Gators in the NFL- Week One
Monday, September 14, 2020 | Football
GAINESVILLE, Fla. - The opening week of NFL action featured plenty of noteworthy performances by 37 former Gators on active rosters across the league.
In his first NFL start, CJ Henderson helped seal a season-opening victory for the Jacksonville Jaguars. The 2020 first round pick notched his first career NFL interception and broke up a Phillip Rivers pass on fourth down in the final minute of action to clinch the game for Jacksonville. Over the course of his Gator career, Henderson totaled 93 defensive stops (66 solo), six interceptions, 22 pass breakups, 4.0 sacks and 7.0 tackles for loss in 34 games.
Two former UF defensive backs also came up big to help the New Orleans Saints claim a 34-23 victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Veteran cornerback Janoris Jenkins intercepted a Tom Brady pass in the third quarter and returned it 36-yards for a touchdown. Jenkins, who now has 24 career interceptions, added nine tackles.
Second-year safety CJ Gardner-Johnson led New Orleans with a career-high 10 tackles and one pass break-up. The 2019 fourth-round pick appeared in all 16 games during his rookie season, making seven starts and notching 49 tackles.
Jets safety Marcus Maye would also string together a career game, finishing the opener with a team-high and career-best 10 tackles and two sacks. Maye, who played for the Gators from 2012-16, added two quarterback hits, two passes deflections and a forced fumble.
Arizona Cardinals (Cardinals 24, 49ers 20)
D.J. Humphries- OL- 6th year- Started at left tackle.
Max Garcia- G- 6th year- Did not appear in contest.
Marcus Gilbert- OT- 10th year (Opted Out)
Jonathan Bullard- DE- 5th year (Practice Squad)
Atlanta Falcons (Seahawks 38, Falcons 25)
Keanu Neal- S- 5th year- Secured six tackles in his start in the defensive backfield.
Brandon Powell- WR- 3rd year- Made appearance on special teams. Credited with an eight-yard punt return.
Dante Fowler Jr.- DE – 6th year- Started on the defensive line. Made four tackles and 1.5 tackles-for-loss (.5 sack) in his first game as a Falcon.
Buffalo Bills (Bills 27, Jets 17)
Bryan Cox Jr.- DL- 4th year (Practice Squad)
Chicago Bears (Bears 27, Lions 23)
Eddy Pineiro- K- 3rd year (Injured Reserve)
Cincinnati Bengals (Chargers 16, Bengals 13)
Carlos Dunlap- DE- 10th year- Credited with three tackles and a quarterback hit during his start at defensive end.
Fred Johnson- OG- 2nd year- Did not appear in contest.
Denver Broncos (Titans 16, Broncos 14)
Duke Dawson Jr.- DB- 3rd year- Did not record any stats.
Tyrie Cleveland- WR- Rookie- Reeled in first career catch for 7 yards.
Detroit Lions (Bear 27, Lions 23)
Jarrad Davis- LB- 4th year- Started at linebacker and notched four tackles.
Houston Texans (Chiefs 34, Texans 20)
Vernon Hargreaves III- CB- 4th year- Notched four solo tackles in his first start of the season.
Jonathan Greenard- LB- Rookie- Inactive.
Indianapolis Colts (Jaguars 27, Colts 20)
Trey Burton- TE- 7th year (Injured Reserve)
Chaz Green- OL- 4th year- Saw snaps on special teams.
Jacksonville Jaguars (Jaguars 27, Colts 20)
Taven Bryan- DT- 3rd year- Started on defensive line.
Lerentee McCray- LB- 8th year (Opted Out)
Jawaan Taylor- OT- 2nd year- Made start at tackle.
CJ Henderson- CB- Rookie- Picked off first career pass (22-yard return) in his pro debut. Added five tackles and three passes defended.
Josh Hammond- WR- Rookie (Practice Squad)
Kansas City Chiefs (Chiefs 34, Texans 20)
Demarcus Robinson- WR- 5th year- Started at receiver. Reeled in three passes for 20 yards.
Tommy Townsend- P- Rookie- Made NFL debut, punting three times for an average of 45.3 yards, with a long of 54.
Miami Dolphins (Patriots 21, Dolphins 11)
Antonio Callaway- WR- 3rd season (Suspended)
Las Vegas Raiders (Raiders 34, Panthers 30)
Trent Brown- OT- 6th year- Started at tackle before leaving game in the first quarter due to injury.
Los Angeles Chargers (Chargers 16, Bengals 13)
Mike Pouncey- C- 10th year- Inactive.
Los Angeles Rams (Rams 20, Cowboys 17)
Van Jefferson- WR- Rookie- Made first career NFL catch with a 31-yard reception, which tied for a team-high.
Jachai Polite- DE- 2nd year- Appeared in contest.
