It will be quite a reunion when the New England Patriots visit the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday in a battle of AFC division-leading teams.
The game will bring together six former Stanford football players — five for the Colts and one for the Patriots.
The Patriots (4-0) top the East while the Colts (3-2) lead the South. It will be the 17th meeting between the teams since the 2003 season.
Leading the Colts, of course, is quarterback Andrew Luck. While he has missed the past two games with a shoulder injury, including last week’s 27-20 win over Houston, there is talk he will be ready for the Patriots.
First-year defensive end Henry Anderson has been a standout for the Colts. He four tackles on Thursday night while helping the Colts’ defense limit Houston’s running backs to 2.9 yards per carry. Also on the Indianapolis defense is rookie David Parry. The former Stanford player had two tackles, including one for a loss, in the win over Texas.
Offensively, fourth-year tight end Coby Fleener was targeted three times against the Texans and had two catches for nine yards. Griff Whalen, his his fourth season at wide receiver, was active on special teams. He had two punt returns for 16 yards and two kickoff returns for 74 yards, including one for 50.
On the otber side of the field Sunday will be yet another former Stanford player, rookie defensive back Jordan Richards. He played on defense and special teams in New England’s 30-6 win at Dallas, making his only tackle in the fourth quarter.
Other former Stanford players were busy last weekend, as well:
Defensive back Johnson Bademosi, in his fourth season with the Cleveland Browns, had a special teams tackle in a 33-30 win at Baltimore on Sunday. Tight end Jim Dray, in his sixth campaign with the Browns, started and had one catch, a seven-yard completion, in overtime to help set up the Browns’ game-winning field goal.
H-back Ryan Hewitt, in his second season with the Cincinnati Bengals, started at fullback and helped Cincinnati defeat Seattle, 27-24, on Sunday. For Seattle, wide receiver Doug Baldwin (in his fifth season) led the Seahawks with 70 receiving yards on three catches, including one for 46 yards. All-Pro cornerback Richard Sherman, also in his fifth season, performed well as he finished the day with eight tackles — six solo stops — and a pass defended while exclusively covering the Bengals’ No. 1 receiver A.J. Green.
Fourth-year guard David DeCastro played a huge role in Pittsburgh’s 24-20 win at San Diego on Monday night. He helped the Steelers rush for 155 yards and paved the way for Le’Veon Bell’s game-winning touchdown run with no time left on the clock.
Sixth-year running back Toby Gerhart is still not 100 percent after missing Jacksonville’s first three games with an abdominal injury. He was targeted once in the passing game and had one carry for two yards in a 38-31 loss to Tampa Bay.
Rookie wide receiver Ty Montgomery, Stanford’s career leader in kickoff return yards, caught his second career touchdown — a 31-yard strike from Aaron Rodgers — as Green Bay topped St. Louis, 24-10. Montgomery had four catches for 59 yards.
Rookie linebacker Shayne Skov played the most special teams snaps of any San Francisco player in Sunday night’s loss at the New York Giants.
Second-year defensive end Josh Mauro had a fumble recovery in Arizona’s convincing 42-17 win against Detroit. The former Cardinal has helped the Cardinals start 4-1. Third-year running back Stepfan Taylor, Stanford’s career leader in rushing yards and attempts, was all over the field in Arizona’s win as he had four carries for 19 yards, a forced fumble and made two special teams tackles.
Second-year linebacker Trent Murphy started at strong side LB in Washington’s 25-19 loss at Atlanta. He finished the afternoon with two solo tackles and four total. Third-year tight end Levine Toilolo started as a run-blocking tight end for the Falcons, but was seldom used in the victory.
Third-year tight end Zach Ertz helped Philadelphia beat New Orleans, 39-17, finishing with five catches for 60 yards, including one for 21. He was the second most-targeted receiver (7) for the Eagles.
Rookie offensive tackle Andrus Peat made his first career start at left tackle for New Orleans.
Rookie linebacker A.J. Tarpley made his first career NFL tackle for Buffalo in a 14-13 win over Tennessee. His lone stop was for no gain on the Bills’ one-yard line in the third quarter.
By Palo Alto Online Sports
By Palo Alto Online Sports
By Palo Alto Online Sports
Does RB Tyler Gaffney and OL Cameron Fleming of the New England Patriots not count because they are on IR or the Practice Squad?
To Member……..that’s why they were not mentioned. There are other ex-Stanford players on practice squads, etc…..but, they are not active. Thus, no mention of them until they are active.