The list of undefeated teams has decreased to just three - the Patriots, Chiefs, and the 49ers. There are twice as many teams that don’t have a win yet and are in the hunt for a top player in the draft next season.
As a point of interest, the Walter Football 2020 mock draft has the following players ranked in the top six:
- Tua Tagovailoa, QB, Alabama
- Andrew Thomas, OT, Georgia
- Justin Herbert, QB, Oregon
- Jerry Jeudy, WR, Alabama
- Chase Young, DE, Ohio State
- Grant Delpit, S, LSU
Hawkeyes A.J. Epenesa is listed 13th and Tristan Wirfs at 60th. The Wirfs pick especially seems extremely pessimistic but we’ll have lots more on Iowa draft prospects after what is hopefully a memorable college season.
In other news around the NFL:
- Road teams won 11 of the 15 games this week. Among the home teams that lost were the Packers, Rams, and the Ravens.
- Vontaze Burfict was suspended for the rest of the season for ANOTHER intentional hit on a defenseless player. It’s time for teams to make a stand and not allow this “player” on a roster. There is no place for him in the league.
But most of you are here to see how the former boys of black and gold are doing in the NFL. This week there are 31 players, up two from last week.
Star of the Week
CB Desmond King (Los Angeles Chargers, 3rd season): King had 4 tackles, including 2.5 sacks and a forced fumble in the Chargers 30-10 victory over the Dolphins. In addition he had one punt return for 12 yards.
With 2.5 sacks against the Dolphins, Desmond King leads all DBs with sacks pic.twitter.com/Ny0UQOloMS
— ⚡️ChargersLegion⚡️ (@ChargersLegion) September 29, 2019
The Rest of the Hawkeyes
QB C.J. Beathard (San Francisco 49ers, 3rd season in the NFL): Beathard and the 49ers had a bye this week and are one of only three remaining undefeated teams.
OL Austin Blythe (Los Angeles Rams, 4th season): Blythe was back on the active roster after being out with an injury last week. However, the Rams lost badly at home to Tampa Bay 55-40 to lose their first game of the season.
OL Ike Boettger (Buffalo Bills, 2nd season): Boettger was included on the active roster for the first time for Buffalo this week. The Bills hung tough but ended up losing at home to the New England Patriots 16-10 to fall to 3-1 on the season.
OL Bryan Bulaga (Green Bay Packers, 10th season): Bulaga left the game against the Eagles with a shoulder injury late in the first half. The Packers ended up losing their first game of the season 34-27. Bulaga’s status for next week is up in the air.
DE Adrian Clayborn (Atlanta Falcons, 9th season): Clayborn had two tackles and a forced fumble in the Falcons 24-10 loss to the Titans.
DT Mike Daniels (Detroit Lions, 8th season): Daniels was on the inactive list in the Lions 34-30 loss to Kansas City. He was injured early in last weeks game but wasn’t placed on the IR.
C James Daniels (Chicago Bears, 2nd season): Daniels and the Bears improved to 3-1 with a 16-6 victory over the Vikings. The Bears are now tied with the Packers for first place in the division.
OL Andrew Donnal (Miami Dolphins, 5th season): Donnal was signed to the Dolphins roster last week after the team experienced some injuries on the offensive line. He didn’t play in a 30-10 loss to the Chargers. Nice to have Donnal back on a roster.
TE Noah Fant (Denver Broncos, 1st season): Fant had two catches for 31 yards and his first career NFL touchdown in a 26-24 loss to Jacksonville. It wasn’t enough as the Broncos fell to 0-4 on the season.
First career touchdown for the rook!#BeatTheJags | @nrfant pic.twitter.com/dLMuROpn9i
— Denver Broncos (@Broncos) September 29, 2019
C James Ferentz (New England Patriots, 4th season): Ferentz only got in three plays for the special teams in New England’s 16-10 victory over Buffalo. The Patriots improve to 4-0 on the season.
S Jake Gervase (Los Angeles Rams, 1st season): Gervase is on the Rams practice squad.
TE Parker Hesse (Tennessee Titans, 1st season): Hesse is on the Titans practice squad.
