
Gators In The NFL: Week 1
Monday, September 13, 2021 | Football
GAINESVILLE, Fla. - Week one of the 2021 National Football League season has officially kicked off, with 48 Gators on 25 teams all having their eyes set on hoisting the Lombardi Trophy at the season's end.
16 former Gators started in week one, including rookie Kyle Pitts who had four receptions totaling 31 yards.
Offensive Highlights
Van Jefferson helped the Los Angeles Rams to their first win of the season with a touchdown and two receptions for 80 yards.
Defensive Highlights
Joe Haden forced one fumble and recorded five tackles to help lead the Pittsburgh Steelers past the Buffalo Bills in a nail-biter of a game.
Houston Texans cornerback Vernon Hargreaves III recorded five tackles (two solo and three assisted) with one interception against the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Special Teams Highlights
Evan McPherson was perfect in his first game with the Cincinnati Bengals. McPherson kicked the game-winning field goal in overtime to give the Bengals their first win of the 2021 season. McPherson was 2-for-2 on field goals and 3-for-3 on extra points.
Arizona Cardinals (Arizona 38, Tennessee 13)
74 - D.J. Humphries - OL - seventh year (Started at left guard to help Arizona to a 38-13 win)
73 - Max Garcia - G - seventh year (Appeared against Tennessee)
20 - Marco Wilson - CB - rookie (recorded three solo tackles in his NFL debut)
Atlanta Falcons (Atlanta 6, Philadelphia 32)
56 - Dante Fowler Jr. - DE - seventh year (Started at SLB, recorded two tackles, one solo and one assisted)
8 - Kyle Pitts - TE - rookie (Started first-career NFL game, had four receptions, totaling 31 yards)
99 - Jonathan Bullard - DE - sixth year (Started at LDE, recorded two tackles, one solo and one assisted)
Baltimore Ravens (vs. Las Vegas on Monday, Sept. 13)
18 - Johnny Townsend - P - second year (Practice Squad)
Buffalo Bills (Buffalo 16, Pittsburgh 23)
51 - Bryan Cox Jr. - DL - fifth year (Injured Reserve)
Chicago Bears (Chicago 14, LA Rams 34)
37 - Jalen "Teez" Tabor - DB - fifth year (Practice Squad)
Cincinnati Bengals (Cincinnati 27, Minnesota 24 - OT)
74 - Fred Johnson - OG - third year (Out)
2 - Evan McPherson - K - rookie (2-for-2 on field goals and 3-for-3 on extra points)
Dallas Cowboys (Dallas 29, Tampa Bay 31)
42 - Keanu Neal - S - sixth year (Started at MLB, recorded six tackles, three solo and three assisted)
Denver Broncos (Denver 27, NY Giants 13)
16 - Tyrie Cleveland - WR - second year (Practice Squad)
20 - Duke Dawson Jr. - DB - fourth year (Out/Reserve)
Detroit Lions (Detroit 33 – San Francisco 41)
34 - Alex Anzalone - LB - fifth year (Started at LILB, recorded three tackles, two solo and one assisted)
Green Bay Packers (Green Bay 3, New Orleans 38)
93 - T.J. Slaton - DL - Rookie (Recorded two solo tackles)
Houston Texans (Houston 37, Jacksonville 21)
6 - Jeff Driskel - QB - sixth year (Practice Squad)
26 - Vernon Hargreaves III - CB - sixth year (Started at LCB, Recorded five tackles, two solo and three assisted with one interception)
52 - Jonathan Greenard - LB - second year (Out)
Indianapolis Colts (Indianapolis 16, Seattle 28)
31 - Shawn Davis - S – second year (Practice Squad)
Jacksonville Jaguars (Jacksonville 21, Houston 37)
90 - Taven Bryan - DT - fourth year (Recorded two solo tackles)
55 - Lerentee McCray - LB - seventh year (Recorded one assisted tackle)
75 - Jawaan Taylor - OT - third year (Started at RT)
23 - CJ Henderson - CB - second year (Started at LCB, Recorded four tackles, three solo and one assisted)
81 - Josh Hammond - WR - second year (Practice squad)
Kansas City Chiefs (Kansas City 33, Cleveland 29)
11 - Demarcus Robinson - WR - sixth year (Started at WR, had one reception for nine yards)
5 - Tommy Townsend - P - second year (Punted two times for an average of 45.5 yards)
Los Angeles Rams (LA Rams 34, Chicago 14)
12 - Van Jefferson - WR - second year (Started at WR. recorded two receptions for 80 yards with one touchdown)
