Alabama
Alabama NFL roundup: No Jalen Hurts, no problem for DeVonta Smith, Philadelphia Eagles
Philadelphia wide receiver DeVonta Smith has played in five of his 68 NFL games without former Alabama teammate Jalen Hurts as the Eagles quarterback, including on Sunday. In two of those five games, Smith has caught two touchdown passes, including on Sunday.
In the Eagles’ 41-7 victory over the Dallas Cowboys, Smith had six receptions for 120 yards and two touchdowns even though Hurts missed the game after sustaining a concussion in last week’s 36-33 loss to the Washington Commanders.
While Hurts has been on the throwing end of 23 of Smith’s 27 TD catches, the former Alabama All-American has had two of his three two-touchdown games with Hurts’ backups on the field.
Against the Cowboys, Smith caught a 22-yard touchdown pass from Kenny Pickett as Philadelphia took a 14-7 lead with 6:38 left in the first half.
After Pickett left with a rib injury, Smith caught a 25-yard touchdown pass from Tanner McKee with 10:03 remaining.
Smith caught two touchdown passes from Hurts in a 30-13 victory over the Denver Broncos on Nov. 14, 2021, and two touchdown passes from Gardner Minshew in a 40-34 loss to Dallas on Dec. 24, 2022.
Smith’s second 100-yard game of season was the 11th of his career. He has two more in postseason play.
By improving to 13-3, the Eagles clinched the NFC East title and the accompanying home game in the first round of the postseason.
WHAT DOES JALEN HURTS HAVE TO DO TO PLAY QUARTERBACK AGAIN FOR THE EAGLES?
Smith was among the 32 former Alabama players who got on the field on the 17th Sunday of the NFL’s 105th season.
Six other former Alabama players were involved in the Dallas-Philadelphia game:
Landon Dickerson started at left guard for the Eagles.
Cowboys cornerback Trevon Diggs is on injured reserve and not eligible to play.
Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts was designated as a game-day inactive. Hurts sustained a concussion in Philadelphia’s previous game.
Eagles cornerback Eli Ricks did not record any stats.
Eagles offensive lineman Tyler Steen did not record any stats.
Eagles defensive tackle Byron Young is on injured reserve and not eligible to play.
In the other Sunday games:
Buffalo Bills 40, New York Jets 14
Bills wide receiver Amari Cooper had three receptions for 56 yards and one touchdown. Cooper caught a 30-yard pass from quarterback Josh Allen as Buffalo took a 19-0 lead with 5:13 remaining in the third quarter. The receptions boosted Cooper’s career totals to 711 catches for 10,033 yards and 64 touchdowns. Cooper became the 57th player in NFL history to reach 10,000 receiving yards in regular-season play.
Bills safety Kareem Jackson is on the practice squad and not eligible to play.
Jets linebacker C.J. Mosley (Theodore) is on injured reserve and not eligible to play.
Bills wide receiver Tyrell Shavers caught a 69-yard touchdown pass. Buffalo elevated Shavers from its practice squad to make him eligible to play on Sunday for the third time in his NFL career. The only pass by Bills backup quarterback Mitch Trubisky on Sunday went to Shavers, and he turned his first NFL interception into a long-distance touchdown even though he caught the football behind the line of scrimmage.
TYRELL SHAVERS SCORES 69-YARD TOUCHDOWN ON HIS FIRST NFL CATCH
Quinnen Williams (Wenonah) started at defensive tackle for the Jets. Williams made two tackles.
Jacksonville Jaguars 20, Tennessee Titans 13
Mac Jones started at quarterback for the Jaguars. Jones completed 15-of-22 passes for 174 yards with two touchdowns and no interceptions and ran six times for 22 yards. Jones threw a 2-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Parker Washington as Jacksonville took a 10-0 lead with 8:59 left in the first half and an 11-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr. as the Jaguars went ahead 20-10 with 7:05 to play. The Thomas TD came at the end of a 16-play, 74-yard drive that took 9:11. Jones made his fourth start since Trevor Lawrence went on injured reserve for the rest of the season. Jones had a 66.6 passing-efficiency rating in the first start – a 10-6 victory over Tennessee on Dec. 8. His rating has improved each game since, reaching 122.2 on Sunday for the fifth-best showing of his career. The Jaguars converted on 8-of-13 third-down snaps, and Jones got half of the conversions on the ground with three quarterback sneaks and a 9-yard scramble.
