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Sep 18, 2019

Tigers in the NFL: Week 2

By: Cole Little

Each week during the NFL season, ClemsonTigers.com breaks down how former Clemson standouts are faring in the NFL. The following is a summary of what transpired in Week 2 of the 2019 slate, including a table with updated roster information and statistics.

From a gutsy, hard-nosed touchdown run by Houston Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson to a Superman-like diving catch by Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver Mike Williams, several former Clemson Tigers made waves around the NFL last week. Kansas City Chiefs cornerback Bashaud Breeland collected a turnover for the second game in a row, and rookie Oakland Raiders wideout Hunter Renfrow made an impact on the receiving front. All of that and more highlighted a successful Week 2 for the abundance of Tigers representing Clemson in the NFL.

While Houston’s matchup on Sunday against the Jacksonville Jaguars was a far cry from the barn burner between the Texans and the New Orleans Saints in Week 1, Watson and superstar Texans wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins were still able to lead Houston to its first victory of 2019 in the low-scoring affair. Furthermore, the Houston defense, which includes defensive tackle D.J. Reader, showed out, with the Texans defeating the Jaguars 13-12. A linchpin of the Texans’ defensive line, Reader tallied five combined tackles in Week 2. As for Watson, on the day after he celebrated his 24th birthday, he was 16-of-29 passing for 159 yards, but his most important play of the game occurred in the ground game.

Watson completed several superb passes on the afternoon, including a dime, which was thrown under duress from deep in Houston territory, that Texans wide receiver Will Fuller V caught near the sideline for a 28-yard gain. Hopkins was also on the receiving end of some of Watson’s best passes, with “Nuk” hauling in five catches for 40 yards.

Despite finishing with just five total rushing yards, Watson produced his top feat of the afternoon on a rushing touchdown that essentially won the game for the Texans. Changing direction and bulldozing his way through defenders and over the goal line, Watson put the Texans ahead 13-3 in the fourth quarter by way of his frenetic 2-yard score.

 

The best highlight of the week by a former Tiger was, without a doubt, Williams’ aforementioned diving snag. Leaving his feet and sailing through the air while practically parallel to the ground, Williams secured a spectacular catch that set up a Chargers field goal heading into halftime. The 47-yard grab served as one of three catches made by Williams, who finished with 83 receiving yards.

Other standout receivers from “Wide Receiver U” who fared well in Week 2 were Renfrow and the Chiefs’ Sammy Watkins. Renfrow was targeted eight times, which was more than any other Oakland receiver, and he garnered four receptions for 30 yards. The first-year slot receiver also converted two first downs. As for Watkins, who was the league’s most dominant pass catcher in Week 1, he continued to experience success to start the 2019 season by corralling six catches for 49 yards.

Renfrow and Watkins competed against one another, with the Chiefs and Raiders clashing on Sunday in a contest that featured six former Tigers suiting up in the AFC West duel. In addition to Watkins, Breeland and linebacker Dorian O’Daniel, who recorded a solo tackle, saw action for the Chiefs. Breeland recovered a fumble in Week 1, and, in Week 2, he was on the receiving end of another turnover, as he picked off a pass in the end zone to spoil a promising Oakland drive. The veteran defensive back also led all defenders in the matchup with eight total tackles, seven of which were solo. Together with Renfrow, defensive end Clelin Ferrell and cornerback Trayvon Mullen made up the three-man rookie class of erstwhile Tigers playing for the Raiders. Ferrell was credited with three tackles, while Mullen notched two tackles.

The fearsome twosome of Atlanta Falcons pass rushers Vic Beasley Jr. and Grady Jarrett was an integral component of the Falcons’ winning performance versus the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday Night Football. Beasley, who started at linebacker, registered one tackle as well as his first sack of the season. At defensive tackle, Jarrett picked up his second sack of the year to go along with his five tackles. Jarrett attained a sack on a critical third-down play, and it forced the Eagles to settle for a field goal. The adoring fans at Mercedes-Benz Stadium raucously cheered Jarrett following the play, and Jarrett expressed his appreciation by blowing kisses toward the stands. Beasley sacked Eagles quarterback Carson Wentz on third down, too, with the late-game loss of yardage contributing to the Eagles coming up empty-handed on their final drive of the Falcons’ gritty 24-20 triumph.

Keeping it on the defensive side of the ball, linebacker B.J. Goodson, who was recently signed by the Green Bay Packers, made his first start for his new squad and accrued two solo tackles. Additionally, Minnesota Vikings safety Jayron Kearse broke up a pass and was in on four tackles, and rookie New York Giants defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence totaled four tackles.

Switching to special teams, Carolina Panthers return man Ray-Ray McCloud returned four punts, including a career-long 39-yard punt return. On the flip side, Tampa Bay Buccaneers punter Bradley Pinion, who punted to McCloud in Tampa Bay’s 20-14 victory over Carolina, amassed 295 yards on six punts, two of which landed inside the Panthers’ 20-yard line. Pinion’s longest punt of the game traveled 63 yards downfield.

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