New Orleans Saints (Saints 34, Buccaneers 23)
Alex Anzalone – LB – 4th year- Secured four tackles in his start at linebacker.
CJ Gardner-Johnson- S- 2nd year- Totaled a career-high and team-leading 10 tackles. Added a pass defense.
Janoris Jenkins- CB- 9th year- Returned an interception 36-yards for a pick-six. Added nine tackles and was credited with one pass defended.
New York Jets (Bills 27, Jets 17)
Marcus Maye- S- 4th year- Led team with a career-best 10 tackles and two sacks. Also was credited with two quarterback hits, two passes deflections and a forced fumble.
Brian Poole- CB- 5th year- Tallied nine tackles (eight solo), one sack, one tackle-for-loss and a pass deflection.
Quincy Wilson- CB- 4th year- Did not record any stats.
Lamical Perine- RB- Rookie- Inactive.
Jabari Zuniga- DE- Rookie (Injured Reserve)
Pittsburgh Steelers (Steelers 26, Giants 16)
Joe Haden – CB – 11th year- Tallied six solo tackles in his start at cornerback.
Maurkice Pouncey – C – 11th year- Started at center.
Seattle Seahawks (Seahawks 38, Falcons 25)
Freddie Swain- WR- Rookie- Caught a pass for 17 yards in his first career NFL game. Also recovered fumble on special teams.
Quinton Dunbar- CB- 6th year- Registered six total tackles and defended a pass in his first game with Seattle.
San Francisco 49ers (Cardinals 24, 49ers 20)
Marcell Harris- S- 3rd year- Did not record any stats, seeing snaps on special teams.
Jordan Reed- TE- 8th year- Caught two passes for 12 yards (long of 10) in first game as 49er.
Washington Football Team (Washington Football Team 27, Eagles 17)
Jon Bostic- LB- 8th year- Finished with a team-high eight tackles (five solo). Added a sack, tackle-for-loss and three quarterback hits.
David Sharpe- T- 4th year- Inactive.
Caleb Brantley- DT- 4th year (Opted Out)
In his first NFL start, CJ Henderson helped seal a season-opening victory for the Jacksonville Jaguars. The 2020 first round pick notched his first career NFL interception and broke up a Phillip Rivers pass on fourth down in the final minute of action to clinch the game for Jacksonville. Over the course of his Gator career, Henderson totaled 93 defensive stops (66 solo), six interceptions, 22 pass breakups, 4.0 sacks and 7.0 tackles for loss in 34 games.
That's the rook!! 😤#GatorMade 🐊
— Gators Football (@GatorsFB) September 13, 2020
pic.twitter.com/O7pFL7FNMm
Two former UF defensive backs also came up big to help the New Orleans Saints claim a 34-23 victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Veteran cornerback Janoris Jenkins intercepted a Tom Brady pass in the third quarter and returned it 36-yards for a touchdown. Jenkins, who now has 24 career interceptions, added nine tackles.
Janoris Jenkins jumps in front for the pick-6! #Saints
— NFL (@NFL) September 13, 2020
📺: #TBvsNO on FOX
📱: NFL app // Yahoo Sports app: https://t.co/5o8cWoN1yf pic.twitter.com/59dxseKWNC
Second-year safety CJ Gardner-Johnson led New Orleans with a career-high 10 tackles and one pass break-up. The 2019 fourth-round pick appeared in all 16 games during his rookie season, making seven starts and notching 49 tackles.
Jets safety Marcus Maye would also string together a career game, finishing the opener with a team-high and career-best 10 tackles and two sacks. Maye, who played for the Gators from 2012-16, added two quarterback hits, two passes deflections and a forced fumble.
Arizona Cardinals (Cardinals 24, 49ers 20)
D.J. Humphries- OL- 6th year- Started at left tackle.
Max Garcia- G- 6th year- Did not appear in contest.
Marcus Gilbert- OT- 10th year (Opted Out)
Jonathan Bullard- DE- 5th year (Practice Squad)
Atlanta Falcons (Seahawks 38, Falcons 25)
Keanu Neal- S- 5th year- Secured six tackles in his start in the defensive backfield.
Brandon Powell- WR- 3rd year- Made appearance on special teams. Credited with an eight-yard punt return.
Dante Fowler Jr.- DE – 6th year- Started on the defensive line. Made four tackles and 1.5 tackles-for-loss (.5 sack) in his first game as a Falcon.
Buffalo Bills (Bills 27, Jets 17)
Bryan Cox Jr.- DL- 4th year (Practice Squad)
Chicago Bears (Bears 27, Lions 23)
Eddy Pineiro- K- 3rd year (Injured Reserve)
Cincinnati Bengals (Chargers 16, Bengals 13)
Carlos Dunlap- DE- 10th year- Credited with three tackles and a quarterback hit during his start at defensive end.
