Washington Huskies Alumni in the NFL: NFC – October 2021
The tradition of sending Washington Huskies alumni to the NFL continues strong In 2021, PNWS once again looks at former UW players in the NFL. One week a month, we update NFC players, followed by ones in the AFC the next week.
This month’s report covers how Washington Huskies alumni in the NFC in Weeks 2-5. We start with the West Division home to the Seahawks.
NFC West
Seattle Seahawks
Week 2: The Seahawks lost to Tennessee in overtime 33-30. Will Dissly started at one of the tight end spots and had no catches in the game. Sidney Jones did not play cornerback but saw action on special teams.
Week 3: Another Seahawks loss, this time 30-17 to Minnesota. Dissly had his only reception, a 39-yard pass in the second quarter. Once again, Sidney Jones did not play any defensive snaps.
Week 4: Jones not only played at cornerback, but he also started over Tre Flowers and made tackles in the Seahawks win over San Francisco. Dissly had 2 catches for only 5 yards.
Week 5: In the loss to the Los Angeles Rams, Jones, along with fellow cornerback D.J. Reed were targeted 18 times for over 180 yards. For the second straight week, Dissly made 2 catches, this time for 29 yards.
Arizona Cardinals
Week 2: Budda Baker had eight tackles in a narrow win over Minnesota. Tight end Darrell Daniels played 31 percent of downs on offense without a reception. Cornerback Byron Murphy, a very important member of Arizona’s defense, had three tackles. Ezekiel Turner spent all his time on special teams and didn’t make the stat sheet.
Week 3: Arizona beat the Jacksonville Jaguars 31-19. Murphy continues to improve. He was the NFC player of the week with two interceptions, including a pick-six along with four tackles. Baker had six tackles on the day. Once again, Daniels didn’t have a catch. Turner had an assist on special teams.
Week 4: It was a big win for the Cardinals, beating division rival. Los Angeles. Murphy had another interception to along with three tackles. Daniels saw his offensive snaps dwindle but kept his spot on special teams. Turner had one tackle in this game.
Week 5: The Cardinals remained undefeated. Baker had a good game which included an interception of San Francisco rookie QB Trey Lance. He also made an important tackle in the fourth quarter that led to a turnover on downs. Murphy sat out due to a rib injury the week before. Daniels also missed the game when Arizona placed him on the covid-19 list. Turner had two special teams tackles.
Los Angeles Rams
Week 2: Nose tackle Greg Gaines had two stops in the Rams 27-24 win over Indianapolis. Starting safety Taylor Rapp had eight tackles on the day. Coleman Shelton, the Rams’ backup center, played exclusively on special teams.
Week 3: The Rams beat defending NFL Champs, Tampa Bay 34-24. Greg Gaines had a couple of tackles while playing on about a third of the defense’s snaps. Rapp had five tackles this week.
Week 4: L.A. suffered their first loss of the season. Rapp had a busy day. The safety made six tackles and assisted on six more but got beat for a touchdown. Gaines had three tackles from his DT spot.
Week 5: Thursday night, the Rams won 26-17 over Seattle. Rapp wasn’t targeted much, he only made one tackle while Gaines added two more to his season total. Shelton remains on special teams duty.
San Francisco 49ers
No former Washington Huskies play in the Bay Area at this time.
J.J. Watt with the pressure. Byron Murphy Jr with his 2nd INT. This one a pick 6.
Touchdown Cardinals!!
24-19, #AZCardinals
— Chuck Harris (@chuckh3) September 26, 2021