The NFL is hard. Week in and week out numerous stars are injured by big, fast hulks of men. Last week, quarterbacks Drew Brees and Ben Roethlisberger were injured for the season or at least quite a few weeks. This week, number one fantasy pick Saquon Barkley sprained an ankle and will be gone for a few weeks.
That is why the first week that T.J. Hockenson had was so rare. He basically came in to the men’s league at the YMCA as a 14 year old and dominated. Ultimately the men decided that the kid wasn’t going to run the league and played him a little tougher. Since week one, Hockenson has had a total of two catches.
In other news around the NFL:
- The Eagles dropped a close one against the Lions but what made it memorable was this response from a real hero on WR Nelson Agholor’s dropped passes. The gentlemen speaking came across a fire in Philadelphia and after not being able to get in to help the family, helped catch children thrown from a third story window. Enjoy the interview.
"We was catching 'em ... unlike [Nelson] Agholor."
— ESPN (@espn) September 23, 2019
After catching children thrown from a window during a fire, a Philly man was feeling extra petty
(via @SteveLindsayCBS)pic.twitter.com/b5qlaVlQz6
- Giants QB Daniel Jones took over for Eli Manning and led the Giants to a victory over the Eagles. The Giants and Jones were mocked in April when Jones was chosen sixth overall. Jones had the first laugh, we’ll see if he has the last laugh as well.
- With Cam Newton out, the Panthers got their first victory with a 38-20 victory over Arizona. Newton has already been ruled out for week four.
But most of you are here to see how the former boys of black and gold are doing in the NFL.
Star of the Week
TE George Kittle (San Francisco 49ers, 3rd season): Kittle was targeted eight times in the San Francisco victory over Pittsburgh making six catches for 57 yards. Kittle has had at least 50 yards receiving each game this season.
Iowa TEs are built different. George Kittle serving pancakes from the field to the bench. pic.twitter.com/SLItpCMDS7
— Jordan Reid (@JReidNFL) September 22, 2019
While Kittle didn’t have incredible stats, he earned player of the week honors because he seems pretty pumped for the WWE coming to Fox on Friday’s starting in October.
IF YA SMELLLL what the NINERS are cookin’.. a long hard road ahead, but 3-0 is a helluva start. Keep havin’ fun boys. #eastbay #peopleschamp #peoplestightend @gkittle46 @49ers https://t.co/sSYqAwsdXw
— Dwayne Johnson (@TheRock) September 23, 2019
The Rest of the Hawkeyes
QB C.J. Beathard (San Francisco 49ers, 3rd season in the NFL): Beathard didn’t dress for the 49ers who defeated Pittsburgh 24-20 to improve to 3-0 on the season.
OL Austin Blythe (Los Angeles Rams, 4th season): Blythe was inactive against the Browns on Sunday night due to injury. The Rams improved to 3-0 with a convincing 20-13 victory over Cleveland.
OL Ike Boettger (Buffalo Bills, 2nd season): Boettger was inactive for Buffalo this week. The Bills defeated the Cincinnati Bengals 21-17 to improve to 3-0 on the season.
OL Bryan Bulaga (Green Bay Packers, 10th season): Bulaga helped anchor the Packers offensive line in a 27-16 victory over the Denver Broncos to move to 3-0 on the season.
DE Adrian Clayborn (Atlanta Falcons, 9th season): Clayborn had one tackle in the Falcons 27-24 loss to the Colts.
DT Mike Daniels (Detroit Lions, 8th season): Daniels had one tackle in a 27-24 upset victory over the Philadelphia Eagles on the road. Unfortunately, Daniels was injured early in the game and wasn’t able to return. It was noted that he was spotted in a boot following the game.
C James Daniels (Chicago Bears, 2nd season): Daniels and the Bears improved to 2-1 with a 31-15 victory over the Washington Redskins on Monday night.
TE Noah Fant (Denver Broncos, 1st season): Fant had three catches for 37 yards in a 27-16 loss to the Green Bay Packers. The Broncos fall to 0-3 on the season. Fant also fumbled a ball that led to a Packer score in the third quarter.
C James Ferentz (New England Patriots, 4th season): Ferentz didn’t play in the Patriots 30-14 victory over the New York Jets.
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 eight tackles as Kansas City defeated Baltimore 33-28 to remain undefeated.
TE T.J. Hockenson (Detroit Lions, 1st season): Hockenson, for the second week in a row, caught only one pass (on four targets), this time for just one yard in the Lions win. He did have a near touchdown taken away as the officials ruled that he didn’t control the ball through the play. Hockenson was flagged for one penalty, a false start.
S Amani Hooker (Tennessee Titans, 1st season): Hooker didn’t record any stats in their 20-7 loss to Jacksonville.
S Micah Hyde (Buffalo Bills, 7th season): Hyde had five tackles, including a tackle for loss, and he forced a fumble in the Bills victory over the Bengals.
CB Josh Jackson (Green Bay Packers, 2nd season): Jackson had one tackle in the Packers victory over the Broncos.
#Hawkeyes https://t.co/wDKb3za1ax
— Kelvin Bell (@CoachK_Bell) September 23, 2019
LB Josey Jewell (Denver Broncos, 2nd season): Jewell led the Broncos with six tackles in the loss to the Packers.
DT Jaleel Johnson (Minnesota Vikings, 3rd season): Johnson didn’t have any tackles in the 34-14 victory over Oakland.
CB Desmond King (Los Angeles Chargers, 3rd season): King was all over the field in a 27-20 loss to the Houston Texans. King had four tackles and recovered a fumble after blowing up a screen play. He also had one kick return for 23 yards.
LB Christian Kirksey (Cleveland Browns, 6th season): Kirksey was placed on the IR list this week with an undisclosed chest injury. NFL reporter Ian Rapoport has reported that it is actually a torn biceps injury. Former ISU linebacker Willie Harvey Jr. was promoted to the roster in Kirksey’s place.
LS Casey Kreiter (Denver Broncos, 4th season): Kreiter was business as usual in the loss to the Packers. The Broncos did miss an extra point but it wasn’t due to the snap.
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 32-31 loss to the New York Giants
LB Ben Niemann (Kansas City Chiefs, 2nd season): Niemann had two tackles in the victory over Baltimore.
OL Riley Reiff (Minnesota Vikings, 8th season): Reiff and the Vikings improved to 2-1 after defeating Oakland.
OL Ross Reynolds (San Francisco 49ers, 1st season): Reynolds is on the San Francisco practice squad.
OL Brandon Scherff (Washington Redskins, 5th season): Scherff started his 57th straight game for the Redskins on Monday night. Unfortunately the Redskins fell to 0-3 as they lost to the Bears. The Redskins are trying to extend Schreff’s contract as they have offered him $13M per year.
OL Marshal Yanda (Baltimore Ravens, 13th season): Yanda and the Ravens fell to 2-1 as they lost in an early potential postseason match-up against Kansas City.