Auburn in the NFL: Week 1 rundown

Auburn in the NFL: Week 1 rundownAuburn in the NFL: Week 1 rundown

The NFL is back, and there was plenty to celebrate from Auburn's contingent in the league on the opening weekend. From sacks to interceptions to rookie debuts to clutch kicks, there was a little bit of everything from the former Tigers in week one.  

BEST OF WEEK 1

Derrick Brown, DT, Carolina Panthers
The seventh overall pick from the 2020 NFL draft, Brown made his presence felt in Sunday's 19-14 victory over the New York Jets. He recorded four totals tackles and crushed quarterback Zack Wilson for his first sack of the season and the third of his career. Brown finished with a PFF grade of 76.4, which was second among Panthers' defenders. 


Daniel Carlson, PK, Las Vegas Raiders 
With the game on the line Monday night, the Raiders turned to Carlson. Legatron delivered. He drilled a 55-yard field goal as time expired to send the game in overtime where the Raiders beat the Baltimore Ravens, 33-27. It was a new career long for Carlson who also connected on a 34-yard field goal at the end of the first half and made all three of his extra points. He's now made 22 consecutive field goals dating back to last season. 


Carlton Davis, CB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
After a Super Bowl winning season that included career highs in tackles (68) and interceptions (4), Davis picked up right where he left off in the season-opening 31-29 win over the Dallas Cowboys on Thursday night. Davis intercepted Dak Prescott late in the third quarter and returned it 25 yards from the 50 to set up a Bucs' touchdown. Davis added two tackles on the night and is poised to play a key role for one of the NFL's top defenses. 


Dee Ford, DE, San Francisco 49ers
After missing all but one game last season with a back/neck injury, Ford returned to making life miserable for opposing quarterbacks. The former first-round pick recorded the 38th sack of his career when he brought down Jared Goff in the second quarter. Perhaps the biggest play of the game came when Ford created pressure that forced Goff to throw an interception that the 49ers returned for a touchdown in their 41-33 victory over the Detroit Lions. 

Jonathan Jones, CB, New England Patriots
Jones, a two-time Super Bowl champion, opened up his sixth NFL season with yet another highlight. Jones snatched the ball away off a deflection and intercepted Tua Tagovailoa to give the Patriots the ball with a chance to win late in the fourth quarter. It was the seventh career interception for Jones, who played at Auburn from 2012 to 2015.


Anthony Schwartz, WR, Cleveland Browns
In what his first career NFL game, Schwartz lived up to his nickname, "Flash." He caught three passes for 69 yards, including a highlight-reel grab that went for 44 yards in the first quarter, and he also picked up 17 yards on his only run of the game. Schwartz became the fourth rookie in Cleveland history with at least 69 yards receiving yards in a season-opening game, and he's the only of those players who had any rushing yards in his debut. 


C.J. Uzomah, TE, Cincinnati Bengals 
After tearing his Achilles in the second game of the 2020 season, Uzomah returned to action Sunday and made one of the biggest plays of the game. With 39 seconds remaining in overtime, Uzomah hauled in a 32-yard reception on 4th-and-1 to set the Bengals up for a game-winning field as time expired. It was one of two receptions on the day for the seven-year veteran who played on 74 percent of the snaps on offense. 


Other Tigers in the NFL
Montravius Adams, DT, New Orleans Saints
Peyton Barber, RB, Las Vegas Raiders
Angelo Blackson, DL, Chicago Bears 
K.J. Britt, LB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Josh Bynes, LB, Baltimore Ravens
Marlon Davidson, DL, Atlanta Falcons
Jamel Dean, CB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Rudy Ford, S, Jacksonville Jaguars
Josh Harris, LS, Atlanta Falcons
Noah Igbinoghene, CB, Miami Dolphins
Brandon King, LB, New England Patriots 
Jamien Sherwood, LB, New York Jets
Arryn Siposs, P, Philadelphia Eagles
Darius Slayton, WR, New York Giants
Braden Smith, OL, Indianapolis Colts
Daniel Thomas, S, Jacksonville Jaguars 

DNP (Reserve/Injured)
Shon Coleman, OT, San Francisco 49ers (IR)
Blake Countess, S, Philadelphia Eagles (IR)
Jack Driscoll, OL, Philadelphia Eagles (IR)
Carl Lawson, DE, New York Jets (IR)
Jarrett Stidham, QB, New England Patriots (PUP)

Practice Squad
Javaris Davis, CB, Miami Dolphins
Mike Horton, OG, Carolina Panthers
Prince Tega Wanogho, OT, Kansas City Chiefs
Seth Williams, WR, Denver Broncos
Gabe Wright, DT, Washington Football Team