Iowa Football: Hawkeyes in the NFL, Week 12 Results

All my focus is on the efforts of the 0-11 Cincinnati Bengals as they attempt to avoid the dreaded winless season. The Bengals still host the Jets, travel to Miami, and play Cleveland twice so I’m optimistic that they’ll get that win. If not, Buckeye Chase Young isn’t a bad consolation gift.

Elsewhere:

• Rookie quarterback Dwayne Haskins of the Redskins missed the last play of the game (kneel down) in his first victory as a starter because he was, (checking my notes), taking a selfie with a fan. Wonder what Coach Belichick would do in this situation?
• Cowboys owner Jerry Jones is finally starting to realize what everyone else has known for a number of years, mainly that Jason Garrett is not who the Cowboys need for a coach with the roster construction that they currently own. Jones finally put Garrett on the hot seat and if the Cowboys should lose at home on Thanksgiving, expect an interim coach for December.

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 33 players on rosters and practice squads, down one from last week (Carl Davis signed with Jacksonville yesterday and will be added next week).

Player of the Week

TE George Kittle (San Francisco 49ers, 3rd season): Kittle was a late add to the active roster and it payed off for the 49ers. Kittle has a popped capsule in his knee but played through the pain (after playing with a broken bone in his ankle earlier in the season). San Francisco defeated Green Bay 37-8 and Kittle led the way with six receptions for 129 yards which included a 61 yard touchdown strike in the third quarter. POTW honors = 3.

On the season, Kittle has 670 yards receiving and three touchdowns even though he’s missed two games with injuries.

But nothing makes you love Kittle more than listening to him in the last thirty seconds of his interview below as he discusses Nebraska week.

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 destroyed Green Bay 37-8 to run their record to 10-1.

OL Austin Blythe (Los Angeles Rams, 4th season): Blythe and the Rams fell to 6-5 as they were embarrassed by Baltimore 45-6. The Rams try to save their season as they head to Arizona on Sunday.

OL Ike Boettger (Buffalo Bills, 2nd season): Boettger and the Bills improved to 8-3 as they defeated Denver 20-3. Boettger was inactive for the game.

OL Bryan Bulaga (Green Bay Packers, 10th season): Bulaga and the Packers lost to San Francisco 37-8 in a battle of two NFC heavyweights. Bulaga left the game early in the first half with a leg injury and did not return. It’s being reported that the injury isn’t significant.

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 had their modest winning streak snapped as they lost 35-22 to Tampa Bay to fall to 3-8 on the season. Clayborn was active even though he was dinged up. He didn’t record any stats in the game.

DT Mike Daniels (Detroit Lions, 8th season): Daniels was active but didn’t record any stats as the Lions lost 19-16 to the Redskins to fall to 3-7-1 on the season.

C James Daniels (Chicago Bears, 2nd season): Daniels and the Bears improved to 5-6 as they beat the Giants 19-14. Chicago will try to improve to .500 as they travel to Detroit on Thanksgiving.

OL Andrew Donnal (FA, 5th season): Donnal was cut by the Dolphins this week.

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 3-8 as they lost 20-3 to the Bills. Fant had three catches for 14 yards in the loss. Denver host the Chargers on Sunday. POTW =1.

C James Ferentz (New England Patriots, 4th season): Ferentz and the Patriots defeated Dallas 13-9 to improve to 10-1. The Patriots travel to play the Texans on Sunday night. Ferentz played one snap on special teams in the game. POTW = 1.

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

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

LB Anthony Hitchens (Kansas City Chiefs, 6th season): Hitchens and the 7-4 Chiefs had a bye this week. The Chiefs host the Raiders on Sunday.

TE T.J. Hockenson (Detroit Lions, 1st season): Hockenson didn’t have any catches in the loss to the Redskins. The Lions host the Bears on Thanksgiving. POTW honors = 1.

S Micah Hyde (Buffalo Bills, 7th season): Hyde and the Bills defeated Denver 20-3. Hyde had two tackles in the victory. Buffalo travels to play Dallas on Thanksgiving. POTW honors =1.

Photo by Bryan M. Bennett/Getty Images

S Amani Hooker (Tennessee Titans, 1st season): Hooker and the Titans improved to 6-5 as they defeated Jacksonville 42-20 on Sunday. Hooker was active but didn’t have any stats in the victory.

CB Josh Jackson (Green Bay Packers, 2nd season): Jackson and the Packers lost to the 49ers on Sunday Night Football. Jackson was active for the game but didn’t record any stats.

LB Josey Jewell (Denver Broncos, 2nd season): Jewell and the Broncos lost to Buffalo. Jewell is playing a lot less as of late and didn’t record any stats in the game. POTW honors = 1.

DT Jaleel Johnson (Minnesota Vikings, 3rd season): Johnson and the 8-3 Vikings had a bye this week and travel to Seattle on Monday night. POTW honors = 1.

CB Desmond King (Los Angeles Chargers, 3rd season): King and the 4-7 Chargers had a bye this week. They travel to Denver on Sunday. 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 Miami 41-24 to improve to 5-6.

LS Casey Kreiter (Denver Broncos, 4th season): Kreiter and the Broncos are a disappointing 3-8. Maybe they’ll snap out of it on Sunday.

DB Greg Mabin (Cincinnati Bengals, 3rd season): Mabin was active but didn’t record any stats in the Bengals 16-10 loss to the Steelers. The 0-11 Bengals host the Jets 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 defeated Atlanta 35-22 to improve to 4-7. Nelson was inactive for the game as he is dealing with a hamstring injury.

LB Ben Niemann (Kansas City Chiefs, 2nd season): Niemann and the Chiefs had a bye this week and host the Raiders on Sunday. POTW honors = 1.

OL Riley Reiff (Minnesota Vikings, 8th season): Reiff and the 8-3 Vikings had a bye this week and travel to Seattle on Monday night.

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 improved to 2-9 after defeating the Lions 19-16. They travel to Carolina on Sunday.

OL Marshal Yanda (Baltimore Ravens, 13th season): Yanda and the Ravens improved to 9-2 as they defeated the Rams 45-6 on Monday Night Football. Baltimore hosts San Francisco on Sunday in a potential Super Bowl matchup POTW =1.