C.J. Gardner-Johnson returning his first of two interceptions of the day including a pick-6.
Gators in the NFL: Week 17
Monday, December 30, 2024 | Football
Former Gators finished out 2024 with stellar performances
GAINESVILLE, Fla. - Former Gators finished the calendar year strong, setting career and seasons highs while helping their teams secure postseason berths.
Each week of the season, FloridaGators.com will cover all of the best moments from the NFL stars who made a name for themselves in Gainesville. Here is how the Orange and Blue fared in Week 17 of NFL play:
C.J. Gardner-Johnson legacy game. Gardner-Johnson got the game started with a pick-6 on the opening drive, scampering 69 yards down the sideline for his first career touchdown. The 5-year vet then nabbed his second Int of the game in the second quarter, taking full advantage of an overthrow. Gardner-Johnson is now one pick away from leading the NFL for the second time in his career.
The Texans couldn't get much going Christmas day but former Gator specialists did their best to give Texan fans something to smile about. After Houston's third drive of the game stalled out at their own 32 yard line Townsend booted his longest punt of the season, 69 yards, to pin the Ravens on their own four yard line. Houston took full advantage of Townsend's efforts, recording a safety on the next play.
Former Gator Dameon Pierce then took the safety punt back 44 yards to set the Texans uo with good field position.
Atlanta Falcons (ATL 24-30 WAS)
8 - Kyle Pitts - TE - 4th year (4 Catches, 44 Yards, 1 Touchdown)
Buffalo Bills (BUF 40-14 NYJ)
24 - Kaiir Elam - CB - 3rd year
64 - O'Cyrus Torrence - OL - 2nd year
75 - Richard Gouraige* - OL - 2nd year (Practice squad)
Carolina Panthers (CAR 14-48 TB)
4 - Eddy Pineiro Jr. - K - 7th year (0/1 FG, 2/2 XP)
Chicago Bears (CHI 3-6 SEA)
99 - Gervon Dexter Sr. - DL - 2nd year (2 Tackles)
Cincinnati Bengals (CIN 30-24 DEN)
2 - Evan McPherson - K - 4th year (Injured /Reserve)
42 - Marco Wilson - CB - 4th year
77 - Trent Brown - OL - 10th year (Injured /Reserve)
Cleveland Browns (CLE 3-20 MIA)
Trey Dean* - DB - 2nd year (Practice Squad)
Dallas Cowboys (DAL 7-41 PHI)
34 - Malik Davis* - RB - 3rd year (Practice Squad)
Detroit Lions (Monday Night Football vs 49ers)
34 - Alex Anzalone - LB - 8th year (Injured /Reserve)
65 - Kingsley Eguakun* - OL - Rookie (Practice Squad)
Green Bay Packers (GB 25-27 MIN)
57 - Brenton Cox Jr. - DL - 2nd year (1 QB Hit)
93 - T.J. Slaton - DL - 4th year (2 Tackles, 2 Solo)
Houston Texans (HOU 2-31 BAL)
6 - Tommy Townsend - P - 5th year (6 Punts, 289 Yards, 3 Inside the 20, Long of 69)
31 - Dameon Pierce - RB - 4th year (5 Carries, 13 Yards, 1 Kick off return for 45 Yards)
Indianapolis Colts (IND 33-45 NYG)
5 - Anthony Richardson - QB - 2nd Year
96 - Taven Bryan - DL - 7th year (1 Tackle)
Jacksonville Jaguars (JAX 20-13 TEN)
51 - Ventrell Miller - LB - 2nd year
Kansas City Chiefs (KC 29-10 PIT)
70 - DJ Humphries - OL - 10th year
74 - Jawaan Taylor - OL - 6th year
