Houston Football Alumni continue too Excel in Week 8 of NFL Season
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A strong showing from former University of Houston players marked the eighth week of the National Football League season, with several standouts making notable contributions to their teams. From impactful defensive performances to key offensive roles, the legacy of Houston Football continues to shine in the professional ranks.
Defensive dominance and Key Performances
Several cougars made their presence felt on the defensive side of the ball. Ed Oliver of the Buffalo Bills delivered a standout performance in a decisive 40-9 victory over the Carolina Panthers. Oliver started at defensive tackle, recording three tackles, two tackles for loss, and a sack, while also hitting the quarterback twice. He earned an impressive 84.8 defensive grade from Pro Football Focus, ranking as the fourth-best among interior defenders for the week. Though, the Bills’ season took a hit with the news that Oliver was placed on injured reserve for the second time this season due to a torn biceps, sidelining him for the remainder of the regular season. Despite this setback, his performance this season has been extraordinary, tentatively concluding his 2024 campaign with the third-best pro Football Focus grade (87.3) among NFL interior defensive linemen.
Logan Hall of the Tampa Bay buccaneers also contributed to a winning effort, helping his team secure a 23-3 victory against the New Orleans Saints. Hall started on the defensive line and played a crucial role in limiting the Saints to just one second-quarter field goal. He tallied one tackle and assisted on a sack on the final play of the game, logging 31 total snaps – 28 on defence and 3 on special teams.
Marcus Jones of the New England Patriots had a especially impactful game in a 32-13 win over the Cleveland Browns.Jones notched six tackles, including one for a loss, and defended two passes. He also returned a punt for eight yards and played on 72% of the Patriots’ defensive snaps and 24% of their special teams plays.adding to his impressive performance, Jones recorded his first career quarterback hit and agreed to a three-year contract extension worth up to $40.5 million, positioning him as one of the highest-paid slot cornerbacks in the NFL, according to ESPN. The contract will begin following the conclusion of his rookie deal.
offensive Contributions and Notable Starts
On the offensive front, Patrick Paul continued to solidify his role as a key player for the Miami Dolphins. Starting at left tackle in his 25th NFL game, paul helped the Dolphins achieve their highest scoring performance of the year in a 34-10 victory over the Atlanta Falcons, playing 90% of Miami’s offensive snaps.
Case Keenum saw action for the Chicago Bears, though the team ultimately fell to the Baltimore Ravens 30-16.
Other Notable Updates
Several other Houston alumni saw action or were on team rosters during Week 8. Art Green of the New York Giants played six special teams snaps before leaving the game with an injury in a 38-20 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles. Kyle Allen (Detroit Lions), Josh Jones (Seattle Seahawks), Grant stuart (Detroit Lions), and Elandon Roberts (Las Vegas Raiders) were on bye weeks. Ajani Carter, tank Dell, Gervarrius owens, and Clayton Tune are currently on their respective teams’ practice squads, while Payton Turner is on injured reserve for the dallas Cowboys and Demarion Williams is on the practice squad for the Tampa bay Buccaneers.
Supporting Houston Football
Fans eager to support the continued success of Houston Football can contribute through NIL opportunities and by joining The Huddle, which provides financial support beyond the team’s operating budget.
Stay connected with the team by following @UHCougarFB on X, formerly known as Twitter, and by liking the Houston Cougar Football page on Facebook. Additional updates and news can be found on Instagram at uhcougarfb.