J.C. Latham started at left offensive tackle for the Titans. Latham became the 16th rookie to start at least 16 games for Tennessee. In the Titans’ regular-season finale next week, he could join cornerback Roger McCreary, a former Williamson High School and Auburn standout, as the only players to start 17 games as rookies for Tennessee.
Calvin Ridley started at wide receiver for the Titans. Ridley had five receptions for 84 yards and one rushing attempt that gained 7 yards. Ridley will go into the final game of the season needing 59 receiving yards to reach 1,000 for the 2024 campaign.
Jaguars running back Keilan Robinson did not record any stats.
Las Vegas Raiders 25, New Orleans Saints 10
Ga’Quincy “Kool-Aid” McKinstry (Pinson Valley) started at right cornerback for the Saints. McKinstry made three tackles.
New York Giants 45, Indianapolis Colts 33
Colts defensive tackle Raekwon Davis made one tackle.
Colts safety Ronnie Harrison did not record any stats.
Ryan Kelly started at center for the Colts.
Evan Neal started at right offensive tackle for the Giants.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers 48, Carolina Panthers 14
Buccaneers safety Marcus Banks is on the practice squad and not eligible to play.
Buccaneers outside linebacker Chris Braswell recorded the first full sack of his NFL career. The second-round rookie had a strip sack of Carolina QB Bryce Young on a third-and-5 snap at the Tampa Bay 33-yard line with 7:39 left to play. Braswell caused Young to fumble, but the Panthers recovered.
Panthers defensive end LaBryan Ray (James Clemens) made one tackle.
A’Shawn Robinson started at defensive end for the Panthers. Robinson made two tackles.
Bryce Young started at quarterback for the Panthers. Young completed 15-of-28 passes for 203 yards with two touchdowns and no interceptions and ran twice for 8 yards. Young returned to the Carolina lineup on Oct. 27 in a 28-14 loss to the Denver Broncos and started a nine-game streak with at least one touchdown pass in that contest. For the first time in his career, Young had two or more touchdown passes in consecutive games after throwing for two TDs in last week’s 36-30 overtime victory against the Arizona Cardinals. On Sunday, Young threw touchdown passes to wide receiver Adam Thielen of 17 yards with 8:15 left in the first quarter and 40 yards with 50 seconds left in the first half. On third down, Young completed 1-of-5 passes for 10 yards, was sacked twice and scrambled for a first down.
Miami Dolphins 20, Cleveland Browns 3
Browns cornerback Tony Brown is on injured reserve and not eligible to play.
Browns guard Javion Cohen (Central-Phenix City) is on the practice squad and not eligible to play.
Jerome Ford started at running back for the Browns. Ford ran for 22 yards on six carries and returned a kickoff 23 yards before leaving the game because of an ankle injury.
Dolphins defensive tackle Da’Shawn Hand made one tackle and recovered one fumble. Hand recovered a fumble by Cleveland quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson at the Browns 45-yard line with 5:23 left in the third quarter. Hand’s only other NFL fumble recovery came on Oct. 7, 2018.
Jerry Jeudy started at wide receiver for the Browns. Jeudy had 12 receptions for 94 yards. Jeudy reached a career high for receptions, surpassing his 11 catches in a 21-7 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs on Dec. 15.
Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa was designated as a game-day inactive. A hip injury kept Tagovailoa out of the lineup.
Dalvin Tomlinson started at defensive tackle for the Browns. Tomlinson made three tackles and recorded one tackle for loss.
Dolphins wide receiver Jaylen Waddle was designated as a game-day inactive. A knee injury sidelined Waddle for the second game in a row.