Las Vegas Raiders (LV 25-10 NO)
56 - Amari Burney - LB - 2nd year
18 - Justin Shorter - TE - 2nd year
93 - Zachary Carter - DL - 3rd year
Los Angeles Chargers (LAC 40-7 NE)
24 - Marcus Maye - S - 8 years
Los Angeles Rams (LAR 13-9 ARI)
15 - Demarcus Robinson - WR - 9th year
Minnesota Vikings (MIN 27-25 GB)
4 - Brandon Powell - WR - 7th year (1 Punt Return, 1 Fumble Recovery)
58 - Jonathan Greenard - OLB - 5th year (2 Tackles, 1 Solo, 1 PD)
90 - Jonathan Bullard - DL - 9th year (3 Tackles, 2 Solo)
Philadelphia Eagles (PHI 41-7 DAL)
8 - C.J. Gardner-Johnson - S - 5th year (1 Tackle, 1 Solo, 2 Ints, 1 Touchdown)
74 - Fred Johnson - OL - 6th year
Pittsburgh Steelers (PIT 10-29 KC)
11 - Van Jefferson - WR - 5th year
49 - Jeremiah Moon - LB - 2nd year (1 Tackle, 1 Solo)
33 - CJ Henderson - CB - 5th year (Injured /Reserve)
San Francisco 49ers (Monday Night Football vs Lions)
14 - Ricky Pearsall - WR - Rookie
Seattle Seahawks (SEA 6-3 CHI)
78 - Stone Forsythe - OL - 4th year
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (TB 48-14 CAR)
2 - Kyle Trask - QB - 4th year
Washington Commanders (WAS 30-24 ATL)
68 - Dante Fowler Jr. - DE - 10th year (2 Tackles, 1 Solo, 1 Sack, 1 TFL)
Follow Gators Football on Socials:
X: @GatorsFB
Instagram: @GatorsFB
Facebook: @GatorsFB
Join the Conversation: #GoGators
Each week of the season, FloridaGators.com will cover all of the best moments from the NFL stars who made a name for themselves in Gainesville. Here is how the Orange and Blue fared in Week 17 of NFL play:
Offensive Highlights
It was an all night revival in Atlanta last night when Kyle Pitts knocked off the rust by hauling in four catches for 44 yards and a touchdown. The fourth-year tight end has a career high in touchdowns this season with four.OMG KYLE PITTS TD!!!
— NFL (@NFL) December 30, 2024
📺: #ATLvsWAS on NBC/Peacock
📱: Stream on #NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/8sE8kkub9Y
Defensive Highlights
C.J. Gardner-Johnson legacy game. Gardner-Johnson got the game started with a pick-6 on the opening drive, scampering 69 yards down the sideline for his first career touchdown. The 5-year vet then nabbed his second Int of the game in the second quarter, taking full advantage of an overthrow. Gardner-Johnson is now one pick away from leading the NFL for the second time in his career. PICK 6️⃣ @CGJXXIII#GatorMade 🐊 pic.twitter.com/9LT11AIcix
— Florida Gators Football (@GatorsFB) December 29, 2024
Special Teams Highlights
The Texans couldn't get much going Christmas day but former Gator specialists did their best to give Texan fans something to smile about. After Houston's third drive of the game stalled out at their own 32 yard line Townsend booted his longest punt of the season, 69 yards, to pin the Ravens on their own four yard line. Houston took full advantage of Townsend's efforts, recording a safety on the next play. Former Gator Dameon Pierce then took the safety punt back 44 yards to set the Texans uo with good field position.