Fred Johnson- OG- 2nd year- Did not appear in contest.
Denver Broncos (Titans 16, Broncos 14)
Duke Dawson Jr.- DB- 3rd year- Did not record any stats.
Tyrie Cleveland- WR- Rookie- Reeled in first career catch for 7 yards.
Detroit Lions (Bear 27, Lions 23)
Jarrad Davis- LB- 4th year- Started at linebacker and notched four tackles.
Houston Texans (Chiefs 34, Texans 20)
Vernon Hargreaves III- CB- 4th year- Notched four solo tackles in his first start of the season.
Jonathan Greenard- LB- Rookie- Inactive.
Indianapolis Colts (Jaguars 27, Colts 20)
Trey Burton- TE- 7th year (Injured Reserve)
Chaz Green- OL- 4th year- Saw snaps on special teams.
Jacksonville Jaguars (Jaguars 27, Colts 20)
Taven Bryan- DT- 3rd year- Started on defensive line.
Lerentee McCray- LB- 8th year (Opted Out)
Jawaan Taylor- OT- 2nd year- Made start at tackle.
CJ Henderson- CB- Rookie- Picked off first career pass (22-yard return) in his pro debut. Added five tackles and three passes defended.
Josh Hammond- WR- Rookie (Practice Squad)
Kansas City Chiefs (Chiefs 34, Texans 20)
Demarcus Robinson- WR- 5th year- Started at receiver. Reeled in three passes for 20 yards.
Tommy Townsend- P- Rookie- Made NFL debut, punting three times for an average of 45.3 yards, with a long of 54.
Miami Dolphins (Patriots 21, Dolphins 11)
Antonio Callaway- WR- 3rd season (Suspended)
Las Vegas Raiders (Raiders 34, Panthers 30)
Trent Brown- OT- 6th year- Started at tackle before leaving game in the first quarter due to injury.
Los Angeles Chargers (Chargers 16, Bengals 13)
Mike Pouncey- C- 10th year- Inactive.
Los Angeles Rams (Rams 20, Cowboys 17)
Van Jefferson- WR- Rookie- Made first career NFL catch with a 31-yard reception, which tied for a team-high.
Jachai Polite- DE- 2nd year- Appeared in contest.
🎯 @VanJefferson12 #GatorMade 🐊 pic.twitter.com/r13N4wngyU
— Gators Football (@GatorsFB) September 14, 2020
New Orleans Saints (Saints 34, Buccaneers 23)
Alex Anzalone – LB – 4th year- Secured four tackles in his start at linebacker.
CJ Gardner-Johnson- S- 2nd year- Totaled a career-high and team-leading 10 tackles. Added a pass defense.
Janoris Jenkins- CB- 9th year- Returned an interception 36-yards for a pick-six. Added nine tackles and was credited with one pass defended.
New York Jets (Bills 27, Jets 17)
Marcus Maye- S- 4th year- Led team with a career-best 10 tackles and two sacks. Also was credited with two quarterback hits, two passes deflections and a forced fumble.
Brian Poole- CB- 5th year- Tallied nine tackles (eight solo), one sack, one tackle-for-loss and a pass deflection.
Quincy Wilson- CB- 4th year- Did not record any stats.
Lamical Perine- RB- Rookie- Inactive.
Jabari Zuniga- DE- Rookie (Injured Reserve)
MAYE DAYYYYY 🧨 #GatorMade 🐊 pic.twitter.com/ReGGaWky3O
— Gators Football (@GatorsFB) September 13, 2020
Pittsburgh Steelers (Steelers 26, Giants 16)
Joe Haden – CB – 11th year- Tallied six solo tackles in his start at cornerback.
Maurkice Pouncey – C – 11th year- Started at center.
Seattle Seahawks (Seahawks 38, Falcons 25)
Freddie Swain- WR- Rookie- Caught a pass for 17 yards in his first career NFL game. Also recovered fumble on special teams.
Quinton Dunbar- CB- 6th year- Registered six total tackles and defended a pass in his first game with Seattle.
San Francisco 49ers (Cardinals 24, 49ers 20)
Marcell Harris- S- 3rd year- Did not record any stats, seeing snaps on special teams.
Jordan Reed- TE- 8th year- Caught two passes for 12 yards (long of 10) in first game as 49er.
Washington Football Team (Washington Football Team 27, Eagles 17)
Jon Bostic- LB- 8th year- Finished with a team-high eight tackles (five solo). Added a sack, tackle-for-loss and three quarterback hits.
David Sharpe- T- 4th year- Inactive.
Caleb Brantley- DT- 4th year (Opted Out)
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/ FootballRoad to Gameday: Florida Football
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