Minnesota Football: Gophers in the NFL Week 3

Three weeks into the NFL season and we will hopefully soon see the return of our first Gopher from IR, and we have a reemergence on one from being released back into the league. Add in a linebacker making some serious plays, all be it for Green Bay and it’s a good early start for the Minnesota Gophers in the NFL. Here is a recap of how they faired last week and a preview of this week’s games.

Maxx Williams— Tight End— Arizona Cardinals

Week 3 @Jacksonville Jaguars

Week 4 @ Los Angeles Rams

Maxx had a much slower game coming off of his offensive explosion against the Vikings in week 2. He played 76% of the offensive snaps, and was targeted three times in 51 offensive snaps. He caught all three balls Kyler Murray sent his way for a total of 19 yards and helped Arizona move to 3-0 on the season.

Chris Streveler—Quarterback—Arizona Cardinals

Week 3 vs Jacksonville Jaguars

Week 4 @ Los Angeles Rams

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

Eric Murray-Safety Houston Texans

Week 3 vs Carolina Panthers (TNF)

Week 4 @ Buffalo Bills

Murray 100% of the defensive snaps in the loss to Carolina on Thursday night football. In 73 defensive plays he recorded one solo and three assisted tackles.

Damien Wilson—Linebacker—Jacksonville Jaguars

Week 3 @ Arizona Cardinals

Week 4 @ Cincinnati Bengals (TNF)

Damien Wilson played in 85% of the defensive snaps in the loss to Arizona. On 57 defensive plays Wilson made six solo and three assisted tackles including the one on his former teammate Maxx Williams in the cover photo of this post.

De’Vondre Campbell—Linebacker—Green Bay Packers

Week 3 @ San Francisco 49ers (SNF)

Week 4 vs Pittsburgh Steelers

Campbell had another huge game for the Packers on Sunday night football. He played all 70 defensive snaps, recorded six solo and six assisted tackles and recovered a fumble to help Green Bay come from behind and edge the 49ers at the buzzer. His 30 tackles on the season rank him 6th in the NFL through three weeks.

Blake Cashman—Linebacker—New York Jets

Week 3 @ Denver Broncos

Week 4 vs Tennessee Titans

Cashman will spend his mandated third week on IR this week against Tennesee, but could be back in Week 5 if healthy enough.

Antoine Winfield Jr. —Safety—Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Week 3 @ Los Angeles Rams

Week 4 @ New England Patriots (SNF)

Winfield played all 65 defensive snaps in Tampa’s first loss of the season to the Rams. He recorded five solo tackles and added one assisted one in the loss. This week he heads to New England for the Brady Bowl.

Tyler Johnson-WR-Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Week 3 @ Los Angeles Rams

Week 4 @ New England Patriots (SNF)

Just like last season Tyler Johnson appears to be taking advantage of injuries to his teammates to finally see some playing time and make an impact for Tampa. With Antonio Brown allready out for the game, Scotty Miller got hurt and will go on IR this week. In steps Tyler who saw a season high 34 offensive snaps, and also saw a season high 6 targets. He would catch three of those targets for a total of 63 yards including a 23 yarder and a 31 yarder on the same drive that resulted in a TB field goal. Expect Johnson’s snap count to only go higher this week and hopefully he can find the end zone.

Carter Coughlin-LB-New York Giants

Week 3 vs Atlanta Falcons

Week 4 @ New Orleans Saints

Coughlin played a season high five defensive snaps in the loss to the Falcons and recorded his first two tackles on the season.

Benjamin St. Juste—CB—Washington Football Team

Week 3 @ Buffalo Bills

Week 4 @ Atlanta Falcons

Benjamin St. Juste played a career high 77% of the defensive snaps for WFT in their loss to Buffalo last week. In his 61 snaps he recorded five solo tackles, two assisted tackles and a pass defense.

Rashod Bateman—WR—Baltimore Ravens

Week 4 @ Denver Broncos

Bateman is back to practice this week and is eligible to come off of Injured reserve and make his NFL debut. Whether he is ready by Sunday is up in the air, but if he does not come back this week, he should be ready to play by Week 5.

Ryan Santoso —Kicker —Detroit Lions

Week 3 vs Baltomore Ravens

Week 4 @ Chicago Bears

Welcome back Ryan Santoto. After kicking in Week 1 for Carolina he was signed to the Titans practice squad but released on the Sunday of Week 2. Santoso was picked up by the Lions and put on their practice squad, and was elevated to the active roster after Detroit’s other kicker Austin Siebert was placed on the COVID reserve list. Santoso did all he could to try and keep his roster spot going 2-2 on extra points and making a 35 yard field goal to give the Lions the lead with just over a minute to play. They would lose on Baltimore kicker’s Justin Tucker’s NFL record 66 yard field goal at the horn.

Santoso is still on Detroit’s practice squad and it will be interesting to see if Siebert is back for Sunday’s game against the Bears or if Santoso can get one more shot to try and win the job outright.