Browns offensive tackle Jedrick Wills Jr. is on injured reserve and not eligible to play.
Minnesota Vikings 27, Green Bay Packers 25
Josh Jacobs started at running back for the Packers. Jacobs ran for 69 yards and one touchdown on 17 carries. He extended his touchdown streak to seven games with a 2-yard run with 5:07 left in the third quarter as Green Bay cut Minnesota’s lead to 20-10. Jacobs also lost a 19-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter to a holding penalty.
Xavier McKinney started at safety for the Packers. McKinney made seven tackles.
Vikings kicker Will Reichard (Hoover) made 2-of-4 field-goal attempts after entering the game 19-of-22 in his rookie season. Reichard made a 25-yard field goal with 2:16 left in the first half and a 50-yard field goal as time expired in the first half. Reichard had a 57-yard field-goal attempt hit the crossbar and a 43-yard field-goal attempt hit the left upright. Reichard also made three extra-point kicks on Sunday.
Cam Robinson started at left offensive tackle for the Vikings. Robinson’s 100th regular-season game was his 100th NFL start.
Vikings outside linebacker Dallas Turner recorded one sack. The sack was the third of the first-round rookie’s career.
Washington Commanders 30, Atlanta Falcons 24 (OT)
Commanders defensive tackle Jonathan Allen made one tackle. Allen returned from a nine-game injury absence and played in a reserve role for the first time in his 108 NFL regular-season games.
Falcons linebacker Rashaan Evans (Auburn High) is on the practice squad and not eligible to play.
Falcons safety DeMarcco Hellams is on injured reserve and not eligible to play.
Falcons running back Jase McClellan is on injured reserve and not eligible to play.
Daron Payne (Shades Valley) started at defensive tackle for the Commanders. Payne made two tackles.
Brian Robinson Jr. (Hillcrest-Tuscaloosa) started at running back for the Commanders. Robinson ran for 60 yards on 13 carries and caught two passes for 7 yards.
Week 17 started on Wednesday, when the Kansas City Chiefs defeated the Pittsburgh Steelers 29-10 and the Baltimore Ravens defeated the Houston Texans 31-2.
STEELERS’ NAJEE HARRIS HAS 4 1,000-YARD RUSHING PERFORMANCES IN 4 SEASONS
Week 17 continued on Thursday night, when the Seattle Seahawks defeated the Chicago Bears 6-3.
Three games were played on Saturday: The Los Angeles Chargers defeated the New England Patriots 40-7, the Cincinnati Bengals defeated the Denver Broncos 30-24 in overtime and the Los Angeles Rams defeated the Arizona Cardinals 13-9.
Week 17 concludes on Monday, when the Detroit Lions and San Francisco 49ers square off at 7:15 p.m. CDT at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California. ABC and ESPN will televise the game.
FOR MORE OF AL.COM’S COVERAGE OF THE NFL, GO TO OUR NFL PAGE
Mark Inabinett is a sports reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter at @AMarkG1.
Alabama
Alabama football ready to turn the page to 2025 season
Happy Thursday, everyone. We now know three of the four college football semifinalists as Penn State, Texas, and Ohio State have punched their tickets. Joining them will be either Notre Dame or Georgia who play today at 3pm CT on ESPN after being postponed due to the horrific murders on Bourbon Street. Alabama student Kareem Badawi was among the victims.
Alabama President Stuart R. Bell posted on social media, stating:
“I learned today that Kareem Badawi, one of our students at The University of Alabama, was killed in the terrorist attack in New Orleans. I grieve alongside family and friends of Kareem in their heartbreaking loss. Our staff have been actively engaged in supportive outreach and the Office of Student Care and Well Being is available at 205-348-2461 or bamacares@ua.edu. Please take a moment to pray for those impacted by this tragedy.
Just an awful, senseless tragedy. May their families find peace.
Alabama fans are understandably ready to turn the page on the 2024 football season, and the excitement of QB prospect Keelon Russell is one way to do that. He will play in the Under Armour today on ESPN2, in the same time slot as the Sugar.
