NFL Former Illini and area standouts in NFL: Week 8
Oct. 28—Sydney Brown earned his first career NFL start in an impressive win for the
Philadelphia Eagles, Jihad Ward and the New York Giants returned to the win column and Devon Witherspoon keyed a bounce-back performance for the Seahawks'
defense. N-G sports staffer Joe Vozzelli offers an update on each former Illini and one former area high school standout with Week 8 of the NFL season now underway:
Looking back:
* Allegretti played five snaps in the Chiefs' 31-17 home win against the Los Angeles Chargers last Sunday.
What's next:
* The Chiefs (6-1) take a six-game winning streak into Week 8 when Kansas City travels to Denver to face the Broncos (2-5) at 3:25 p.m. on Sunday.
Tony Adams
Looking back:
* Adams and the New York Jets were on a bye week.
What's next:
* The Jets (3-3) are looking for their third straight win in what is a road game in name only against the New York Giants (2-5) at noon on Sunday.
Looking back:
* The rookie running back and the rest of the Cincinnati Bengals had the week off for their scheduled bye.
What's next:
* The Bengals (3-3) go to the Bay Area to play the San Francisco 49ers (5-2) at 3:25 p.m. on Sunday.
Sydney Brown
Philadelphia Eagles
Looking back:
* The rookie strong safety had his first career NFL start come in front of a national TV audience with Brown returning from a hamstring injury to post three defensive tackles and one tackle on special teams while playing 55 combined snaps in Philadelphia's 31-17 home win against the high-flying Dolphins last Sunday night.
What's next:
* The Eagles (6-1) will play their second game this month against the Washington Commanders (3-4) at noon on Sunday at FedEx Field in Landover, Md.
New York Giants
Looking back: The rookie quarterback did not play as the backup quarterback to Tyrod Taylor
* in a 14-7 win by the host Giants against the Commanders last Sunday.
What's next:
* The Giants (2-5), who snapped a four-game losing streak in Week 7, will look to build on that in an all-New York matchup against the Jets (3-3) at noon on Sunday.
Kendrick Green
Looking back:
* The offensive lineman is out for the rest of the season after undergoing season-ending knee surgery.
What's next:
* The Texans (3-3) will face the winless Panthers (0-6) at noon on Sunday in Charlotte, N.C.
Houston Texans
Looking back:
* The second-year linebacker and the Texans rested up during their bye week.
What's next:
* Houston (3-3) hits the road for a noon kick against the Panthers (0-6) on Sunday.
New York Jets
Looking back:
* Hardee finds himself on injured reserve with the Pro Bowl special teams player in 2022 expected to miss four to six weeks with a hamstring injury.
What's next:
* The Jets (3-3) return from their bye week to face the Giants (2-5) at noon on Sunday.
Looking back:
* The cornerback was inactive for Las Vegas' 30-12 road loss to the Bears last Sunday, as he continues to be slowed by an ankle injury.
What's next:
* Hobbs was listed as a limited participant in practice for the Raiders (3-4) on Friday ahead of their matchup with the Lions (5-2) at 7:15 p.m. on Monday in Detroit.
Looking back: The starting free safety put up a team-high 10 tackles, but the Lions' defense struggled to stop quarterback Lamar Jackson
* and the Ravens, who ran roughshod on Detroit, as Baltimore prevailed 38-6 at home last Sunday. Joseph played 55 defensive snaps in the loss.
What's next:
* The Lions (5-2) have a chance to return to winning ways at 7:15 p.m. on Monday when they host the Las Vegas Raiders (3-4) at Ford Field.
Cincinnati Bengals
Looking back:
* Karras and Cincinnati took the weekend off for their bye week.
What's next:
* The Bengals (3-3) play the San Francisco 49ers (5-2) at 3:25 p.m. Sunday at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif.
Looking back:
* Kramer missed his seventh straight game to start the season with a thumb injury. Chicago, meanwhile, collected its second win of the season last Sunday, as the Bears cruised to a 30-12 home win against the Las Vegas Raiders.
