With Week 1 of the NFL season officially over, here’s a recap of how former Florida players fared in their season debuts.
Gators shine in Washington: After missing 12 games in his first two seasons, Jordan Reed is looking to justify the Redskins’ selection of him in the third round of the 2013 NFL Draft. The former UF tight end provided some answers on Sunday, recording seven receptions for 63 yards, including a 4-yard touchdown catch over Miami safety Reshad Jones in the second quarter.
In his NFL debut, running back Matt Jones rushed for 28 yards on six attempts for Washington in relief of starter Alfred Morris. With a strong preseason and an error-free opener, Jones has likely solidified his role as Morris’s backup.
Receivers: Percy Harvin caught five passes for 79 yards for Buffalo, including a 51-yard diving touchdown grab from Tyrod Taylor in the Bills’ 27-14 win over the Colts.
Riley Cooper had a slightly more modest performance on Monday night for Philadelphia, recording three catches for 25 yards in the Eagles’ 26-24 loss at Atlanta.
Defense: Miami linebacker Jelani Jenkins led all former UF players with 11 tackles, followed by Cleveland cornerback Joe Haden’s six.
In limited action against Oakland, Cincinnati’s Carlos Dunlap recorded two tackles and one sack in the Bengals’ 33-13 victory over the Raiders. Reggie Nelson intercepted Raiders’ quarterback Matt McGloin in the third quarter.
Baltimore Ravens’ safety Will Hill got the starting nod and totaled five tackles, including two for a combined loss of five yards in the team’s 19-13 loss to the Denver Broncos.
Patriots’ defensive tackle Dominique Easley suffered a hip pointer in New England’s Thursday night win over Pittsburgh.
According to NFL Network reporter Ian Rapoport, Easley is only expected to miss a week or two.
The injury is Easley’s second in less than a year after the Patriots placed him on injured reserve last December due to a knee issue.
Inactives: Two former UF defensive players’ seasons ended before they began: Ravens’ safety Matt Elam and Jacksonville defensive end Dante Fowler Jr. Fowler, the Jaguars’ 2015 first round draft pick, tore his ACL while practicing with the team in May.
Elam tore his biceps in August, sidelining the safety for the remainder of the season.
Arizona Cardinals’ offensive lineman D.J. Humphries was inactive for the team’s season-opener against the New Orleans Saints.
Humphries, the 24th overall pick in the 2015 NFL Draft, struggled during training camp.
Chicago Bears’ linebacker Jon Bostic was also inactive for the opening week of play, as he was held out with an ankle injury during the Bears’ 31-23 loss to the Green Bay Packers.
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Buffalo Bills wide receiver Percy Harvin (18) celebrates his touchdown catch during the first half of an NFL football game against the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday, Sept. 13, 2015, in Orchard Park, N.Y.
