BBNFL Week 9: Lynn Bowden called up to Patriot's active roster

The man who did everything on the football field during his time at Kentucky, Lynn Bowden, got called up from the practice squad for the New England Patriots’ active roster on Sunday. The Raiders drafted Bowden in the third round in 2020 but quickly traded him to the Miami Dolphins. He’s totaled 28 catches for 211 yards in his career, but after a good preseason showing, the Dolphins cut him before the start of the regular season. The Patriots swooped in and signed him to their practice squad, where he has remained all season…until now.

Bowden earned multiple practice player of the week honors this year and the Patriots rewarded him with a game-day roster spot. He did not make a catch or record a rush on Sunday, but it was great to see him on the field. Though, if I had to nitpick, #86 looked a little awkward on him. Regardless, Bill Belichick saw enough in practice to bring him up to the big leagues, and hopefully, he stays here.

With Randall Cobb still injured, and Wan’Dale Robinson and Benny Snell on a bye this week, Bowden was the only former Kentucky offensive skill player to dress.

Bowden is an uber-talent, so his inability to find a solid niche in the NFL has been surprising, but his stock appears to be trending in the right direction. The NFL might soon come see about it.

Another solid outing for Za’Darius Smith despite no sacks

The NFL’s sack leader going into Week 9, former Kentucky lineman Za’Darius Smith, helped the Minnesota Vikings get the win over the Washington Commanders, though he wasn’t able to pad his sack numbers. He finished with five tackles (four solo), two pass deflections, and three QB hits.

After the game, Za’Darius celebrated with a blinged-out shirtless Kirk Cousins on the team plane in a video that went viral for all the night reasons. The 7-1 Vikings are living their best life.

1PM Kirk Cousins is iced out
pic.twitter.com/ADlp0TRxkw

— Barstool Sports (@barstoolsports) November 6, 2022

As positive of a year as it has been for the Vikings, the Washington Commanders continue to struggle. However, on an individual level, Jamin Davis keeps improving. Similar to Smith, he had five tackles (four solo), including one for a loss, and one pass deflection in their loss to the Vikings.

Bud Dupree reinjures hip in Titans’ OT loss to Chiefs

Though he only recorded one tackle, Bud Dupree looked like he did when he was at Kentucky, keeping Patrick Mahomes on the run and showing out during prime time on Sunday Night Football in the Tennessee Titans’ upset win over the Kansas City Chiefs. However, he had to leave the game in the third quarter with a hip injury, the same issue that caused him to miss time earlier in the year. It is no coincidence that when Dupree went out, Mahomes went to work, bringing the Chiefs back from an eight-point deficit to help his team win in overtime.

Lonnie Johnson also chipped in a tackle for the Titans and nearly came away with an interception that went off his fingertips.

Josh Allen is still a member of the Jacksonville Jaguars after rumors the team might deal him before last week’s trade deadline. He had three tackles (one solo) in his team’s win over the Las Vegas Raiders.

Elsewhere around the league, former Kentucky defenseman Marquan “Bully” McCall had two tackles for the Carolina Panthers in their curb-stomping of a loss to the Cincinnati Bengals, while Mike Edwards had one tackle for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in their dramatic win over the Los Angels Rams.

It is weird to think we are halfway over with the NFL season, but here we are just in time for the start of Kentucky basketball.