Temple University Athletics
Owls in the NFL - Week 2
9.21.20 | Football
PHILADELPHIA – It was another eventful week for former Temple players in the NFL, as 15 former Owls were on active NFL rosters for Week 2, with all of them playing on Sunday afternoon.
The battle of former Temple head coaches between Matt Rhule of Carolina and Bruce Arians of Tampa Bay also featured five former Owls on Carolina's active roster. While Tampa Bay ended up winning the game 31-17, these players had strong performances. Captain and linebacker Tahir Whitehead (2008-11) totaled six tackles in his start against Tom Brady and the Tampa Bay offense, while wide receiver Robby Anderson (2011-13, 15) had nine receptions, tying a career high, for 109 yards against the Tampa Bay defense. This was Anderson's second consecutive game with 100+ receiving yards, as he totaled 114 last week against Las Vegas.
After being inactive last week, tight end Colin Thompson (2014-16) made his NFL debut on Sunday and was instrumental in blocking for Christian McCaffery while he ran in for the Panthers first score of the day. Rookie safety Sam Franklin (2016-19) saw action on defense and special teams, while quarterback Phillip Walker (2013-16) again backed up Teddy Bridgewater.
There were two matchups between former Owls this week. The first one again involved Washington and defensive tackle Matt Ioannidis (2012-15), as they traveled to take on Arizona and linebacker Haason Reddick (2013-16). Reddick had two tackles, including his first sack of the season in the second quarter, as the Cardinals prevailed 30-15. Ioannidis had three tackles, including a tackle for loss, in the losing effort.
The second matchup was Houston and linebacker Jacob Martin (2014-17) playing host to Baltimore and cornerback Tavon Young (2012-15). Martin recorded two solo tackles in the game while seeing more snaps on defense and special teams. Unfortunately, Tavon Young suffered a knee injury early in the game, and it ended up being a season-ending injury. This is the second season-ending injury for Young in two years, as he suffered a neck injury that kept him out of the 2019 season. Baltimore won the game 33-16.
Along with Sam Franklin, two other Owls from the 2019 season saw action this week. Philadelphia linebacker Shaun Bradley (2016-19) again saw meaningful action on special teams in a 37-19 loss to the Los Angeles Rams, and Atlanta offensive lineman Matt Hennessy (2016-19) saw offensive snaps in a 40-39 loss to Dallas.
In other games on Sunday, offensive tackle Dion Dawkins (2013-16) and linebacker Tyler Matakevich (2012-15) helped lead Buffalo to a 31-28 victory over Miami. Dawkins captained an offense that only allowed one sack and amassed over 500 total yards, and Matakevich saw snaps on defense and significant time on special teams.
Denver kicker Brandon McManus (2009-12) made two field goals, a 28 and 49-yarder, while missing a difficult 58-yard attempt in a 26-21 loss to Pittsburgh. McManus also went 1-for-1 on extra points, and even recorded a tackle during the second half kickoff. New York Giants safety Sean Chandler (2014-17) was again a late addition to the active roster for their game at Chicago, and Chandler saw action on special teams as well as some defensive snaps, where he recorded his first tackle of the season, in a 17-13 loss.
The battle of former Temple head coaches between Matt Rhule of Carolina and Bruce Arians of Tampa Bay also featured five former Owls on Carolina's active roster. While Tampa Bay ended up winning the game 31-17, these players had strong performances. Captain and linebacker Tahir Whitehead (2008-11) totaled six tackles in his start against Tom Brady and the Tampa Bay offense, while wide receiver Robby Anderson (2011-13, 15) had nine receptions, tying a career high, for 109 yards against the Tampa Bay defense. This was Anderson's second consecutive game with 100+ receiving yards, as he totaled 114 last week against Las Vegas.
After being inactive last week, tight end Colin Thompson (2014-16) made his NFL debut on Sunday and was instrumental in blocking for Christian McCaffery while he ran in for the Panthers first score of the day. Rookie safety Sam Franklin (2016-19) saw action on defense and special teams, while quarterback Phillip Walker (2013-16) again backed up Teddy Bridgewater.
There were two matchups between former Owls this week. The first one again involved Washington and defensive tackle Matt Ioannidis (2012-15), as they traveled to take on Arizona and linebacker Haason Reddick (2013-16). Reddick had two tackles, including his first sack of the season in the second quarter, as the Cardinals prevailed 30-15. Ioannidis had three tackles, including a tackle for loss, in the losing effort.
The second matchup was Houston and linebacker Jacob Martin (2014-17) playing host to Baltimore and cornerback Tavon Young (2012-15). Martin recorded two solo tackles in the game while seeing more snaps on defense and special teams. Unfortunately, Tavon Young suffered a knee injury early in the game, and it ended up being a season-ending injury. This is the second season-ending injury for Young in two years, as he suffered a neck injury that kept him out of the 2019 season. Baltimore won the game 33-16.
Along with Sam Franklin, two other Owls from the 2019 season saw action this week. Philadelphia linebacker Shaun Bradley (2016-19) again saw meaningful action on special teams in a 37-19 loss to the Los Angeles Rams, and Atlanta offensive lineman Matt Hennessy (2016-19) saw offensive snaps in a 40-39 loss to Dallas.
In other games on Sunday, offensive tackle Dion Dawkins (2013-16) and linebacker Tyler Matakevich (2012-15) helped lead Buffalo to a 31-28 victory over Miami. Dawkins captained an offense that only allowed one sack and amassed over 500 total yards, and Matakevich saw snaps on defense and significant time on special teams.
Denver kicker Brandon McManus (2009-12) made two field goals, a 28 and 49-yarder, while missing a difficult 58-yard attempt in a 26-21 loss to Pittsburgh. McManus also went 1-for-1 on extra points, and even recorded a tackle during the second half kickoff. New York Giants safety Sean Chandler (2014-17) was again a late addition to the active roster for their game at Chicago, and Chandler saw action on special teams as well as some defensive snaps, where he recorded his first tackle of the season, in a 17-13 loss.
Players Mentioned
WR
/ Football
LB
/ Football
DB
/ Football
OL
/ Football
BUBO
/ Football
OL
/ Football.jpg&width=100&height=100&type=webp)
DL
/ Football
DL
/ Football
LB
/ Football
PK/P
/ Football
DL
/ Football
TE
/ Football
QB
/ Football
LB
/ Football
DB
/ FootballEp. 29: Last Episode of First Semester from David & Amelia
Wednesday, December 17
MBB Press Conference vs. Saint Francis (Adam Fisher)
Sunday, December 14
MBB Press Conference vs. Saint Francis (Derrian Ford & Gavin Griffiths)
Sunday, December 14
Ep. 28: Vice President/Debbie & Stanley Lefkowitz '65 Director of Athletics Arthur Johnson
Friday, December 12