Miami Dolphins (Miami 17, New England 16)
89 - Brandon Powell - WR - fourth year (Practice Squad)
New England Patriots (New England 16, Miami 17)
77 - Trent Brown - OT - seventh year (Started at RT)
New Orleans Saints (New Orleans 38, Green Bay 3)
33 - Brian Poole - CB – sixth year (Injured Reserve)
22 - CJ Gardner-Johnson - S - third year (Recorded two solo tackles)
New York Giants (NY Giants 13, Denver 27)
28 - Quincy Wilson - CB - fifth year (Injured Reserve)
89 - Kadarius Toney - WR - rookie (Recorded two receptions for -2 yards)
New York Jets (NY Jets 14, Carolina 19)
20 - Marcus Maye - S - fifth year (Started at FS, recorded eight tackles, five solo and three assisted)
22 - La'Mical Perine - RB - second year (Out)
92 - Jabari Zuniga - DE - second year (Practice Squad)
52 - Jarrad Davis - LB - fifth year (Injured Reserve)
Pittsburgh Steelers (Pittsburgh 23, Buffalo 16)
23 - Joe Haden - CB - 12th year (Started at LCB, recorded five tackles, three solo and two assisted with one forced fumble)
26 - Donovan Stiner - S - rookie (Practice Squad)
74 - Chaz Green - OT - fifth year (Practice Squad)
Seattle Seahawks (Seattle 28, Indianapolis 16)
18 - Freddie Swain - WR - second year (Started at WR)
8 - Carlos Dunlap - DE - 12th year (Started at RDE)
78 - Stone Forsythe - OL - Rookie (Out)
San Francisco 49ers (San Francisco 41, Detroit 33)
36 - Marcell Harris - S - fourth year (Recorded two tackles, one solo and one assisted)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (Tampa Bay 31, Dallas 29)
2 - Kyle Trask - QB - rookie (Inactive)
Washington Football Team (Washington 16, LA Chargers 20)
53 - Jon Bostic - LB - ninth year (Started at WLB, recorded eight tackles, five solo and three assisted)
6 - Eddy Pineiro - K - fourth Year (Practice Squad)
16 former Gators started in week one, including rookie Kyle Pitts who had four receptions totaling 31 yards.
Offensive Highlights
Van Jefferson helped the Los Angeles Rams to their first win of the season with a touchdown and two receptions for 80 yards.
This Stafford guy can SLING IT 🎯
— Los Angeles Rams (@RamsNFL) September 13, 2021
His first touchdown as a Ram to @VanJefferson12! pic.twitter.com/t1938rUAJ0
Defensive Highlights
Joe Haden forced one fumble and recorded five tackles to help lead the Pittsburgh Steelers past the Buffalo Bills in a nail-biter of a game.
Houston Texans cornerback Vernon Hargreaves III recorded five tackles (two solo and three assisted) with one interception against the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Add it to his resume 📝
— Houston Texans (@HoustonTexans) September 12, 2021
INT for Vernon Hargreaves III | @NFLonCBS pic.twitter.com/HiBGrcl61P
Special Teams Highlights
Evan McPherson was perfect in his first game with the Cincinnati Bengals. McPherson kicked the game-winning field goal in overtime to give the Bengals their first win of the 2021 season. McPherson was 2-for-2 on field goals and 3-for-3 on extra points.
EVAN ALMIGHTY!
— Cincinnati Bengals (@Bengals) September 12, 2021
Visit https://t.co/KpeqK4RKUm for more highlights. pic.twitter.com/OqO09pQSzZ
Arizona Cardinals (Arizona 38, Tennessee 13)
74 - D.J. Humphries - OL - seventh year (Started at left guard to help Arizona to a 38-13 win)
73 - Max Garcia - G - seventh year (Appeared against Tennessee)
20 - Marco Wilson - CB - rookie (recorded three solo tackles in his NFL debut)
Atlanta Falcons (Atlanta 6, Philadelphia 32)
56 - Dante Fowler Jr. - DE - seventh year (Started at SLB, recorded two tackles, one solo and one assisted)
8 - Kyle Pitts - TE - rookie (Started first-career NFL game, had four receptions, totaling 31 yards)
99 - Jonathan Bullard - DE - sixth year (Started at LDE, recorded two tackles, one solo and one assisted)
Baltimore Ravens (vs. Las Vegas on Monday, Sept. 13)
18 - Johnny Townsend - P - second year (Practice Squad)
Buffalo Bills (Buffalo 16, Pittsburgh 23)
51 - Bryan Cox Jr. - DL - fifth year (Injured Reserve)
Chicago Bears (Chicago 14, LA Rams 34)
