Not a bad start for several ex Gopher stars in Week 1
Week one has come and gone and it was a pretty good start for several of the Minnesota Golden Gophers in the league. Boye Mafe continues to grow into one of the best pass rushers in the league. Minnesota is Safety U with three starting NFL safeties and one who made his first interception of the year. Unfortunately the first injury of the year hit as well as Carter Coughlin probably saw his season end. But there were a lot more positives than negatives through the first week. Here is a recap of how the Gophers in the league did.
Baltimore Ravens
Week 1 @ Kansas City Chiefs—Thursday Night Football
Week 2 vs Las Vegas Raiders
Rashod Bateman-WR
Bateman started off the season playing 67 offensive snaps, which was 84% of the offensive snaps for Baltimore. That’s higher than most games a year ago for the former Gopher receiver. He was targeted five times and made two catches for 53 yards.
Daniel Faalele-OL
Faalele started at right guard and played all 80 offensive snap for the Ravens. It wasn’t great at he allowed a team-high six pressures on 52 pass blocking attempts, per Next Gen Stats. Room for improvement in Week 2.
Chicago Bears
Week 1 vs Tennessee Titans
Week 2 @ Houston Texans—Sunday Night
Terrell Smith-CB
Smith came off the bench and played one defensive snap and ten special teams snaps and did not record a snap in the Bears win.
Dallas Cowboys
Week 1 @ Cleveland Browns
Week 2 vs New Orleans Saints
Brevin Span-Ford-TE
One of the more unexpected Gopher stories continues. Span-Ford played 19 offensive snaps, or 30% of the Cowboys offensive snaps after an injury to their TE1. He also played four special teams snaps. He did not earn a stat. But he will likely be the TE2 when the Cowboys play the Saints Sunday.
Houston Texans
Week 1 @ Indianapolis Colts
Week 2 vs Chicago Bears -Sunday Night
Eric Murray-S
Murray played 25 snaps on defense and another 14 on special teas in the Texans season opening win. He didn’t record a stat.
Jacksonville Jaguars
Week 1 @ Miami Dolphins
Week 2 vs Cleveland Browns
Esezi Otomewo-DL
Otomewo was one of the Jags six inactives for the game against the Dolphins.
Los Angeles Rams
Week 1 @ Detroit Lions—Sunday Night Football
Week 2 @ Arizona Cardinals
Tyler Johnson-WR
Tyler Johnson welcome back! After Puka Nakua got reinjured Johnson played a much larger role in Sunday nights game and took advantage. He played 51 offensive snaps, which was 65% of the offense and added one special teams snap. He was targeted seven times, second most on the team and made five catches for 79 yards including a great 63 yarder where he made multiple men miss. Hopefully he will continue to keep playing a large role in the Rams offense going forward.
Minnesota Vikings
Week 1 @ New York Giants
Week 2 vs San Francisco 49ers
Blake Cashman-LB
Cashman played a large role for the Vikings on Sunday playing 69 defensive snaps, or 89% for Minnesota. He also added six special teams snaps He ended with six tackles, four of them solo in the Vikings win.
New Orleans Saints
Week 1 vs Carolina Panthers
Week 2 @ Dallas Cowboys
Jordan Howden-S
Safety U strikes again. Howden played 47 snaps or 80% of the defensive plays for the Saints in their blowout win. He added 19 special teams snaps as well. He recorded three tackles, one of them solo and recorded his first interception of the year off of Bryce Young.
New York Giants
Week 1 vs Minnesota Vikings
Week 2 @ Washington Commanders
Tyler Nubin-S
Nubin started at safety and played all 55 defensive snaps and added six more on special teams. He led the Giant with 7 tackles, five of them solo.
John-Michael Schmitz-C
Schmitz played all 71 offensive snaps at center for the Giants.
Carter Coughlin-LB
Coughlin had a whirlwind week. First he was cut from the active roster earlier in the week as the Giants needed a new punt returner after their starter was injured. Coughlin was immediately added to the practice squad and was elevated for Sunday’s game. In the game Coughlin played ten special teams snaps, but left the game early with what was originally called a shoulder injury. Unfortunately after the game the injury was more accurately described as a pectoral tear and according to Giants coach Brain Dabol Coughlin will be out for “Months”. He was placed on the practice squad injury list and will miss a majority of not the entire rest of the season and may have played his last game with the Giants.
Seattle Seahawks
Week 1 vs Denver Broncos
Week 2 @ New England Patriots
Boye Mafe- Rush
Mafe played 60 defensive snaps or 87% of the plays for the Seahawks in their win over Denver. He also added one special teams snap. He had a great game recording four tackles, three of the solo, two of them for a loss which included one sack of Bo Nix.
San Francisco 49ers
Week 1 vs New York Jets-Monday Night
Week 2 @ Minnesota Vikings
De’vondre Cambell-LB
Campbell started and played all 51 defensive snaps and one special teams snap in the win over the Jets. He recorded five tackles two of them solo.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Week 1 vs Washington Commanders
Week 2 @ Detroit Lions
Antoine Winfield-S
Winfield played all 59 defensive snaps in the Bucs win. He made seven tackles, four of them solo.
Ko Kieft-TE
Kieft played two offensive snaps and 16 on special teams. He didn’t record a stat.
Tennessee Titans
Week 1 @ Chicago Bears
Week 2 vs New York Jets
Jack Gibbens-LB
Gibbons played 30 defensive snaps which was 54% of the defensive snaps for the Titans in their loss to the Bears. He added 11 special teams snaps. He recorded four tackles, two of them solo and had one QB hit of Caleb Williams.
Washington Commanders
Week 1 @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Week 2 vs New York Giants
Benjamin St. Juste-CB
St. Juste played all 64 defensive snaps and seven special teams snaps in their loss to Tampa. He recorded five tackles, all solo and added one pass defense.