Top Dawgs in the NFL (Week 2)
UGASports continues its series highlighting the top NFL performances by former Georgia players for the week, entering the Monday night game. With our most outstanding performer for the week—or the Top Dawg—revealed towards the end, we spotlight the top NFL performances by Bulldogs from September 11 through September 14 and preview those participating in tonight’s two Monday night games.
Philly Dawgs
In Philadelphia’s 20-17 win on the road at Kansas City yesterday, a trio of Bulldog defenders were integral in an exceptional effort against one of the league’s most highly regarded offenses. In victory, defensive tackle Jordan Davis, who left the game twice because of injuries, totaled five tackles, including three solo, and defended on two passes in only 32 snaps. Jalen Carter, another starting defensive tackle, totaled two tackles, including one for loss, and had a game-high three quarterback hits. Starting outside linebacker Nolan Smith tallied three tackles, including an assist on a critical fourth-down stop in which he also forced a fumble.
George Pickens
Pickens, Dallas’ starting left wideout, had what you could call his breakout game as a new member of the Cowboys in a 40-37 overtime win over the New York Giants. After making just one reception in the first half, the fourth-year veteran caught three passes in the second half, including a late 6-yard touchdown, and followed by making a key 27-yard reception late in the overtime period. Looking past Pickens’ “highlights,” according to teammate/starting left guard Tyler Smith, you should have heard what the former Georgia receiver was saying yesterday in the huddle.
Mykel Williams
In just his second NFL game, Williams was one of the top defensive standouts in San Francisco’s 26-21 win over New Orleans, improving the 49ers to 2-0. San Francisco’s starting right defensive end totaled five tackles, four that were solo, including two for loss (both on Alvin Kamara for a combined loss of six yards), while appearing for 48 of his team’s 71 defensive snaps.
James Cook
Having an even better performance than last week, when he was recognized as our Top Dawg for Week 1, Cook went off in a 30-10 road win over the New York Jets yesterday. The fourth-year running back carried the ball 21 times for 132 yards, including touchdown runs of 1 and 44 yards (don’t miss that move), and added a catch for three yards. The 132-yard outing is Cook’s second-best rushing performance of his career, trailing only a 179-yard effort he had against Dallas in Week 15 of 2023.
The TOP DAWG: Roquan Smith
Just edging out Cook, Smith is The Top Dawg of the week for his monster defensive effort in Baltimore’s 41-17 rout of the Cleveland Browns. The eighth-year linebacker totaled 15 tackles—seven more than any other defender for either team—including a game-high three for loss. He also had a game-high two quarterback hits and recovered a fourth-quarter fumble, in which he returned 63 yards for a touchdown. For Smith, who appears destined for the Pro Football Hall of Fame at this rate, it was his first fumble return for a touchdown in the NFL, and just his second score. Early in the 2021 season, he returned an interception 53 yards for a touchdown.
Other notable pro performances by Bulldogs over the weekend include from defensive end Travon Walker in Jacksonville’s 31-27 setback to Cincinnati. Said to have perhaps the best game of his four-year career, Walker totaled five tackles, three of which were solo, one sack, a game-high three quarterback hits, and one pass defended.
In Green Bay’s 27-18 win over Washington to improve to 2-0, defensive tackle Devonte Wyatt made two tackles, recorded a hard-pursuing sack, had two quarterback hits, and defended two passes.
The Los Angeles Rams’ Matthew Stafford completed 23 of 33 passes for 298 yards, two touchdowns, and one interception (105.4 rating) in a 33-19 win over the Tennessee Titans.
Coming off the bench as a reserve, Derion Kendrick made a solo tackle, defended a pass, and made an interception late in the third quarter of Seattle’s 31-17 win over Pittsburgh. For Kendrick, it was his second pro interception in 34 career games.
An observation: Trevor Etienne has six of the Carolina Panthers’ seven kickoff returns through two games—after not returning a single kickoff for Georgia last season (the Bulldogs had 12 total kickoff returns). Before then, Etienne had served as Florida’s primary kickoff returner in 2022 and 2023.
Finally, in Atlanta’s 22-6 win over Minnesota last night, rookie Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins recorded his first two pro tackles in 24 defensive snaps (he also played seven snaps on special teams). For the Falcons, two former Georgia players came up big in a fine defensive effort. Starting defensive end Leonard Floyd, a 10-year veteran, had a sack (67.5 sacks for his career—tied for the fifth-most among former Georgia players) and a game-high three quarterback hits. Coming off the bench, and appearing for 22 of his team’s 47 defensive snaps, rookie Jalon Walker made an assisted tackle and registered his first career sack. Was it the rookie’s first sack of what will ultimately be many?
Monday Night Football
Starting at 7 pm ET, the first of the two Monday night games tonight features the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at the Houston Texans, where the home Texans are a 2.5-point favorite according to the current BetMGM odds. Tampa Bay has one former Georgia player on its active roster: Tykee Smith, the team’s No. 1 strong safety. Houston features two Bulldogs, both starters: running back Nick Chubb and cornerback Kamari Lassiter.
Starting at 10 pm ET, the second game matches the Los Angeles Chargers at the Las Vegas Raiders, where the visiting Chargers are a 3.5-point favorite. The former Georgia players on the Chargers’ active roster are Ladd McConkey, the team’s No. 1 slot receiver, and Jamaree Salyer, the No. 2 right guard. There are four Bulldogs on the Raiders’ active roster: Brock Bowers (No. 1 TE on the current depth chart), Eric Stokes (No. 1 LCB). Chris Smith II (No. 2 SS), and Zamir White (No. 2 RB).