Minnesota Football: Gophers in the NFL-Week 5

Week 5 for the former Gophers in the NFL was not a great one. The injury bug hit once again with a few players missing the game, and one player suffering a season ending injury. Add in a few returners from injury seeing limited time, and it wasn’t the best week ever. Below is an update on how the ex- Minnesota Gophers in the NFL did this past week and a preview of this week’s games.

Maxx Williams— Tight End— Arizona Cardinal

Week 5 vs San Francisco 49ers

Maxx was having a breakout season for the Cardinals this season. The best of his career. And then the damn injury bug struck again. Williams caught a pass from Kyler Murray and turned upfield and a 49er defender dove in and hit Maxx’s knee with his helmet which ended up moving Maxx’s knee in a way that no knee should ever move. It looked bad, and was confirmed to be just as bad earlier this week and while the Cardinals have not officially confirmed the severity of the injury, it is believed to be season ending and quite serious. What a brutal end to what appeared to be a great season for Williams.

Chris Streveler—Quarterback—Arizona Cardinals

Week 5 vs San Francisco 49ers

Week 6 @ Cleveland Browns

Streveler was inactive as the third QB for Arizona last weekend and did not dress for the game.

Eric Murray-Safety Houston Texans

Week 5 vs New England Patriots

Week 6 @ Indianapolis Colts

Murray once again did not play a single defensive snap in the loss to the Patriots. He played 16 special teams snaps and recorded one solo tackle.

Damien Wilson—Linebacker—Jacksonville Jaguars

Week 5 vs Tennessee Titans

Week 6 vs Miami Dolphins

Damien Wilson played 86% of the defensive snaps for the Jags and eight special teams snaps in their loss to Tennessee. Wilson recorded four solo and one assisted tackle in 55 plays.

De’Vondre Campbell—Linebacker—Green Bay Packers

Week 5 @ Cincinnati Bengals

Week 6 @ Chicago Bears

Campbell had another great game for the Packers on Sunday earning the praise of Aaron Rodgers in his postgame press conference. Campbell played 89% of the defensive snaps and in those 59 plays he recorded five solo tackles, three assisted tackle, one tackle for loss, one pass defense, and an interception early in overtime for 13 yards.

Blake Cashman—Linebacker—New York Jets

Week 5 vs Atlanta Falcons (in London)

Week 6 BYE

Cashman was activated off of injured reserve in time for the Jets trip across the pond to play the Falcons. He played in 15 special teams snaps but did not record a stat.

Antoine Winfield Jr. —Safety—Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Week 5 vs Miami Dolphins

Week 6 @ Philadelphia Eagles (TNF)

Winfield did not play in the Bucs win over Miami due to still being in the concussion protocol. Winfield was a limited participant on practice on both Monday and Tuesday and as of Wednesday morning is questionable to play against the Eagles.

Tyler Johnson-WR-Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Week 5 vs Miami Dolphins

Week 6 vs Philadelphia Eagles (TNF)

Johnson played 38 offensive snaps against the Dolphins and another 8 special teams snaps. He was targeted three times and caught all three passes for 42 yards.

Carter Coughlin-LB-New York Giants

Week 5 @ Dallas Cowboys

Week 6 vs Los Angeles Rams

Coughlin got back into the defensive lineup this week playing 11 snaps on defense and 25 special teams snaps in the loss to the Cowboys. He recorded his first solo tackle on the season in the game.

Benjamin St. Juste—CB—Washington Football Team

Week 5 vs New Orleans Saints

Week 6 vs Kansas City Chiefs

Benjamin St. Juste returned to the lineup after missing the Week 5 game in the concussion protocol. He was limited in his playing time on the field for just 12 defensive snaps and 16 special teams snaps, recording one pass defense.

Rashod Bateman—WR—Baltimore Ravens

Week 5 vs Indianapolis Colts (MNF)

Week 6 vs Los Angeles Chargers

The hope was that Bateman would make his season debut on Monday night football, but the Ravens decided to hold him out and give him one more week to get ready rather than playing in a limited role on Monday night. Thus Bateman will make his NFL debut Sunday against the Chargers.

Ryan Santoso —Kicker —Detroit Lions

Week 5 @ Minnesota Vikings

Week 6 vs Cincinnati Bengals

Santoso did not play in Week 5 against the Vikings as Detroit’s normal kicker Austin Siebert was back from the COVID list and played. Santos remains on the Lions practice squad and was protected by Detroit once again for Week 6 not allowing another team to sign him off of their roster indicating that Santoso may still have a chance to win the full-time kicking job for the Lions at some point this season.

Rodney Smith—RB—Free Agent

Week 5 vs Philadelphia Eagles

Week 6 —TBD

A reminder that the NFL is a brutal business. Rodney Smith was elevated for the second week in a row for Carolina after the injury to Christian McCaffrey. He played just 11 snaps this week and did not record a snap.

The problem is that he was elevated for the second of his two allowable weeks, so the Panthers had a choice with Smith this week. Either he had to be added to the active 53-man roster, or he would need to be released. The Panthers chose the latter option. During his presser on Monday, head coach Matt Rhule simply said the team “just decided to move on” from Smith.

So Rodney Smith is a free agent and will look to hopefully sign onto another team’s practice squad soon.

Kamal Martin—LB—Carolina Panthers

Week 5 vs Philadelphia Eagles

Week 6 vs Minnesota Vikings

Kamal made his 2021 debut after being signed to the Panthers active 53 man roster last week. He played 17 snaps on special teams and did not record a stat.

Chris Williamson—CB—Atlanta Falcons

Week 5 vs New York Jets (London)

Week 6 Bye

The Falcons are dealing with some injuries in their secondary, so Chris Williamson was promoted from the Falcons practice squad to the active roster in time for the game against the Jets in London on Sunday. Making his NFL game debut, Williamson played well in 13 defensive snaps. He recorded two solo tackles and allowed just one pass completion on him. Williamson will return to the practice squad and will be eligible to be elevated one more time this season before Atlanta has to make the same decision on him that Carolina did with Rodney Smith. Atlanta is on bye this week so it will mean at least one more week of a NFL paycheck for Wiliamson.