals on Christmas night.

Similar to Fortner and the Jaguars, the Buccs are 7-8, yet lead their division. Mike Edwards has been riddled with injuries this season but appears to be healthy now during his team’s crucial playoff run. They have two more weeks to lock up that postseason spot.

Other BBNFL Notes

• Za’Darius Smith forced a key fumble last week, and though he did not record an official tackle in the Vikings’ thrilling 27-24 win over the New York Giants, he was a menace in the backfield. He hit the QB three times and kept the pressure on Daniel Jones all day. Smith is the only former Kentucky player to make the Pro Bowl this season, so congrats to him on an already terrific year as his red-hot team looks to make a deep playoff run.

• Lonnie Johnson had a season-high three tackles this week for the Tennesee Titans and teammate Bud Dupree had a QB hit. Josh Paschal played just 13 snaps for the Detroit Lions but recorded two tackles while he was on the field. And for the Carolina Panthers, Marquan “Bully” McCall was credited for one tackle in his team’s win over the Lions.

• Finally, on the offensive side of the ball, Randall Cobb had one catch for five yards for the Green Bay Packers this week, as they got a big win over the Miami Dolphins. Over in a frigid Pittsburgh, Benny Snell returned a kick for 15 yards.