With Week 9 of the NFL season in the books, here are a few former Gators who made the most tangible impact for their respective teams.
While Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Nick Foles enjoyed a historic game at Oakland on Sunday, one of his receivers, Riley Cooper, was also impressive.
Cooper caught three of Foles’ seven touchdown passes as the Eagles cruised past the Oakland Raiders 49-20.
The former Gators receiver was targeted six times and caught five balls from Foles for 139 yards.
During a three-minute span in the second quarter, Cooper scored twice.
On third and 5 at the Raiders’ 17-yard line, Foles dropped back from the line of scrimmage and threw to Cooper in the left corner of the end zone as his receiver beat Oakland rookie cornerback D.J. Hayden — a 2013 first-round pick — in coverage.
Cooper’s second touchdown catch — his most dynamic of the afternoon — came with 11:17 remaining in the second quarter. On the play, Foles faked a handoff to LeSean McCoy, scanned the field and then threw a deep pass to Cooper.
Foles connected down the field with the fourth-year receiver as Hayden tripped before the catch and was burned in single coverage.
The play put the Eagles ahead 21-3 prior to halftime.
Cooper tacked on his final touchdown catch of the afternoon — a 5-yard reception — with 4:28 remaining in the third quarter.
The touchdown pass was Foles’ seventh of the day, which made him only the seventh quarterback in NFL history to throw for seven scores in one game.
Cooper, who came under fire during the summer after video of him using a racial slur surfaced, has since become one of the Eagles’ most reliable receivers.
He has now recorded at least 88 receiving yards in three of his past four games and has five touchdowns on the season.
Notes: During his team’s 30-24 overtime victory against the San Diego Chargers on Sunday, Washington Redskins tight end Jordan Reed caught four passes for 37 yards.
His most important catch went for 12 yards on third and 8 for a first down during Washington’s game-winning touchdown drive in overtime.
Miami Dolphins kicker Caleb Sturgis shanked his first kick from 34 yards out wide left Thursday night during his team’s 22-20 overtime win against the Cincinnati Bengals.
But the rookie rebounded for the Dolphins, making his final two field goals — including a 44-yarder that tied the game at 20 and sent it into overtime.
Cleveland Browns cornerback Joe Haden recorded six tackles and two pass deflections during his team’s 24-18 win against the Baltimore Ravens.
Following two straight games with 80 receiving yards, New York Jets wide receiver David Nelson caught just one pass for 19 yards during a 26-20 victory against the New Orleans Saints on Sunday.
Follow Landon Watnick on Twitter @LandonWatnick.
Riley Cooper celebrates after catching a 63-yard touchdown pass during the Philadelphia Eagles’ 49-20 victory against the Oakland Raiders on Nov. 3.
