Gators in the NFL: Week 17
Malik Davis posted career-high marks for rush attempts, rush yards and receiving yards on Thursday.
Photo By: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports
Monday, January 2, 2023

Gators in the NFL: Week 17

Will Levenson
The regular season is winding down, but Gators continue to make their presence felt.
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – On the penultimate week of an unforgettable NFL regular season, Gators across the league helped their teams finish strong. 

Defensive Highlights 
On Thursday Night in Nashville, with a chance at a divisional title on the line for Dallas, Cowboys edge rusher Dante Fowler Jr. answered the bell. 

With the Titans threatening midway through quarter two, Fowler Jr. blew by the tackle en route to a huge third-down strip sack, grabbing a timely turnover for his squad. 
 
The sack was the 41st in Fowler Jr.'s illustrious eight-year career and his sixth of the season.  

Heading west to Kansas City where another veteran Gator edge rusher made an impact for his team – as he's done so many times in his career. 

Chiefs pass rusher Carlos Dunlap packed the statsheet in a New Year's Day win over Denver. 

Dunlap finished with a tackle, tackle for loss, QB hit, pass defended and combined for this second quarter sack: 
 
While not officially credited for the half-sack, Dunlap still sits at 100 sacks for his 13-year career. And following Sunday's win, Dunlap has a remarkable 123 tackles for loss and 76 pass deflections since entering the league in 2010.

Offensive Highlights
Dameon Pierce isn't the only rookie Gator running back to prove he belongs in the league this season. 

Cowboys shifty rookie back Malik Davis showed the national audience that he can play. 

Being given an expanded role on Thursday Night Football, Davis made the most of the opportunity, finishing with 62 yards on 12 total touches. 

Davis displayed his skills early with this impressive 23-yard first-quarter scamper. 
 
Davis now has 205 total yards and one touchdown in his first season in the NFL, and his performance Thursday will likely earn him more playing time in 2023. 

On the first day of 2023, a pair of young Gator wideouts made the most of their opportunities. 

Rams third-year receiver Van Jefferson added to his career totals with a three-catch 77-yard performance Sunday. Jefferson now has 90 receptions, 1,330 yards and 10 touchdowns for his career, despite missing eight games this season due to injury. 

Back in KC, where the 13-3 Chiefs were bolstered by the speed and shiftiness of second-year pass catcher Kadarius Toney. 

The "Human Joystick" Toney did what he does best Sunday: make defenders miss. Toney caught four passes for 71 yards in the 27-24 victory over Denver, including this smooth 38-yard catch and run. 
 
Toney, Dunlap, punter Tommy Townsend and the Chiefs will have a chance to clinch the AFC's top seed Saturday in Las Vegas. 
 
Arizona Cardinals (Arizona 19 - Atlanta 20)
 
74 - D.J. Humphries - OL - 8th year (Injured Reserve)
 
20 - Marco Wilson - CB - 2nd year (Inactive)
 
75 - Max Garcia - G - 8th year (Started at left guard)
 
Atlanta Falcons (Atlanta 20 - Arizona 19)
 
8 - Kyle Pitts - TE - 2nd year (Injured Reserve)
 
62 - Jonotthan Harrison - OL - 7th year (Practice Squad)
 
Baltimore Ravens (Baltimore 13 - Pittsburgh 16)
 
10 - Demarcus Robinson - WR - 7th year (Caught one pass for nine yards)
 
48 - Jeremiah Moon - OLB - Rookie (Practice Squad)
 
74 - David Sharpe - OT - 5th year (Practice Squad)
 
Buffalo Bills (Monday Night vs Cincinnati)
 
24 - Kaiir Elam - CB - Rookie 
 
Carolina Panthers (Carolina 24 - Tampa Bay 30)
 
24 - CJ Henderson - CB - 3rd year (Started at cornerback, recorded four tackles and one pass defended)
 
4 - Eddy Pineiro - K - 5th year (3-for-3 on extra points, 1-for-1 on field goals connecting from 49 yards)
 
Cincinnati Bengals (Monday Night vs Buffalo)
 
95 - Zachary Carter - DL - Rookie 
 
2 - Evan McPherson - K - 2nd year
 
Cleveland Browns (Cleveland 24 - Washington 10)
 