The top-ranked quarterback of the All-American Game, Alabama signee Keelon Russell is set for the showcase just before heading to Tuscaloosa for his freshman season.
Russell, the No. 2-ranked prospect and No. 2 quarterback of the 2025 class behind Michigan quarterback signee Bryce Underwood, has an outside chance at being Alabama’s quarterback next season, as the five-star recruit could potentially push Ty Simpson for the job (should Jalen Milroe not return for another season).
The Duncanville High School (Texas) product will take snaps for Team Icon on Thursday, throwing passes to his high school teammate Dakorien Moore, a fellow five-star recruit and Oregon signee.
Russell certainly doesn’t lack confidence.
“We all seen the offense they ran with Jalen Milroe and how it kind of fit him,” Russell said. The current Alabama starter did throw for 2,844 yards and 16 touchdowns this fall but also had 11 interceptions in a campaign that fell short of program expectations. “Jalen Milroe lacked on some things. He’s more of a physical quarterback. He wants to run the ball a lot.
“It’s different going from Jalen Milroe to Keelon Russell. You’re get an effing unit (in Milroe), a tank at the quarterback position to you know what I’m saying, I’m getting there. I’m a tank too but I’m not that tank. He’s got a lot of stuff to him. It’s different. The offense is going to kind of change. It’s going to be a little slower since it has to change now if he were to possibly leave to the draft.
“It’s going to have to change.”
There won’t be a spring camp battle with more intrigue than the Alabama QB competition this year.
Milroe and Tim Smith both seem optimistic about the 2025 team’s chances.
To Milroe, DeBoer and Sheridan are two reasons why he feels Alabama has a “bright future.”
“The people understand what needs to be done so we can be the best version of (ourselves),” Milroe said. “The standard that is here, the standard that is set. And we have a lot of great dudes in the locker room that’s hungry, that’s looking to get better, that’s looking to uphold the standard.”
Tim Smith didn’t have a message to Alabama fans after Tuesday’s loss. They are going to feel what they feel, the defensive lineman said.
Smith did have a message to his teammates before ending his Alabama career: continue to play to that Crimson Tide standard, something, he said, the players helped teach and uphold in a program filled with change.
It’s why he feels Alabama is set up for success in 2025.
Kalen DeBoer got some good news yesterday as LT Overton announced his return.
“The journey towards success that has been paved at Alabama by the guys before me is not over,” Overton wrote in an Instagram post. “I am excited to take on challenges, and I am always looking to provide leadership. I am also committed to working hard to achieve the goals that I share with my teammates. As the late Kobe Bryant would say — Job’s not finished! In fact, this is just the beginning. 2025 will be a time for action. This is my official announcement – I am returning for my senior year. Roll Tide, Roll!”
There were a few bright spots in that disaster of a bowl game. Zavier Mincey flashed at safety, and James Smith looked quite explosive for a 300 pounder. Perhaps the DL could be a strength next season?
Did Alabama find its answer for defensive line production in James Smith?
For a defensive line that struggled to generate pressure all season, James Smith put on a clinic for Alabama against Michigan.
Smith recorded four tackles, two tackles for loss and a sack: a tackle of Michigan quarterback Davis Warren for a 13-yard loss that was eliminated by a 15-yard personal foul penalty.
Overall, Alabama’s defensive line accounted for both sacks and six of the team’s eight tackles for loss, a welcome sign ahead of 2025.
Tom Fornelli is Captain Obvious.
The truth that some haven’t come to grips with is that no matter how much changes in college football, Alabama will remain one of the premier programs in the sport. It will still land great recruiting classes, and it will still win a lot of games and compete for SEC championships and the College Football Playoff.
But it won’t do so every year. In some years, it will lose three or four games. One day, all Alabama fans will understand it and possibly even accept it while continuing to strive for better.
The question is whether they will come to that understanding during Kalen DeBoer’s tenure or after it.
Saban repeatedly said that the level of success he enjoyed at Alabama was unsustainable, even for him.
