South Dakotans in the NFL, Week 8

It was not an especially memorable Sunday for any of the NFL’s South Dakota alumni, but several contributed as usual.

Pierre Strong had a 41-yard gain on a screen pass and carried 10 times for the Browns, but they lost to Seattle.

Tucker Kraft saw action in the Packers’ loss to the rival Vikings at Lambeau Field, though those in Kraft’s corner are starting to wonder when the offensively-challenged Packers are going to give the Timber Lake native a longer look.

And on Sunday night, Trey Pipkins had a solid game protecting Justin Herbert as the Chargers whipped the Bears.

Here’s how the rest of the NFL’s South Dakotans fared in Week 7.

Jack Cochrane, LB, Kansas City (USD)
After three straight weeks of seeing the field only on special teams, Cochrane got into a season-high 14 plays at linebacker while still filling his role on special teams and finished with a career-high four tackles.

Dennis Gardeck, LB, Arizona (USF)
Started and played 30 snaps on defense and 14 on special teams, notching two tackles in the Cards’ loss to Baltimore.

Dallas Goedert, TE, Philadelphia (SDSU, Britton-Hecla)
Had four catches for 36 yards in the Eagle’s win over Washington.

C.J. Ham, FB, Minnesota (Augustana)
Had one reception for two yards in the Vikings’ 24-10 win over the Packers in Green Bay.

Tucker Kraft, TE, Green Bay (SDSU, Timber Lake)
Played 19 snaps on offense and 11 on special teams, finishing with no catches or targets and one tackle in the Packers’ loss to the Vikings in Green Bay.

Trey Pipkins, OL, Los Angeles Chargers (USF)
Started and played all 69 offensive snaps at right tackle in the Chargers’ win over the Bears.

Christian Rozeboom, LB, Los Angeles Rams (SDSU)
Had seven tackles – six solo stops – in the Rams’ 43-20 loss to Dallas.

Pierre Strong, RB, Cleveland (SDSU)
Carried 10 times for 41 yards and one catch for 41 yards in the Browns’ loss to Seattle. Also returned a kickoff 15 yards.

On practice squad/IR: Kameron Cline, Buffalo (USD), Cade Johnson, Seattle (SDSU), Chris Oladokun, Kansas City (SDSU), Matt Farniok, Chicago (Sioux Falls Washington), Riley Reiff, New England (Parkston)

Matt Zimmer is a Sioux Falls native and longtime sports writer. He graduated from Washington High School where he played football, legion baseball and developed his lifelong love of the Minnesota Twins and Vikings. After graduating from St. Cloud State University, he returned to Sioux Falls, and began a long career in amateur baseball and sports reporting. Email Matt at mzimmer@siouxfallslive.com.