BBNFL Week 1 Recap: Wan'Dale Robinson injured, Za'Darius Smith gets revenge
Super Bowl LVI feels like it was seven years ago instead of seven months ago. However, after a slow summer and Tom Brady retiring and un-retiring 12 times, the NFL is back, and with it, a host of former Kentucky players are ready to showcase their talents on Sundays.
Week 1 also saw the NFL offensive coordinator debut of the guy who did it well for Kentucky last year, Liam Coen. His defending Super Bowl champions, the Los Angeles Rams, ran into a buzzsaw in the form of the Buffalo Bills’ defense, but this will surely be just a first-game hiccup.
On the field, nine former Kentucky players were first on the depth chart when the games kicked off, including Luke Fortner, who became the only rookie to start at center for the Jaguars in their history. Though the Jags came out with the loss, Trevor Lawrence had high praise for his new teammate sending him snaps. Lawrence said that he can’t tell Fortner is a rookie at all and since they are both early in their careers, he hopes they can build and grow together for a long time.
Wan’Dale Robinson knocked out of first game with knee injury
The other Kentucky rookie looking to make a big splash in the NFL is Wan’Dale Robinson, who started in the slot for the New York Football Giants.
Robinson caught his only target for five yards but tweaked his knee on the tackle. Out of caution, the Giants ruled him out for the rest of the game. The staff does not believe it to be anything serious and the x-rays came back negative. The Giants have high expectations for their talented rookie and the coaches did not want to risk worsening the minor injury in the first game of Robinson’s NFL career.
Robinson is officially day-to-day, but all signs point to a quick return.
Speaking of week 1 injuries, the Steelers’ Najee Harris left the game with a foot injury, and in a normal world, that would have left the door open for Kentucky legend, Benny Snell, to step up and take over as the lead back. However, Snell is dealing with a knee injury himself. Although he returned to practice last week, he was not quite back to full strength and the coaching staff did not feel comfortable turning to him in the run game.
Unfortunately for Bengals fans, the Steelers didn’t need him to take down their rival. Tough way to start the season for the defending AFC Champs.
Za’Darius Smith exacted some revenge on his former franchise
Former Kentucky beast Za’Darius Smith found himself as the centerpiece of one of the more dramatic plays of Week 1. Smith spent the last three seasons with the Green Bay Packers but did not see the field much last year due to injuries. Now Z’Darius is with the Minnesota Vikings, a destination he claims to have sought out after feeling mistreated by the Packers when he was unable to play.
In Week 1, Big Z got his revenge.
Smith recorded two tackles on the day, including a sack on his former quarterback, Aaron Rogers. However, the highlight came on an otherwise benign play when Rodgers tried to throw a block on the 6’4″, 272-pounder. Rodgers has been known to make some ill-advised decisions but must have been tripping when he decided to throw himself in front of Smith for a block. To his credit, Rodgers bounced right back up and got into the face of his former teammate.
It was all competitive smiles afterward, but my guess is that will be the last time Rodgers tries to throw himself in front of Za’Darius Smith. The play was a microcosm of the game, as the Vikings dominated Green Bay all day.
The other former Wildcat in the game, Randall Cobb, was limited to just two catches on three targets for 14 yards. He also recorded a tackle after an Aaron Rodgers interception.
Former Kentucky defensive players do work
A hallmark of Mark Stoops’ tenure at Kentucky has been solid defense, and over time it has led to more than a handful of players who now make a living in the craft. In addition to Za’Darius Smith, Week 1 of the 2022 NFL season saw former ‘Cats Mike Edwards, Quinton Bohanna, Josh Allen, Bud Dupree, and Jamin Davis all record at least one tackle.
Super Bowl winner, Mike Edwards, led all former Kentucky players with five tackles (four solo) and recorded a pass deflection. Josh Allen was his normal disruptive self, making four tackles, two of which were for a loss, and was also credited with a QB hit.
Quinton Bohanna contributed two tackles for the Cowboys, Jamin Davis logged three tackles (all solo) for the newly-branded Washington Commanders, and Bud Dupree, whose Titans lost in heartbreaking fashion to the Giants, sending many survivor pool entrants to an early exit, was the other former Kentucky player aside from Za’Darius Smith to record a sack.
Week 1 of the NFL season is in the books. Here’s to a quick recovery for the Kentucky guys who need it. Stay healthy, men. It’s a long season.
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