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NFL Owls – Week 1
9/17/2020 9:22:00 AM | Football
BOCA RATON, Fla. – FAUSports.com is proud to update our fans on the exploits of all of the former Owls who are lacing their cleats up each week in the NFL. Here's a rundown of how each performed during the first week of the 2020 NFL season:
(All gametimes listed below are Eastern)
#51 Azeez Al-Shaair | LB | San Francisco 49ers
- Al-Shaair took the field for 82% of the 49ers' special teams snaps last Sunday, 23 of 28, the second-highest mark of his career. The defending NFC West champs were upset by Arizona, 24-20.
49ers' Record: 0-1
Next game: at New York Jets – Sunday, 1 p.m. (FOX)
#88 Harrison Bryant | TE | Cleveland Browns
- Bryant's debut saw him targeted twice, hauling in his first career reception for five yards. He played 31 offensive snaps, second-most among Browns' tight ends, plus nine more on special teams, in a 38-6 loss to Baltimore.
Browns' record: 0-1
Next game: vs. Cincinnati – Tonight, Thursday Night Football, 8:20 p.m. (NFL Network)
#91 Trey Hendrickson | DE | New Orleans Saints
- Hendrickson registered a sack among four tackles, and had two quarterback hits, as the Saints topped Tampa Bay, 34-23. All told, he played 43 snaps, 39 on the D-line and four on special teams.
Saints' record: 1-0
Next game: at Las Vegas – Monday Night Football, 8;15 p.m. (ESPN/ABC)
#38 Buddy Howell | RB | Houston Texans
- In the first NFL game of 2020, Howell was involved in 15 of the Texans' 24 special teams snaps, or 62% (literally his career average coming in through the previous two years). Houston fell to Kansas City, 34-20.
Texans' record: 0-1
Next game: vs. Baltimore – Sunday, 4:25 p.m. (CBS)
#34 Cre'von LeBlanc | CB | Philadelphia Eagles
- LeBlanc started at cornerback in the Eagles' season opener, notching a pass defense among his 10 defensive snaps (plus four more on special teams). Philadelphia was topped by the Washington Football Team, 27-17.
Eagles' record: 0-1
Next game: vs. Los Angeles Rams – Sunday, 1 p.m. (FOX)
#41 Sharrod Neasman | S | Atlanta Falcons
- Neasman's fifth season opener saw him in on 86% of Atlanta's special teams snaps (25 of 29). On one of those, he was asked to run on a fake punt, gaining the first down with a two-yard rush. Unfortunately, he fumbled on the play and lost it, and the Falcons lost to Seattle, 38-25.
Falcons' record: 0-1
Next game: at Dallas (and Rashad Smith) – Sunday, 1 p.m. (FOX)
#42 James Pierre | DB | Pittsburgh Steelers
- Pierre made his NFL debut with seven special teams snaps in Pittsburgh's Monday Night win over the Giants, 26-16.
Steelers' record: 1-0
Next game: vs. Denver – Sunday, 1 p.m. (CBS)
#26 Devin Singletary | RB | Buffalo Bills
- Singletary totaled 53 yards from scrimmage in the Bills' 27-17 win over the Jets. He rushed nine times for 30 yards, and was targeted seven times out of the backfield, catching five, for 23 more yards. He led Buffalo's RB corps with 59% of the offensive snaps.
Bills' record: 1-0
Next game: at Miami – Sunday, 1 p.m. (CBS)
#53 Rashad Smith | LB | Dallas Cowboys
- After spending the preseason with the Bears, and Week 1 on their practice squad, the rookie linebacker was signed by the 0-1 Cowboys to their active roster on Tuesday.
Next game: vs. Atlanta (and Sharrod Neasman) – Sunday, 1 p.m. (FOX)
#57 Adarius Taylor | LB | Carolina Panthers
- Taylor was in on a tackle in his return to the Panthers, on a third quarter punt return. He totaled 22 snaps on Sunday, 18 on special teams and four defensively. Carolina came up short against Las Vegas, 34-30.
Panthers' record: 0-1
Next game: at Tampa Bay – Sunday, 1 p.m. (FOX)
Owls on Reserve/IR
#5 John Franklin III | WR | Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Owls on Practice Squads
#74 Brandin Bryant | DT | Buffalo Bills (Signed on Thursday afternoon)
#93 Trevon Coley | DT | Arizona Cardinals
#1 Greg Joseph | PK | Tampa Bay Buccaneers (*)
#36 Herb Miller | CB | Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Kerrith Whyte Jr. | WR/RB | Detroit Lions (*)
Note: Practice squads have been expanded to 16 per team this season, and each week, four are chosen as "protected" members, barred from being signed by other teams to their active roster before that week's games are played. Those protected are designated above with an asterisk.
Each Thursday, check back here on FAUSports.com to see how each Owl did each week, along with a preview of their respective team's next game.