Last, Jaren Hamilton is moving on after not seeing much action in the bowl despite a depleted WR corps.
Before the bowl, Kobe Prentice, Kendrick Law, Caleb Odom and Emmanuel Henderson opted to transfer away from Alabama. Jaylen Mbakwe, who spent his freshman regular season at cornerback, also moved to wide receiver for the game and beyond.
The transfer portal is open for Alabama players to enter for five days following the end of Tuesday’s game. The Tide lost 19-13 due to early turnovers and offensive struggles throughout, ending Kalen DeBoer’s first season in charge with a 9-3 record.
Hamilton was a four-star prospect out of high school according to the 247Sports composite. The Gainesville native chose the Crimson Tide over Florida, Michigan, Michigan State, Tennessee and USC.
The receiver room is still quite stocked for 2025, though we still haven’t heard from Germie Bernard about his draft plan.
That’s about it for now. Have a great day.
Roll Tide.
Alabama
University of Alabama student among those killed in New Orleans terrorist attack
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. (WAFF) – The University of Alabama’s president announced on Wednesday night that one of the college’s students was one of 15 people killed in the New Orleans attack on New Year’s Day.
In a statement provided by UA President Stuart R. Bell, the student was identified as Kareem Badawi.
I learned today that Kareem Badawi, one of our students at The University of Alabama, was killed in the terrorist attack in New Orleans. I grieve alongside family and friends of Kareem in their heartbreaking loss.
Officials say the Office of Student Care and Well Being is available at (205)348-2461 or bamacares@ua.edu.
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Alabama
Nick Saban amazed by Tez Johnson story, questions why Alabama staff didn't recruit him
Nick Saban is no longer the head football coach at Alabama after retiring a year ago.
But that doesn’t mean the first-year ESPN College GameDay analyst doesn’t have some regrets, especially when it comes to the Crimson Tide’s in-state recruiting of Oregon receiver Tez Johnson, or lack thereof.
Get your team’s official College Football Playoff watch from AXIA by CLICKING HERE: “Watches that tell so much more than time”
Following a GameDay segment on Johnson, an under-recruited senior from Pinson, Ala., the former Alabama coach hilariously questioned how the 2020 Tide coaching staff failed to recruit the budding NFL prospect.
“What I’m sitting here thinking about is Tez Johnson is from Birmingham, 45 minutes away from Alabama, and we didn’t recruit the guy,” Saban said to laughs from the GameDay crew. “Who was recruiting Birmingham? And I should’ve fired their ass!”
Rece Davis, GameDay host and an Alabama alum himself, pointed out Johnson originally signed with in-state Troy, much to Saban’s chagrin.
“He went to Troy first, and we didn’t recruit when he left there either!” Saban answered.
Johnson was a three-star recruit in the 2020 class out of Pinson Valley (Pinson, Ala.) High, which is located roughly 75 miles and an hour and 15 minute drive East on I-20 from the Alabama football complex. Pinson signed with Troy out of high school and eventually transferred to Oregon in late December 2022, following his adopted brother and former Auburn quarterback Bo Nix to Eugene.
While Nix entered the NFL after the 2023 season, Johnson remained in Eugene for his senior year and has been the go-to receiver for Ducks quarterback Dillon Gabriel, leading Oregon with 78 catches for 866 yards and 10 touchdowns this season.
Suffice it to say, that sort of production would have been welcomed in Tuscaloosa this season, where true freshman Ryan Williams led the Tide in receiving with 48 catches for 865 yards and eight touchdowns.
The Oregon Ducks have been without star wide receiver Tez Johnson for the last two games as he’s battled injury. So, when he posted to social media a picture of himself and the words “He’s back,” it got Ducks fans excited.
At his press conference on Wednesday, head coach Dan Lanning was pressed about Johnson’s status. However, he insisted that he doesn’t talk about injured players. So, everyone would have to wait and see if he made his way onto the field on Saturday.
“Yeah, I’m not gonna talk about injuries,” Lanning said. “You guys will see them on the field when they’re ready to go.”
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