Iowa Football: Hawkeyes in the NFL, Week 11 Results

My new focus is the 0-10 Cincinnati Bengals, need to get them a win this season. The Bengals still host the Jets, travel to Miami, and play Cleveland twice so I’m optimistic that they’ll get that win.

Elsewhere:

• Colin Kaepernick had a “tryout” for any NFL team that was interested. Kapernick backed out of the NFL provided workout to do one of his own so that the media could be controlled. I saw the film and how people were saying his arm was strong. He was throwing it about 50 yards on a big arc to a receiver with no defense. I’m old and I can do that. He then continued to bait the NFL by telling scouts “when you go back, tell your owners not to be scared.” I doubt this workout and antics draw any interest from the teams.

Not sure who Erick Fernandez is but suffice it to say he hasn’t seen many other NFL quarterbacks throw a football.

• The NFL is revealing the 100 greatest players and 10 greatest coaches in NFL history this season. This week they released 24 running backs and will eventually whittle that list down to the top 12 of all-time. Check out the list and see who you would pick. I would personally go with Jim Brown, Earl Campbell, and Barry Sanders with much respect and regret to Walter Payton for not including him.

But most of you are here to see how the former boys of black and gold are doing in the NFL. This week there were 34 players on rosters and practice squads, same as last week (though Andrew Donnal was released on Monday).

Player of the Week

DT Jaleel Johnson (Minnesota Vikings, 3rd season): Johnson had six tackles including a sack and another tackle for loss in a 27-23 victory over Denver. While the Vikings didn’t have a strong first half, Johnson was a bright spot. The Vikings improve to 8-3 on the season and have a bye this week. POTW = 1.

The Rest of the Hawkeyes

QB C.J. Beathard (San Francisco 49ers, 3rd season in the NFL): Beathard was inactive again this week, as he has been every week this season. The 49ers came back to defeat Arizona 36-26 this week to run their record to 9-1.

OL Austin Blythe (Los Angeles Rams, 4th season): Blythe and the Rams improved to 6-4 as they defeated Chicago 17-7. The Rams host the Ravens next Monday night.

OL Ike Boettger (Buffalo Bills, 2nd season): Boettger and the Bills improved to 7-3 as they defeated Miami 37-20. Boettger was inactive for the game.

OL Bryan Bulaga (Green Bay Packers, 10th season): Bulaga and the 8-2 Packers were on their bye week. Green Bay travels to San Francisco on Sunday night in a battle against two NFC heavyweights.

RB James Butler (Oakland Raiders, 2nd season): Butler is on the Raiders practice squad.

DE Adrian Clayborn (Atlanta Falcons, 9th season): Clayborn and the Falcons took down Carolina 29-3 to improve to 3-7 on the season. Clayborn had three tackles including two sacks against the Panthers. He was a close runner-up for POTW. Go to the Falcoholic.com site and help vote him in as defensive player of the week.

DT Mike Daniels (Detroit Lions, 8th season): Daniels was active once again this week even after it appeared that he had reinjured his foot last week. Unfortunately the Lions lost to the Cowboys 35-27 to fall to 3-6-1 on the season. Daniels had one tackle .

C James Daniels (Chicago Bears, 2nd season): Daniels and the Bears fell to 4-6 as they lost to the Rams. Chicago is basically eliminated from the playoff picture and there should be major changes to the team next season.

OL Andrew Donnal (FA, 5th season): Donnal and the Dolphins had their two game winning streak snapped as they lost 37-20 to the Bills. Donnal was active for the third game in a row. Unfortunately, Donnal was released by the ‘fins on Monday.

WR Nick Easley (Buffalo Bills, 1st season): Easley is on the Buffalo practice squad.

TE Noah Fant (Denver Broncos, 1st season): Fant and the Broncos fell to 3-7 as they let a 20 point first half lead evaporate in a 27-23 loss to the Vikings. Fant had four catches for 60 yards and was targeted in the last two plays of the game as Denver tried to win the game. Denver travels to Buffalo on Sunday. POTW =1.