(All gametimes listed below are Eastern)
#51 Azeez Al-Shaair | LB | San Francisco 49ers
- Al-Shaair took the field for 82% of the 49ers' special teams snaps last Sunday, 23 of 28, the second-highest mark of his career. The defending NFC West champs were upset by Arizona, 24-20.
49ers' Record: 0-1
Next game: at New York Jets – Sunday, 1 p.m. (FOX)
#88 Harrison Bryant | TE | Cleveland Browns
- Bryant's debut saw him targeted twice, hauling in his first career reception for five yards. He played 31 offensive snaps, second-most among Browns' tight ends, plus nine more on special teams, in a 38-6 loss to Baltimore.
Browns' record: 0-1
Next game: vs. Cincinnati – Tonight, Thursday Night Football, 8:20 p.m. (NFL Network)
#91 Trey Hendrickson | DE | New Orleans Saints
- Hendrickson registered a sack among four tackles, and had two quarterback hits, as the Saints topped Tampa Bay, 34-23. All told, he played 43 snaps, 39 on the D-line and four on special teams.
Saints' record: 1-0
Next game: at Las Vegas – Monday Night Football, 8;15 p.m. (ESPN/ABC)
#38 Buddy Howell | RB | Houston Texans
- In the first NFL game of 2020, Howell was involved in 15 of the Texans' 24 special teams snaps, or 62% (literally his career average coming in through the previous two years). Houston fell to Kansas City, 34-20.
Texans' record: 0-1
Next game: vs. Baltimore – Sunday, 4:25 p.m. (CBS)
#34 Cre'von LeBlanc | CB | Philadelphia Eagles
- LeBlanc started at cornerback in the Eagles' season opener, notching a pass defense among his 10 defensive snaps (plus four more on special teams). Philadelphia was topped by the Washington Football Team, 27-17.
Eagles' record: 0-1
Next game: vs. Los Angeles Rams – Sunday, 1 p.m. (FOX)
#41 Sharrod Neasman | S | Atlanta Falcons
- Neasman's fifth season opener saw him in on 86% of Atlanta's special teams snaps (25 of 29). On one of those, he was asked to run on a fake punt, gaining the first down with a two-yard rush. Unfortunately, he fumbled on the play and lost it, and the Falcons lost to Seattle, 38-25.
Falcons' record: 0-1
Next game: at Dallas (and Rashad Smith) – Sunday, 1 p.m. (FOX)
#42 James Pierre | DB | Pittsburgh Steelers
- Pierre made his NFL debut with seven special teams snaps in Pittsburgh's Monday Night win over the Giants, 26-16.
Steelers' record: 1-0
Next game: vs. Denver – Sunday, 1 p.m. (CBS)
#26 Devin Singletary | RB | Buffalo Bills
- Singletary totaled 53 yards from scrimmage in the Bills' 27-17 win over the Jets. He rushed nine times for 30 yards, and was targeted seven times out of the backfield, catching five, for 23 more yards. He led Buffalo's RB corps with 59% of the offensive snaps.
Bills' record: 1-0
Next game: at Miami – Sunday, 1 p.m. (CBS)
#53 Rashad Smith | LB | Dallas Cowboys
- After spending the preseason with the Bears, and Week 1 on their practice squad, the rookie linebacker was signed by the 0-1 Cowboys to their active roster on Tuesday.
Next game: vs. Atlanta (and Sharrod Neasman) – Sunday, 1 p.m. (FOX)
#57 Adarius Taylor | LB | Carolina Panthers
- Taylor was in on a tackle in his return to the Panthers, on a third quarter punt return. He totaled 22 snaps on Sunday, 18 on special teams and four defensively. Carolina came up short against Las Vegas, 34-30.
Panthers' record: 0-1
Next game: at Tampa Bay – Sunday, 1 p.m. (FOX)
Owls on Reserve/IR
#5 John Franklin III | WR | Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Owls on Practice Squads
#74 Brandin Bryant | DT | Buffalo Bills (Signed on Thursday afternoon)
#93 Trevon Coley | DT | Arizona Cardinals
#1 Greg Joseph | PK | Tampa Bay Buccaneers (*)
#36 Herb Miller | CB | Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Kerrith Whyte Jr. | WR/RB | Detroit Lions (*)
Note: Practice squads have been expanded to 16 per team this season, and each week, four are chosen as "protected" members, barred from being signed by other teams to their active roster before that week's games are played. Those protected are designated above with an asterisk.
Each Thursday, check back here on FAUSports.com to see how each Owl did each week, along with a preview of their respective team's next game.
Players Mentioned
Florida Atlantic at Rice Recap
Sunday, October 05
Inside the Owls' Burrow S10, E8
Wednesday, October 01
Easton Messer Pads Off
Wednesday, October 01
Meet OL Coach Stephen Hamby
Wednesday, October 01