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The Eagles finally got a big win on Sunday, and several of their former players were also celebrating around the league, including Rasul Douglas who had a game-clinching interception for the Packers on Thursday night, in a game that featured many of his former teammates. Carson Wentz gave up two interceptions at the worst possible times, Cameron Johnston and Kamu Grugier-Hill worked together on a huge special teams play for the Texans, and DeAndre Carter got his first offensive touchdown for Washington on Sunday.
Here’s how things went in Week 8 for some former Eagles:
Former Eagles standout on ‘TNF’
Week 8 kicked off with a Thursday Night Football matchup featuring the Arizona Cardinals (Zach Ertz, Jordan Hicks) getting their first loss of the season to the Green Bay Packers (Rasul Douglas, Dennis Kelly, Chandon Sullivan).
For the Cardinals, Zach Ertz didn’t record a touchdown in his second outing with his new team, but did go 4-of-4 for 42 yards, and saw a substantial increase in offensive snaps, from 49 to 73 percent. Jordan Hicks tied his season-high of 12 total tackles, including one for loss, and is among one of the top performers for the Arizona defense.
As for the Packers, OT Dennis Kelly was inactive again this week as he recovers from a back injury, and Chandon Sullivan had a bit of a quieter game than last week with just one total tackle. Rasul Douglas, however, was critical in the Packers claiming victory on Thursday, recording nine total tackles, including some really impressive plays, and then clinched the win for Green Bay with an interception — something the CB said was possible because of his time on Arizona’s practice squad earlier this season.
From @gmfb Weekend: #Packers CB Rasul Douglas game-clinching INT on Thursday was the result of his studying the #AZCardinals' offense ... while he was on the Cards' practice squad. pic.twitter.com/mAGUjZbSJs
— Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) October 30, 2021
Douglas has only played three games for the Packers after being signed ahead of Week 6, but he’s quickly earned his starting role.
Colts lose in overtime in all too familiar way
Carson Wentz is clearly healthy and clearly the starter for the Colts, with the quarterback taking 100 percent of the offensive snaps for the seventh times this season — which is great news for the Eagles who conditionally hold the Colts first round pick in 2022.
So, while that’s all good, and the QB has definitely shown glimpses of the electric playmaker he was early in his career, he’s also shown signs of the turnover prone guy from 2020. Wentz finished Sunday’s game against the Titans just 27-of-51 attempts for his second lowest completion percentage of the season at 52.94. He threw for 294 yards and three touchdowns, but also threw a season-high two interceptions — at the worst possible times — and had fumble.
I just now realized that Carson Wentz switched hands while getting sacked and threw the pick 6 *into traffic* with his left arm. pic.twitter.com/NzKkKmaRd0
— Charles Robinson (@CharlesRobinson) October 31, 2021
that was the most carson wentz turnover of all time
— charles (redzone 7-0) mcdonald (@FourVerts) October 31, 2021
To be fair, Wentz still managed to get another score and take the team into overtime. It just so happened that the QBs second interception of the game came during their possession, giving the ball to the Titans to allow for the field goal and win.
¯\_(ツ)_/¯
While Wentz might be a bit up and down so far this season, the Colts’ offensive line has seen a big boost since former Eagle Matt Pryor has been a consistent contributor.
The Colts’ offensive line turned its season around once Matt Pryor was inserted into the starting lineup.
— Zach Hicks (@ZachHicks2) October 29, 2021
In today’s film room, I look at how well Pryor played the last few weeks, where he can stand to improve, and his future role with the team: https://t.co/k5D8UakR2g
Familiar names make big ST plays for Texans
The Texans lost on Sunday to the Rams, making them 1-7 so far this season, but some former Eagles are at least having decent years — especially on special teams.
Cornerback Tremon Smith has been helping with punt and kick returns for Houston the past two weeks, and had one big kick return this week for 44 yards, and a short 1-yard punt return. Punter Cameron Johnston tied his season-high of seven punts in Week 8, for a season-high 364 yards, including a beautiful 69-yard kick that Kamu Grugier-Hill helped down at the 4-yard line.
94 TUPA
— punt planet (@PuntPlanet) October 29, 2021
= Cameron Johnston of the Texans punts 69 yards (69) downed by Kamu Grugier-Hill (5) at the 4-yard line (20).#NFL #WeAreTexans #NFLAustralia pic.twitter.com/DBSScVkeiH
Grugier-Hill finished the day with five total tackles, but for the first time in four weeks, only saw 73 percent of the defensive snaps, versus 100 percent. Still, he’s one of the team’s top linebackers and one of the few bright spots on a pretty bleak team.
#Rams go for it on four-and-goal but LB Kamu-Grugier Hill comes up big with the stop. #Texans take over at their own 4-yardline.
— Deepi Sidhu (@DeepSlant) October 31, 2021
On the offensive side of the ball for the Texans, wide receiver Danny Amendola was back for his second game after missing four with a hamstring injury, and went just 2-of-5 for three yards, and fumbled the ball.
Carter’s first offensive TD of the season
DeAndre Carter continues to earn more reps on offense for the Washington Football Team, and went 3-of-6 on Sunday for 51 yards and his first offensive touchdown of the season.
Taylor Heinicke DIME to D'Andre Carter to tie the game! #WashingtonFootball
— NFL (@NFL) October 31, 2021
: #WASvsDEN on FOX
: NFL app pic.twitter.com/WBtbw72pFd
Inactives, Bye Weeks, and Other Notables
- Inactives: Nick Foles (Bears), Cre’Von LeBlanc (Texans), Josh Andrews (Falcons), Dennis Kelly (Packers), DeSean Jackson (Rams)
#Rams coach Sean McVay confirms that DeSean Jackson has permission to seek a trade and that he won’t play this week. McVay says Jackson deserves to receive the opportunity to look around. https://t.co/8962jQelNw
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) October 29, 2021
- Bye week: Baltimore Ravens (Eric Tomlinson, Alejandro Villanueva) and Las Vegas Raiders
- DB Ryan Neal had a big game for the Seahawks against the Jaguars, making four total tackles, including two QB hits — one sack and one TFL.
- New Orleans safety Malcolm Jenkins had four total tackles in the Saints win over the Buccaneers, but also had two big pass breakups, and recorded his fifth game in a row taking 100 percent of the defensive snaps.
- The Patriots were able to pull of a close 27-24 win over the Chargers in Week 8, with Jalen Mills recording three total tackles and one pass defended, and Nelson Agholor going 3-of-6 for 61 yards and nearly doubling his offensive snaps to 79 percent.
- CB Ronald Darby continues to be a good pickup for the Broncos, with the former Eagle making seven total tackles on Sunday against Washington and having his third game (out of four) with 100 percent of the defensive snaps.
- Safety Jordan Poyer had a season-high 10 total tackles on Sunday for the Bills in their win over Miami, including one for loss, plus one pass breakup, and an interception he returned for 26 yards — his third takeaway this season.
We'll take that, thank you.
— Buffalo Bills (@BuffaloBills) October 31, 2021
: @NFLonCBS pic.twitter.com/q4d6SVvUGy
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