37 - Jalen "Teez" Tabor - DB - fifth year (Practice Squad)
Cincinnati Bengals (Cincinnati 27, Minnesota 24 - OT)
74 - Fred Johnson - OG - third year (Out)
2 - Evan McPherson - K - rookie (2-for-2 on field goals and 3-for-3 on extra points)
Dallas Cowboys (Dallas 29, Tampa Bay 31)
42 - Keanu Neal - S - sixth year (Started at MLB, recorded six tackles, three solo and three assisted)
Denver Broncos (Denver 27, NY Giants 13)
16 - Tyrie Cleveland - WR - second year (Practice Squad)
20 - Duke Dawson Jr. - DB - fourth year (Out/Reserve)
Detroit Lions (Detroit 33 – San Francisco 41)
34 - Alex Anzalone - LB - fifth year (Started at LILB, recorded three tackles, two solo and one assisted)
Green Bay Packers (Green Bay 3, New Orleans 38)
93 - T.J. Slaton - DL - Rookie (Recorded two solo tackles)
Houston Texans (Houston 37, Jacksonville 21)
6 - Jeff Driskel - QB - sixth year (Practice Squad)
26 - Vernon Hargreaves III - CB - sixth year (Started at LCB, Recorded five tackles, two solo and three assisted with one interception)
52 - Jonathan Greenard - LB - second year (Out)
Indianapolis Colts (Indianapolis 16, Seattle 28)
31 - Shawn Davis - S – second year (Practice Squad)
Jacksonville Jaguars (Jacksonville 21, Houston 37)
90 - Taven Bryan - DT - fourth year (Recorded two solo tackles)
55 - Lerentee McCray - LB - seventh year (Recorded one assisted tackle)
75 - Jawaan Taylor - OT - third year (Started at RT)
23 - CJ Henderson - CB - second year (Started at LCB, Recorded four tackles, three solo and one assisted)
81 - Josh Hammond - WR - second year (Practice squad)
Kansas City Chiefs (Kansas City 33, Cleveland 29)
11 - Demarcus Robinson - WR - sixth year (Started at WR, had one reception for nine yards)
5 - Tommy Townsend - P - second year (Punted two times for an average of 45.5 yards)
Los Angeles Rams (LA Rams 34, Chicago 14)
12 - Van Jefferson - WR - second year (Started at WR. recorded two receptions for 80 yards with one touchdown)
Miami Dolphins (Miami 17, New England 16)
89 - Brandon Powell - WR - fourth year (Practice Squad)
New England Patriots (New England 16, Miami 17)
77 - Trent Brown - OT - seventh year (Started at RT)
New Orleans Saints (New Orleans 38, Green Bay 3)
33 - Brian Poole - CB – sixth year (Injured Reserve)
22 - CJ Gardner-Johnson - S - third year (Recorded two solo tackles)
New York Giants (NY Giants 13, Denver 27)
28 - Quincy Wilson - CB - fifth year (Injured Reserve)
89 - Kadarius Toney - WR - rookie (Recorded two receptions for -2 yards)
New York Jets (NY Jets 14, Carolina 19)
20 - Marcus Maye - S - fifth year (Started at FS, recorded eight tackles, five solo and three assisted)
22 - La'Mical Perine - RB - second year (Out)
92 - Jabari Zuniga - DE - second year (Practice Squad)
52 - Jarrad Davis - LB - fifth year (Injured Reserve)
Pittsburgh Steelers (Pittsburgh 23, Buffalo 16)
23 - Joe Haden - CB - 12th year (Started at LCB, recorded five tackles, three solo and two assisted with one forced fumble)
26 - Donovan Stiner - S - rookie (Practice Squad)
74 - Chaz Green - OT - fifth year (Practice Squad)
Seattle Seahawks (Seattle 28, Indianapolis 16)
18 - Freddie Swain - WR - second year (Started at WR)
8 - Carlos Dunlap - DE - 12th year (Started at RDE)
78 - Stone Forsythe - OL - Rookie (Out)
San Francisco 49ers (San Francisco 41, Detroit 33)
36 - Marcell Harris - S - fourth year (Recorded two tackles, one solo and one assisted)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (Tampa Bay 31, Dallas 29)
2 - Kyle Trask - QB - rookie (Inactive)
Washington Football Team (Washington 16, LA Chargers 20)
53 - Jon Bostic - LB - ninth year (Started at WLB, recorded eight tackles, five solo and three assisted)
6 - Eddy Pineiro - K - fourth Year (Practice Squad)
Players Mentioned
Aaron Chiles Media Availability 10-15-25
Wednesday, October 15
Damieon George Jr. Media Availability 10-15-25
Wednesday, October 15
Billy Napier Media Availability 10-15-25
Wednesday, October 15
Gator Insider presented by Talon Wealth 10-15-25
Wednesday, October 15