99 - Taven Bryan - DT - 5th year (Started at defensive tackle, recorded four tackles one QB hit and a half-sack)
 
Dallas Cowboys (Dallas 27 - Tennessee 13)
 
56 - Dante Fowler Jr. - OLB - 8th year (Recorded two tackles, one sack, two QB hits and one forced fumble)
 
34 - Malik Davis - RB – Rookie (Carried 10 times for 39 yards, caught two passes for 23 yards)
 
14 - Antonio Callaway - WR - 3rd year (Practice squad)
 
Denver Broncos (Denver 24 - Kansas City 27)
 
16 - Tyrie Cleveland - WR - 4th year (Practice Squad)
 
86 - Freddie Swain - WR - 3rd year (Inactive)
 
Detroit Lions (Detroit 41 - Chicago 10)
 
34 - Alex Anzalone - LB - 6th year (Started at linebacker, recorded seven tackles)
 
40 - Jarrad Davis - LB - 6th year (Practice Squad)
 
Green Bay Packers (Green Bay 41 - Minnesota 17)
 
93 - T.J. Slaton - DL - 2nd year (Started at defensive tackle, recorded four tackles, one tackle for loss and two passes defended)
 
Houston Texans (Houston 3 - Jacksonville 31)
 
31 - Dameon Pierce - RB - Rookie (Injured Reserve)
 
52 - Jonathan Greenard - DE - 3rd year (Recorded one tackle)
 
Jacksonville Jaguars (Jacksonville 31 - Houston 3)
 
75 - Jawaan Taylor - OT - 5th year (Started at right tackle)
 
Kansas City Chiefs (Kansas City 27 - Denver 24)
 
8 - Carlos Dunlap - DE - 13th year (Recorded one tackle, one tackle for loss, one QB hit, and one pass defended)
 
19 - Kadarius Toney - WR - 2nd year (Caught four passes for 71 yards and returned two punts for 14 yards)
 
5 - Tommy Townsend - P - 3rd year (Punted five times for a 52.6-yard average, pinning Denver inside the 20 once)
 
Los Angeles Rams (LA Rams 10 - LA Chargers 31)
 
19 - Brandon Powell - WR - 5th year (Started at wide receiver, caught one passes for three yards and carried once for six yards)
 
12 - Van Jefferson - WR - 3rd year (Started at wide receiver, caught three passes for 77 yards)
 
Miami Dolphins (Miami 21 - New England 23)
 
22 - La'Mical Perine - RB - 3rd year (Practice Squad)
 
Minnesota Vikings (Minnesota 17 - Green Bay 41)
 
93 - Jonathan Bullard - DL - 7th year (Injured Reserve)
 
New England Patriots (New England 23 - Miami 21)
 
77 - Trent Brown - OT - 8th year (Started at left tackle)
 
New Orleans Saints (New Orleans 20 - Philadelphia 10)
 
6 - Marcus Maye - S - 6th year (Inactive)
 
69 – Jabari Zuniga – DE – 2nd year (Practice Squad)
 
New York Jets (NY Jets 6 - Seattle 23)
 
36 - Marcell Harris - LB - 5th year (Practice Squad/Injured)
 
Philadelphia Eagles (Philadelphia 10 - New Orleans)
 
23 - C.J. Gardner-Johnson - S - 3rd year (Injured Reserve)
 
Fred Johnson – OT – 4th year (Practice Squad)
 
Pittsburgh Steelers (Pittsburgh 16 - Baltimore 13)
 
33 - Duke Dawson - DB - 4th year (Practice Squad)
 
Seattle Seahawks (Seattle 23 - NY Jets 6)
 
78 - Stone Forsythe - OL - 2nd year (Started at right tackle)
 
39 - Teez Tabor - DB - 4th year (Recorded two tackles)
 
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (Tampa Bay 30 - Carolina 24)
 
22 - Keanu Neal - S - 7th year (Recorded one tackle)
 
2 - Kyle Trask - QB - 2nd year (Inactive)
 
Washington Commanders (Washington 20 - San Francisco 37)
 
59 - Jon Bostic - LB - 10th year (Injured Reserve)
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