Gamecocks in the NFL: Week 2 recap

The second week of the 2024 NFL season had it all – nail-biting contests that came down to field goal kicks as time expired, big performances from top rookies and more.

Amidst all that action, 19 alumni of the South Carolina football program took the field for their respective NFL teams. Here’s how they fared in their Week 2 contests.

[Join GamecockCentral for great coverage, great communuty]

AFC East

Cam Smith – Cornerback, Miami Dolphins
Smith did not record any statistics or play any snaps in the Dolphins’ 31-10 loss to the Buffalo Bills on Thursday Night Football.

Kevin Harris – Running back, New England Patriots
Smith did not record any statistics or play any snaps in the Patriots’ 23-20 overtime loss to the Seattle Seahawks.

Marcellas Dial – Cornerback, New England Patriots
Dial contributed exclusively on special teams in Week 2, playing 20 total snaps. Broken down further, Dial played five kick coverage snaps, five punt return snaps, six punt coverage snaps and four snaps on opposing field goal attempts.

Javon Kinlaw – Defensive tackle, New York Jets
Kinlaw’s stat sheet in the Jets’ 24-17 win over the Tennessee Titans exactly mirrored that of his season debut last weekend. He registered three tackles, including two solo stops, in the Week 2 contest.

AFC North

Darius Rush – Cornerback, Pittsburgh Steelers
Rush did not record any statistics in the Steelers’ 13-6 win over the Denver Broncos. But he did play 12 special teams snaps on special teams, including six each on punt returns and punt coverage.

[Win two tickets to the South Carolina-Akron football game]

AFC South

Chris Lammons – Defensive back, Indianapolis Colts
Lammons’ production in the Colts’ 16-10 loss to the Green Bay Packers was limited to just special teams. He led the team with 19 special teams snaps played.

Ernest Jones – Linebacker, Tennessee Titans
After a slow start to the 2024 season by Jones’ standards, he put together an improved performance in the Titans’ Week 2 loss to the Jets. He led the team’s defense with nine total tackles, three of which were solo stops.

AFC West

Nate Adkins – Tight end, Denver Broncos
Adkins was not targeted but played 12 offensive snaps in the Broncos’ Week 2 loss to the Steelers. He also played 17 snaps on special teams.

Nick Gargiulo – Guard, Denver Broncos
Gargiulo did not record any statistics or play any snaps in Week 2.

Hayden Hurst – Tight end, Los Angeles Chargers
Hurst was targeted twice in the Chargers’ 26-3 win over the Carolina Panthers. One of those passes was completed for a 5-yard gain.

[On3 App: Get South Carolina push notifications from GamecockCentral]

NFC East

Rico Dowdle – Running back, Dallas Cowboys
Dowdle was the Cowboys’ leading rusher in the team’s 44-19 loss to the New Orleans Saints, totaling 30 yards on seven carries – one more than fellow running back Ezekiel Elliott. He was also a frequent contributor in the passing game, catching four passes on five targets for an additional 29 yards.

Israel Mukuamu – Safety, Dallas Cowboys
Mukuamu did not record any statistics in his second appearance of the 2024 season. He did, however, play three snaps on defense and an additional 21 on special teams.

Jalen Brooks – Wide receiver, Dallas Cowboys
Brooks was targeted three times in the Cowboys’ loss, but only one of them turned into a completed pass. That one pass led to a gain of 10 yards.

Dante Miller – Running back, New York Giants
Miller did not record any statistics or play any snaps in the Giants’ 21-18 loss to the Washington Commanders.

NFC North

Zacch Pickens – Defensive tackle, Chicago Bears
Pickens made his season debut in the Bears’ 19-13 loss to the Houston Texans on Sunday Night Football after missing the team’s season opener due to a groin injury. He played seven defensive snaps in the contest.

Kingsley Enagbare – Defensive end, Green Bay Packers
Enagbare recorded his first statistic of the 2024 season – an assisted tackle – Packers’ Week 2 loss to the Colts. He also played 11 snaps on special teams.

Keisean Nixon – Defensive back, Green Bay Packers
Nixon logged three solo tackles and played an additional seven snaps on special teams during Week 2.

Stephon Gilmore – Cornerback, Minnesota Vikings
Gilmore made a season-high six tackles, including four solo stops, in the Vikings’ 23-17 win over the San Francisco 49ers.

Nick Muse – Tight end, Minnesota Vikings
Muse did not appear on offense, but he did play 12 snaps on special teams during the Vikings’ Week 2 win.

[Newsletters: Get breaking news and analysis from GamecockCentral]

NFC South

Jovaughn Gwyn – Guard, Atlanta Falcons
Gwyn did not record any statistics or play any snaps in the Falcons’ 22-21 win over the Philadelphia Eagles on Monday Night Football.

Jadeveon Clowney – Linebacker, Carolina Panthers
Clowney rebounded from a slow start in the season opener and put up a strong individual performance in the Panthers’ 26-3 loss to the Chargers. The former No. 1 overall pick logged six tackles, including two solo stops.

Jaycee Horn – Cornerback, Carolina Panthers
Horn also delivered a positive showing, even though the Panthers ultimately lost. He recorded one interception, defended two passes and made six tackles in the Week 2 contest.

Xavier Legette – Wide receiver, Carolina Panthers
Legette was a no-factor in the Panthers’ Week 2 defeat, as he did not record any statistics or receive any targets. Despite this, he played 20 offensive snaps and an additional six on special teams.

D.J. Wonnum – Linebacker, Carolina Panthers
Wonnum did not record any statistics or play any snaps in the Panthers’ loss to the Chargers.

Spencer Rattler – Quarterback, New Orleans Saints
Rattler did not make an appearance in the Saints’ blowout win over Cowboys, even after the contest was well in hand.

Adam Prentice – Running back, New Orleans Saints
Prentice did not record any statistics in the Saints’ Week 2 win over the Cowboys. But he did play 26 snaps on offense and an additional six on special teams.

NFC West

Deebo Samuel Sr. – Wide receiver, San Francisco 49ers
Samuel Sr. picked up right where he left off in the 49ers’ second game of the season, logging 110 yards through the air on eight catches and -10 yards on two rushes. But he would not leave the game unscathed, as head coach Kyle Shanahan said Monday that the sixth-year wide receiver is set to miss “a couple” of weeks due to a calf strain, which will affect an already depleted 49ers offense.

Discuss South Carolina football on The Insiders Forum!