WVU in the NFL: Week 13
Former West Virginia quarterback Geno Smith started his first game of the season Sunday for the New York Giants and his first since week seven of last season.
Smith completed 21 of his 34 pass attempts for 212 yards and one touchdown in a 24-17 loss to the Oakland Raiders. The Giants fired head coach Ben McAdoo and general manager Jerry Reese Monday and Smith will return to his backup role this week against the Dallas Cowboys.
For the Raiders, linebacker Bruce Irvin recorded a sack for the second consecutive week and was the team’s second-leading tackler in the win over the Giants. Irvin finished with eight tackles, one sack and a forced fumble.
Raiders safety Karl Joseph recorded four solo tackles in the win and now has 65 combined tackles on the year.
Philadelphia Eagles linebacker Najee Goode played 18 snaps on defense and 16 on special teams and recorded four combined tackles in a 24-10 loss to the Seattle Seahawks. Goode now has 15 combined tackles this season.
Goode’s teammate, Eagles rookie cornerback Rasul Douglas, saw his defensive play count decrease from 11 last week to just one Sunday against the Seahawks. He also saw just five snaps on special teams after playing 11 last week and didn't record a statistic.
Offensively, Eagles running back Wendell Smallwood was inactive for the third straight game and wide receiver Shelton Gibson was on the active roster for the second straight week and played eight snaps on special teams, but again didn’t record a statistic.
On the opposite side of the field, Seahawks linebacker Terence Garvin played 14 snaps on special teams and didn’t record a statistic. Seahawks offensive guard Mark Glowinski didn’t play a snap in the win due to Ethan Pocic playing the entire game at right guard.
Chicago Bears linebacker Nick Kwiatkoski recorded two tackles including one tackle for loss in a 15-14 loss to the San Francisco 49ers.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Charles Sims carried the ball three times for 16 yards and added two receptions for 35 yards in a 26-20 overtime loss to the Green Bay Packers.
Sims’ teammate, safety Keith Tandy, recorded two total tackles in the loss and defensive lineman Will Clarke racked up three tackles including two sacks. His two-sack performance marked the first multi-sack game of his career.
The Buccaneers also signed cornerback Maurice Fleming to their practice squad last week. Fleming was released by the team with an injury settlement during training camp earlier this season after he suffered and played through a torn meniscus in the team's second preseason game against the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Cincinnati Bengals cornerback Adam Jones recorded one tackle and his first interception of the season in a 23-20 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers Monday night, but left the game after suffering an injury on the interception in the first quarter.
Carolina Panthers cornerback Daryl Worley played 29 snaps and allowed only one catch for three yards in a 31-21 loss to the New Orleans Saints. Worley finished with three tackles and two passes defensed on his way to an 86.4 rating from Pro Football Focus, the highest overall grade for the Panthers in week 13.
Tennessee Titans offensive guard Quinton Spain started his 10th game of the season and helped pave the way for 198 rushing yards in a 24-14 win over the Houston Texans.
Los Angeles Rams Wide receiver Tavon Austin rushed for eight yards on three carries in a 32-16 win over the Arizona Cardinals. Austin was targeted once, but did not have a reception in the win.
Green Bay Packers offensive lineman Adam Pankey was inactive again, but Detroit Lions offensive lineman Don Barclay appeared in his first game with the team since being cut by the Packers and played 34 offensive snaps in a 44-20 loss to the Baltimore Ravens.
The San Francisco 49ers released defensive lineman Noble Nwachukwu from the practice squad on Nov. 29 in a series of roster moves.