LB Anthony Hitchens (Kansas City Chiefs, 6th season): Hitchens had six tackles as Kansas City defeated Detroit 34-30 to remain undefeated.
TE T.J. Hockenson (Detroit Lions, 1st season): Hockenson had three catches for 27 yards and a touchdown in the loss to the Chiefs but the real story is the fall he took after attempting to hurdle a defensive player. Hockenson crashed to the ground hitting his head in the process and was down for quite some time before being carted off, he didn’t end up going to the hospital. Though diagnosed with a concussion, it appears as if Hockenson will avoid the IR.
Touchdown TJ Hockenson! #KirksDawgs pic.twitter.com/XUO4SNCI9Y
— Heavens! (@HeavensFX) September 29, 2019
Scary situation as Detroit #Lions rookie tight end T.J. Hockenson tried to hurdle a defender but ended up landing on his neck/shoulder. He immediately clutched his neck/right shoulder area and is in some pain. He was carted off the field and is being evaluated for a concussion. pic.twitter.com/K8M4wRv2pu
— Andersen Pickard (@andersenreports) September 29, 2019
S Amani Hooker (Tennessee Titans, 1st season): Hooker had four tackles in the Titan’s 24-10 victory over Atlanta.
S Micah Hyde (Buffalo Bills, 7th season): Hyde had three tackles and an interception in the Bills loss to the Patriots.
CB Josh Jackson (Green Bay Packers, 2nd season): Jackson had no stats in the loss to the Eagles. He played ten snaps on defense and 19 on special teams.
LB Josey Jewell (Denver Broncos, 2nd season): Jewell played sparingly in the loss to the Jaguars. He has a sore hamstring that is limiting his playing time.
DT Jaleel Johnson (Minnesota Vikings, 3rd season): Johnson had one tackle for loss in the Viking’s loss to the Bears.
LB Christian Kirksey (Cleveland Browns, 6th season): Kirksey was placed on the IR list last week with an undisclosed chest injury. NFL reporter Ian Rapoport has reported that it is actually a torn biceps injury. The Browns upset the Ravens 40-25 in his absence.
TE George Kittle (San Francisco 49ers, 3rd season): Kittle had the week off and was seen at Kinnick Stadium on Saturday to watch the Hawks. The 49ers host the Cleveland Browns next Monday night.
C.J. Beathard, @gkittle46 and @HawkeyeFootball.
— Iowa On BTN (@IowaOnBTN) September 28, 2019
Name a better trio.
You can't.
CC: @49ers pic.twitter.com/59OuNVLMa5
LS Casey Kreiter (Denver Broncos, 4th season): Kreiter and the Broncos fell to 0-4 on the season as they lost at home to Jacksonville.
DB Greg Mabin (Cincinnati Bengals, 3rd season): Mabin was signed to the Cincinnati active roster last week after being let go by the 49ers in the preseason. The Bengals lost to the Steelers 27-3 to fall to 0-4 on the season.
OL Matt Nelson (Detroit Lions, 1st season): Nelson is on the Lion’s practice squad.
LB Anthony Nelson (Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 1st season): Nelson had one assisted tackle in their 55-40 victory over the Rams. The Bucs are now 2-2 on the season.
LB Ben Niemann (Kansas City Chiefs, 2nd season): Niemann didn’t record any stats in the victory over Detroit. He did play on 13 plays on defense and 26 plays for special teams. Of the 13 plays on defense, 12 were on passing plays so it appears as if Niemann is finding time due to his ability to cover the short and underneath routes. For those with a subscription, there was a nice article in The Athletic about him last week.
OL Riley Reiff (Minnesota Vikings, 8th season): Reiff and the Vikings fell to 2-2 after losing to the Bears.
OL Ross Reynolds (San Francisco 49ers, 1st season): Reynolds is on the San Francisco practice squad.
OL Brandon Scherff (Washington Redskins, 5th season): Scherff and the Redskins fell to 0-4 as they lost to Daniel Jones and the Saquon Barkley-less Giants 24-3. Schreff may want to really consider the Redskins contract offer as they don’t look to be good anytime in the near future.
OL Marshal Yanda (Baltimore Ravens, 13th season): Yanda and the Ravens fell to 2-2 as they lost at home to the Browns 40-25.