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Pack Pros: QB Philip Rivers makes second straight start in return to NFL

image_6483441 (3)by: Noah Fleischman4 hours agofleischman_noah

NC State Pack Pro quarterback Philip Rivers’ return to the NFL continued in a 48-27 loss to the San Francisco 49ers on Monday Night Football. The 44-year-old, who returned to the league after nearly five years, made his second straight start in an effort to help the Indianapolis Colts make the playoffs. 

But, unfortunately, the team’s defense wasn’t able to generate enough stops as Rivers tried to will the offense past the 49ers in the defeat. Now, the Colts have just a 2 percent chance of making it to the playoffs, according to NFL Next Gen Stats with either one more loss — or a Houston Texans win — ending their season. 

Rivers, however, was able to find his form in the defeat. He was 23-of-35 passing for 277 yards with two touchdowns and an interception. It marked his first two-score performance since Dec. 12, 2020 when he had back-to-back such performances with the Colts before his retirement. 

While Rivers looked to be his vintage self, at times, he wasn’t the only Pack Pro in action this past weekend. Here’s a look at how each of the former NC State players fared in Week 16 of the NFL season.

Pack Pros: NFL Week 16

OT Anthony Belton (played at NC State from 2021-2024), #71 Green Bay Packers: Belton recorded his fourth straight start at right guard in the Packers’ 22-16 loss to the Chicago Bears. He allowed three quarterback pressures in the defeat, two of which were hurries and one was a hit.

C Garrett Bradbury (2014-18), #65 New England Patriots: Bradbury logged 74 snaps as the Patriots’ starting center in the team’s 28-24 win over the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday Night Football. He did not allow a quarterback pressure for the second straight game. 

QB Jacoby Brissett (2014-15), #7 Arizona Cardinals: Brissett was 16-of-31 passing for 203 yards with a touchdown and an interception in the Cardinals’ 26-19 loss to the Atlanta Falcons. He also logged one rush for five yards, while being sacked twice in the defeat.

OLB Bradley Chubb (2014-17), #2 Miami Dolphins: Chubb recorded four total tackles, including one solo stop, in the Dolphins’ 45-21 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals. 

P A.J. Cole III (2015-18), #6 Las Vegas Raiders: Cole logged seven punts for 293 yards, an average of 41.9 per attempts, in the Raiders’ 23-21 loss to the Houston Texans. He placed three kicks inside the 20-yard line with a long of 52.

DL Cory Durden (2021-22), #94 New England Patriots: Durden posted four total tackles, including one solo, in the Patriots’ 28-24 win over the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday Night Football.

OT Ikem Ekwonu (2019-21), #79 Carolina Panthers: Ekwonu did not play in the Panthers’ 23-20 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers due to a knee injury. Carolina coach Dave Canales said he was “really close” to being active for the game and is expected to be back for the penultimate regular season game this coming weekend.

DL B.J. Hill Jr. (2014-17), #92 Cincinnati Bengals: Hill posted two total tackles with a quarterback hit in the Bengals’ 45-21 win over the Miami Dolphins. 

S Tanner Ingle (2018-22), #34 Los Angeles Rams: Ingle is on the Rams’ practice squad. He did not play in the Rams’ 38-37 overtime loss to the Seattle Seahawks on Thursday Night Football.

DT Justin Jones (2014-17), #93 Arizona Cardinals: Jones was placed on the Cardinals’ injured reserve with a knee injury in August. 

RB Zonovan Knight (2019-21), #35 Arizona Cardinals: Knight was placed on season-ending injured reserve due to an ankle injury suffered in Week 15.

OL Tim McKay (2019-2024), #68 Washington Commanders: McKay didn’t play in the Commanders’ 29-18 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles as he’s a part of the team’s practice squad. 

OL Dylan McMahon (2019-23), #63 Los Angeles Rams: McMahon is a practice squad player for the Rams. He did not play in the team’s Rams’ 38-37 overtime loss to the Seattle Seahawks on Thursday Night Football.

DT Alim McNeill (2018-20), #54 Detroit Lions: McNeill posted two total tackles, including one for a loss, in the Lions’ 29-24 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers and Pack Pro Payton Wilson. 

WR Jakobi Meyers (2016-18), #3 Jacksonville Jaguars: Meyers logged four receptions for 45 yards on eight total targets in the Jaguars’ 34-20 win over the Denver Broncos. He also added one carry for one yard in the victory.

DT Larrell Murchison (2018-19), #52 Los Angeles Rams: Murchison recorded eight total snaps played in the Rams’ 38-37 overtime loss to the Seattle Seahawks on Thursday Night Football. He did not post a tackle in the defeat.

LB Germaine Pratt (2014-18), #53 Indianapolis Colts: Pratt logged six total tackles, including four solo stops, in the Colts’ 48-27 loss to the San Francisco 49ers. He also posted a pass breakup on Monday Night Football.

QB Philip Rivers (2000-2004), #17 Indianapolis Colts: Rivers was 23-of-35 passing for 277 yards with two touchdowns and an interception in the Colts’ 48-27 loss to the San Francisco 49ers. He was sacked twice in the defeat.

DL Kentavius Street (2014-17), #93 Atlanta Falcons: Street did not play in the Falcons’ 27-24 loss to the New York Jets, as he’s on the practice squad.

LB Drake Thomas (2019-22), #42 Seattle Seahawks: Thomas led the Seahawks with a career-high 13 total tackles in the team’s 38-37 overtime win over the Los Angeles Rams. He posted six solo stops in the victory.

OL Joe Thuney (2011-15), #62 Chicago Bears: Thuney logged 64 total snaps played as the Bears’ starting left guard in the team’s 22-16 win over the Green Bay Packers. He allowed just one quarterback pressure, which went for a hurry, in the critical victory.

LB Payton Wilson (2018-23), #41 Pittsburgh Steelers: Wilson recorded five total tackles, including four solo stops, in the Steelers’ 29-24 win over the Detroit Lions and Pack Pro Alim McNeill.

QB Russell Wilson (2007-10, finished at Wisconsin), #3 New York Giants: Wilson, the Giants’ third-string quarterback, did not play in the team’s 16-13 loss to the Minnesota Vikings.

OL Chandler Zavala (2021-22), #62 Carolina Panthers: Zavala did not play in the Panthers’ 23-20 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.