Tyus Bowser (BAL) didn’t record a stat in a 44-7 loss to Jacksonville. Tough game for Bowser as he was fooled on a play-action and lost Marcedes Lewis for a TD.
Elandon Roberts (NE) made 9 tackles, 6 solo, in a 36-33 win over the Texans. Roberts has had two very good weeks after the opening loss to KC where he didn’t play much. Dont’a Hightower is close to coming back so it’ll be interesting to see how that will affect Roberts’ playing time.
Case Keenum (MIN) had a career day against a team he owns, Tampa Bay, as he led the Vikings to a 34-17 win Sunday and earned the game ball. Case was 25-33 for a career high 369 yards and 3 TDs while rushing 6 times for 18 yards.
Charles Sims (TB) again saw limited touches in the same game for Tampa as he only carried the ball twice for 4 yards and 1 reception, on 1 target, for 9 yards.
DJ Hayden (DET) had a bit of a rough day in a 30-26 loss to Atlanta. Hayden did record 7 tackles, 4 solo, but missed a tackle late during and was also called for defensive holding earlier in the game.
William Jackson III (CIN) had a bit of a coming out party in the Bengals 27-24 loss to the Packers. Jackson had 4 tackles, 1 pass defensed, and 1 Pick-Six which he returned 75 yards for the TD. Jackson, through 3 games, has earned a score of 83.4 from PFF which puts him among the Top 40 CBs in the league.
PUP - Howard Wilson (CLE) Practice Squad - Joey Mbu (IND), Cam Malveaux (MIA), Derrick Mathews (GB), Brandon Wilson (CIN), Kenneth Farrow (LAC), Greg Ward (PHI)
Note: DeMarcus Ayers was cut by the Patriots late last week prior to the game against Houston.
William Jackson III (CIN) at Cleveland, Sunday @ noon on CBS DJ Hayden (DET) at Case Keenum (MIN), Sunday @ noon on FOX Elandon Roberts (NE) vs. Carolina, Sunday @ noon on FOX Tyus Bowser (BAL) vs Pittsburgh, Sunday @ noon on CBS Charles Sims (TB) vs New York Giants, Sunday @ 3:05 pm on FOX
PUP - Howard Wilson (CLE) Practice Squad - Joey Mbu (IND), Cam Malveaux (MIA), Derrick Mathews (GB), Brandon Wilson (CIN), Kenneth Farrow (LAC), Greg Ward (PHI)
One can identify a multitude of reasons for Keenum’s quick turnaround — the opponent, the home game, the full week of preparation as a starter — but what he proved Sunday is that he has value as a backup and a spot starter. We of course can’t expect this (or, realistically, anything close to it) every week from Case, but a lot of us in Vikings land were pretty nervous about the quarterback situation after the egg he laid in Pittsburgh. This performance should give us confidence that, even if Bradford is out for an extended period, Keenum can do enough to help the team win any given week. Or, in this instance, do basically everything.
Knew Wimmer would be writing an article about Keenum.
But Keenum’s play prompted Zimmer to break his own rule and hand a game ball right to his backup quarterback in the happy chaos of the locker room. Keenum always could play more than his howling critics — including the anti-UH mafia at 610 AM — would have you believe. He gave Bill Belichick a fit in a heartbreaking three-point loss years before Deshaun Watson did. He won a game that put the Texans in the playoffs a few days after stepping out of a deer blind. He threw for 321 yards and three touchdowns against the playoff-bound Detroit Lions last year.
What would be the harm of bringing Demarcus Ayers in to the Texans practice squad? Braxton Miller has been pretty much a no-show this year and we are severely lacking depth at WR.