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C James Ferentz (New England Patriots, 4th season): Ferentz and the Patriots defeated Philadelphia 17-10 to improve to 9-1. The Patriots host Dallas on Sunday. Patriot guard Isaiah Wynn is expected to be activated from the IR this week putting Ferentz’s spot in jeopardy. POTW = 1.

S Jake Gervase (Los Angeles Rams, 1st season): Gervase was on the inactive list as the Rams defeated the Bears.

TE Parker Hesse (Tennessee Titans, 1st season): Hesse is on the Titans practice squad.

LB Anthony Hitchens (Kansas City Chiefs, 6th season): Hitchens had ten tackles (eight were assisted) in the Chiefs 24-17 victory over the Chargers in London. The Chiefs improve to 7-4 and have a bye this week as they travel back across the pond. Hitchens would have been a POTW winner if he would have mixed in a sack.

TE T.J. Hockenson (Detroit Lions, 1st season): Hockenson had one catch for six yards in the Lions loss to the Cowboys. The Lions travel to Washington this week. POTW honors = 1.

S Micah Hyde (Buffalo Bills, 7th season): Hyde and the Bills defeated Miami 37-20. Hyde had three tackles in the victory. POTW Honors =1.

Photo by Eric Espada/Getty Images

S Amani Hooker (Tennessee Titans, 1st season): Hooker and the 5-5 Titans had a bye this week. Tennessee hosts Jacksonville on Sunday.

CB Josh Jackson (Green Bay Packers, 2nd season): Jackson and the Packers had a bye this week.

LB Josey Jewell (Denver Broncos, 2nd season): Jewell and the Broncos lost to Minnesota. Jewell is playing a lot less as of late but did recover a fumble on special teams. POTW honors = 1.

CB Desmond King (Los Angeles Chargers, 3rd season): King didn’t have any tackles in the Chargers 24-17 loss to the Chiefs. King also struggled on punt return as he fumbled the ball twice. Charger quarterback Philip Rivers threw four interceptions, so this one was on the offense.POTW honors = 1.

LB Christian Kirksey (Cleveland Browns, 6th season): Kirksey was placed on the IR earlier this season and is most likely out for the rest of the season after undergoing surgery to repair a torn pectoral muscle. The Browns defeated Pittsburgh 21-7 to improve to 4-6.

TE George Kittle (San Francisco 49ers, 3rd season): Kittle was on the inactive list once again with a knee injury. San Francisco defeated Arizona to improve to 9-1 and host the Packers on Sunday night. POTW honors = 2.

LS Casey Kreiter (Denver Broncos, 4th season): Kreiter and the Broncos are 3-7 and travel to Buffalo on Sunday.

DB Greg Mabin (Cincinnati Bengals, 3rd season): Mabin was active but didn’t record any stats in the Bengals 17-10 loss to the Raiders. The 0-10 Bengals host Pittsburgh on Sunday as they still look for their first victory.

OL Matt Nelson (Detroit Lions, 1st season): Nelson is on the practice squad for Detroit.

LB Anthony Nelson (Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 1st season): Nelson and the Buccaneers lost to New Orleans 34-17 to fall to 3-7. Nelson was inactive for the game as he is dealing with a hamstring injury. Tampa travels to Atlanta on Sunday.

LB Ben Niemann (Kansas City Chiefs, 2nd season): Niemann had four tackles in the Chiefs victory over the Chargers in London. POTW honors = 1.

OL Riley Reiff (Minnesota Vikings, 8th season): Reiff and the Vikings improved to 8-3 after defeating the Broncos. Minnesota has a bye this week.

OL Keegan Render (Philadelphia Eagles, 1st season): Render is on the practice squad for Philadelphia.

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 1-9 after losing 34-17 to the Jets. They host the Lions next week as they look for their second win.

OL Marshal Yanda (Baltimore Ravens, 13th season): Yanda and the Ravens improved to 8-2 as they defeated the Texans 41-7. Baltimore travels to play the Rams on Monday night. POTW =1.

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