Minnesota Football: Gophers in the NFL—Week 1

After one week of the 2023 NFL season, it was the usual suspects balling out for the firmer Gophers. Antoine Winfields, Jr tormented the Vikings and helped Tampa to a week 1 win.

Rashod Bateman—WR Baltimore Ravens

Daniel Faalele—OL—Baltimore Ravens

Week 1 vs Houston Texans

Week 2 @ Cincinnati Bengals

Bateman played just 39% of the offensive snaps for the ravens on Sunday against the Texans. In his 25 snaps he was targeted three times by Lamar Jackson and caught all three balls for 35 yards, with a long of 18. It was the rookie Zay Flowers with nine catches taking away from Bate.

Faalele dressed, but did not see any game action.

Terrell Smith—CB—Chicago Bears

Week 1 vs Green Bay Packers

Week 2 @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Smith got in on three plays on special teams for the Bears but did not record a stat. He didn’t play at all on defense.

De’ Vondre Campbell—LB—Green Bay Packers

Week 1 @ Chicago Bears

Week 2 @ Atlanta Falcons

Campbell played 55 defensive snaps, which was 74% of the Packers defensive snaps and added two more on special teams. He recorded seven tackles, four of them solo in the rout of the Bears.

Blake Cashman—LB—Houston Texans

Eric Murray—S—Houston Texans

Week 1 @ Baltimore Ravens

Week 2 vs Indianapolis Colts

Cashman is hurt....again. He missed the week wit a hamstring injury and was inactive for the season opener.

On the other side, an injury to the Texans starting safety meant that Murray started and played all 64 defensive snaps and eight on special teams. He recorded four tackles, three of them solo in the loss to Baltimore.

Jordan Howden—S—New Orleans Saints

Week 1 vs Tennessee Titans

Week 2 @ Carolina Panthers (Monday Night)

Howden was the most active of the Gopher defensive rookies playing 12 defensive snaps and another 8 on special teams in the Saints win over the Titans. He did not record a stat however.

Carter Coughlin—LB New York Giants

John Michael Schmitz-C-New York Giants

Week 1 vs Dallas Cowboys (Sunday Night)

Week 2 @ Arizona Cardinals

Coughlin played 22 special teams snaps...most on Giants punts and Cowboys kickoffs in the rout loss to Dallas. He didn’t record a stat/

Schmitz played all 70 offensive snaps in his first career start...and it wasn’t great. He threw a bad snap late in the Giants first offensive drive that would end up resulting in a missed field goal, and the Giants never got that close to scoring again that game. He earned just a 42.8 grade by Pro Football Focus....lots of room for improvement.

Boye Mafe—DL—Seattle Seahawks

Week 1 vs Los Angeles Rams

Week 2 @ Detroit Lions

Mafe played 43 defensive snaps—53% of the Seahawks snaps on defense and added 8 special teams snaps in the Seahawks loss to the Rams. He recorded five tackles, four of them solo and one for a loss.

Ko Kieft—TE—Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Antoine Winfield, JR—S-Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Week 1 @ Minnesota Vikings

Week 2 vs Chicago Bears

Ko playd 32 snaps on offense—good enough for 47% of the offensive snaps and added another 20 on special teams. He was targeted three times but didn;t make a single catch. One of them would have been a sure touchdown but Baker Mayfield rifled it over his head while he was wide open.

Antoine Winfield Jr killed the Vikings on Sunday. Shocker. Playing 63 of a possible 64 defensive snaps he recorded eight tackles, four of them solo. He his Kirk Cousins twice, one of them where he earned a sack, a forced fumble and a recovered fumble all on the same play. Add in a pass defense and it was a really good day for the third year Gopher.

Jack Gibbens—LB—Tennessee Titans

Week 1 @ New Orleans Saints

Week 2 vs Los Angeles Chargers

Gibbens started at linebacker for the Titans and played 42 defensive snaps, or 65% of them for Tennessee. He also added 14 more on special teams. He was second on the team with eight tackles, six of them solo and one for a loss.

Benjamin St. Juste—CB—Washington Commanders

Week 1 vs Arizona Cardinals

Week 2 @ Denver Broncos

St. Juste got the start for Washington and played all 62 defensive snaps in their 20-16 win over Arizona. He recorded four tackles, three of them solo.