As Week 2 of the NFL comes to a close, there have been many standout performances from Georgia alumni. The Red & Black highlighted some of the best outings from former Bulldogs across the NFL.
James Cook, Buffalo Bills
The Bills upset their division rival Miami Dolphins 31-10 behind a stellar performance from former Bulldog running back James Cook on Thursday Night Football. Cook caught an 11-yard touchdown pass on the Bills’ opening drive and added two more touchdowns on the ground to complete his first-half hat trick. He finished the day as Buffalo’s leading rusher with 11 carries for 78 yards. Cook’s performance earned him AFC Offensive Player of the Week honors.
The Bills’ defense blanked Miami’s often high-powered offense, holding the Dolphins’ Tua Tagovailoa three times and shutting it down in the second half. The Bills improved to 2-0 on the season, having now beaten Miami in 12 of their last 13 games.
Brock Bowers, Las Vegas Raiders
The Raiders upset reigning MVP Lamar Jackson and the Baltimore Ravens 26-23 at home on Sunday. Former Bulldog Brock Bowers was at the center of it all, hauling in nine of his catches for 98 yards, 82 of which came in the second half. The Raiders’ 2024 first-round pick already sits atop the tight end in receptions and receiving yards.
It was a blow to the Ravens, who came into the game with the best coverage of any NFL team in Week 2 but gave up the game-winning field goal to the Raiders with 27 seconds left in the game. fall to 0-2.
Kamari Lassiter, Houston Texans
Former Bulldog linebacker Kamari Lassiter emerged as one of the best players in the 2024 rookie class, and he showed exactly why in the Texans’ 19-13 win over the Chicago Bears on Sunday Night Football. Lassiter was targeted seven times, allowed just 20 yards on two receptions, and recorded his first career touchdown in the fourth quarter, all while playing in every defense.
Lassiter also picked off Bears quarterback Caleb Williams in the third quarter, but the play was called back due to a defensive penalty away from play. He finished with four tackles in addition to his interception, as the Texans moved to 2-0.
Devonte Wyatt, Green Bay Packers
Former Bulldog quarterback Devonte Wyatt made two big plays to help the Packers beat the Indianapolis Colts 16-10. In the second quarter, Wyatt threw the Colts’ offensive lineman aside and caught running back Jonathan Taylor for a one-yard loss. In the next quarter, Wyatt pulled a pass and hauled down quarterback Anthony Richardson, recording the Packers’ lone sack of the day.
In his first two seasons in Green Bay, Wyatt did not live up to the expectations set when the Packers selected him in the first round of the 2022 NFL Draft. However, with a new defensive coordinator in Jeff Hafley, Wyatt could be ready for a breakout year.
Wyatt and the Packers’ defense created all kinds of problems for Richardson, rushing him four times and intercepting him three times. Green Bay improved to 1-1 with the win.
Roquan Smith, Baltimore Ravens
The Ravens fell to the Raiders after being 8.5 point favorites going into the contest, but it certainly wasn’t for a lack of effort from Roquan Smith. The former Georgia State and Butkus Award winner was all over the field on Sunday, matching the top 11 teams.
Smith, now in his seventh NFL season, has proven to be one of the league’s premier players. He has won more games than any other player since being drafted in 2018 and has been a Pro Bowl selection in each of the past four seasons.
His effort on Sunday wasn’t enough, however, to prevent Baltimore from starting the season 0-2 for the first time since 2015.
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