Special teams making it shake 🫨
— Houston Texans (@HoustonTexans) December 25, 2024
📺: @netflix pic.twitter.com/Wr4xTTCapT
Atlanta Falcons (ATL 24-30 WAS)
8 - Kyle Pitts - TE - 4th year (4 Catches, 44 Yards, 1 Touchdown)
Buffalo Bills (BUF 40-14 NYJ)
24 - Kaiir Elam - CB - 3rd year
64 - O'Cyrus Torrence - OL - 2nd year
75 - Richard Gouraige* - OL - 2nd year (Practice squad)
Carolina Panthers (CAR 14-48 TB)
4 - Eddy Pineiro Jr. - K - 7th year (0/1 FG, 2/2 XP)
Chicago Bears (CHI 3-6 SEA)
99 - Gervon Dexter Sr. - DL - 2nd year (2 Tackles)
Cincinnati Bengals (CIN 30-24 DEN)
2 - Evan McPherson - K - 4th year (Injured /Reserve)
42 - Marco Wilson - CB - 4th year
77 - Trent Brown - OL - 10th year (Injured /Reserve)
Cleveland Browns (CLE 3-20 MIA)
Trey Dean* - DB - 2nd year (Practice Squad)
Dallas Cowboys (DAL 7-41 PHI)
34 - Malik Davis* - RB - 3rd year (Practice Squad)
Detroit Lions (Monday Night Football vs 49ers)
34 - Alex Anzalone - LB - 8th year (Injured /Reserve)
65 - Kingsley Eguakun* - OL - Rookie (Practice Squad)
Green Bay Packers (GB 25-27 MIN)
57 - Brenton Cox Jr. - DL - 2nd year (1 QB Hit)
93 - T.J. Slaton - DL - 4th year (2 Tackles, 2 Solo)
Houston Texans (HOU 2-31 BAL)
6 - Tommy Townsend - P - 5th year (6 Punts, 289 Yards, 3 Inside the 20, Long of 69)
31 - Dameon Pierce - RB - 4th year (5 Carries, 13 Yards, 1 Kick off return for 45 Yards)
Indianapolis Colts (IND 33-45 NYG)
5 - Anthony Richardson - QB - 2nd Year
96 - Taven Bryan - DL - 7th year (1 Tackle)
Jacksonville Jaguars (JAX 20-13 TEN)
51 - Ventrell Miller - LB - 2nd year
Kansas City Chiefs (KC 29-10 PIT)
70 - DJ Humphries - OL - 10th year
74 - Jawaan Taylor - OL - 6th year
Las Vegas Raiders (LV 25-10 NO)
56 - Amari Burney - LB - 2nd year
18 - Justin Shorter - TE - 2nd year
93 - Zachary Carter - DL - 3rd year
Los Angeles Chargers (LAC 40-7 NE)
24 - Marcus Maye - S - 8 years
Los Angeles Rams (LAR 13-9 ARI)
15 - Demarcus Robinson - WR - 9th year
Minnesota Vikings (MIN 27-25 GB)
4 - Brandon Powell - WR - 7th year (1 Punt Return, 1 Fumble Recovery)
58 - Jonathan Greenard - OLB - 5th year (2 Tackles, 1 Solo, 1 PD)
90 - Jonathan Bullard - DL - 9th year (3 Tackles, 2 Solo)
Philadelphia Eagles (PHI 41-7 DAL)
8 - C.J. Gardner-Johnson - S - 5th year (1 Tackle, 1 Solo, 2 Ints, 1 Touchdown)
74 - Fred Johnson - OL - 6th year
Pittsburgh Steelers (PIT 10-29 KC)
11 - Van Jefferson - WR - 5th year
49 - Jeremiah Moon - LB - 2nd year (1 Tackle, 1 Solo)
33 - CJ Henderson - CB - 5th year (Injured /Reserve)
San Francisco 49ers (Monday Night Football vs Lions)
14 - Ricky Pearsall - WR - Rookie
Seattle Seahawks (SEA 6-3 CHI)
78 - Stone Forsythe - OL - 4th year
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (TB 48-14 CAR)
2 - Kyle Trask - QB - 4th year
Washington Commanders (WAS 30-24 ATL)
68 - Dante Fowler Jr. - DE - 10th year (2 Tackles, 1 Solo, 1 Sack, 1 TFL)
Follow Gators Football on Socials:
X: @GatorsFB
Instagram: @GatorsFB
Facebook: @GatorsFB
Join the Conversation: #GoGators
Players Mentioned
OL
/ Football
WR
/ FootballGator Insider presented by Talon Wealth 10-7-25
Tuesday, October 07
Inside Gators Football presented by UF Health 10-7-25
Tuesday, October 07
Play Breakdown presented by Tower Hill Insurance 10-7-25
Tuesday, October 07
Billy Napier Press Conference 10-6-25
Monday, October 06