What's next:
* Chicago (2-5) visits southern California for a 7:20 p.m. showdown on Sunday against the Los Angeles Chargers (2-4) at SoFi Stadium.
Looking back: Lowe lost his starting right tackle job to Mike Onwenu
* and played limited snaps (only three on offense) in New England's 29-25 home win against the Buffalo Bills last Sunday.
What's next:
* The Patriots (2-5) head south to square off with the Dolphins (5-2) at noon on Sunday from Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Fla.
Washington
Commanders
Looking back: The rookie defensive back had two total defensive tackles and one pass defended on 26 total snaps, 21 of which were on special teams, in Washington's 14-7 road loss to the New York Giants.
What's next:
* The Commanders (3-4) attempt to get back on track when they welcome in the Philadelphia Eagles (6-1) for an NFC East game at noon on Sunday in Landover, Md.
Looking back: McLaughlin nailed a 57-yard field goal through the wind and had another attempt from 50 yards blocked — without legendary broadcaster Al Michaels
* realizing that was the case on the Amazon Prime broadcast — in a 24-18 road loss by the Buccaneers on Thursday night against the Bills. Four days earlier, the Cypress, Texas, native McLaughlin accounted for seven of the Buccaneers' 13 points — a 24-yard field goal in the second quarter, a 36-yard field goal in the fourth and one successful extra point — but Tampa Bay lost 16-13 last Sunday at home to the AFC South rival Atlanta Falcons.
What's next:
* The Buccaneers (3-4), who have lost three in a row and dropped four of their last five, have an extended break before a Nov. 5 matchup with the Texans in Houston.
Alex Palczewski
Looking back:
* Palczewski, a rookie offensive lineman, has been out since the start of the season for the Broncos while on injured reserve with a hand injury.
What's next:
* Denver (2-5), which is coming off a 19-17 home win against the Green Bay Packers, will play the Chiefs (6-1) for the second time in the span of 18 days at 3:25 p.m. on Sunday in Denver.
Del'Shawn Phillips
Looking back:
* The linebacker was on the field for 23 combined snaps, mostly on special teams with 15 plays on that unit in Baltimore's 38-6 win at home against the Lions last Sunday.
What's next:
* The Ravens (5-2) play the Cardinals (1-6) in an AFC-NFC crossover matchup at 3:25 p.m. Sunday at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Ariz.
Buffalo Bills
Looking back:
* The wide receiver and Danville native played 33 snaps (22 on offense, 11 on special teams) but did not record any stats in Buffalo's 24-18 home win on Thursday night against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Sherfield, meanwhile, caught one pass for five yards and participated on 29 snaps (16 on offense and 13 as a special teamer) in the Bills' 29-25 road loss to the Patriots last Sunday.
What's next:
* The Bills (5-3) have 10 days to prepare for a Week 9 game on Nov. 5 against the Bengals (3-3) in Cincinnati.
Looking back:
* The defensive end/outside linebacker and the Jaguars have not played since their 31-24 win against the Saints on Oct. 19 in New Orleans.
What's next:
* The Jaguars (5-2), who have now won four straight games, play the Steelers (4-2) at noon on Sunday at Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh.
Jihad Ward
New York Giants
Looking back:
* Ward started at defensive end for the Giants and recorded one quarterback hit while playing 51 defensive snaps in New York's 14-7 home win against the Washington Commanders this past Sunday.
What's next:
* The Giants (2-5) will stay at home for a second straight week and face the Jets (3-3) for a noon Sunday kick at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J.
Devon Witherspoon
Seattle Seahawks
Looking back:
* The rookie started at cornerback, notched four combined tackles and defended one pass while participating on all 66 defensive snaps in Seattle's 20-10 home NFC West division win against the Arizona Cardinals last Sunday.
What's next: The Seahawks (4-2) host the Browns (4-2) for a 3:05 p.m. game at Lumen Field in Seattle.
