Las Vegas Raiders tight end Brock Bowers set another NFL rookie record on Sunday
Former Georgia Bulldogs tight end Brock Bowers in making an instant impact with the Las Vegas Raiders in the NFL. In fact, Bowers is having one of the best rookie seasons for a tight end in NFL history.
Bowers made history again in the Raiders’ 34-19 loss to the Miami Dolphins. Bowers hauled in an NFL rookie tight end record 13 receptions for 126 yards and one touchdown. No rookie tight end has ever caught more passes in a single game. Bowers and Jeremy Shockey are the only rookie tight ends to ever have two games with over 10 receptions.
Bowers has already recorded a staggering 70 receptions for 706 yards and three touchdowns. The rookie from Georgia has put up impressive numbers despite the Raiders’ unstable quarterback situation.
Bowers is second in the NFL in receptions with 70, but he has played in one less game than the NFL’s receptions leader (Bengals wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase with 73 receptions). Bowers is also ninth in the NFL in receiving yards.
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Bowers’ next game is against the Denver Broncos on Nov. 24.
The Green Bay Packers have signed former Georgia Bulldogs, Atlanta Falcons TE to their active roster
The Green Bay Packers have signed former Georgia Bulldogs and Atlanta Falcons tight end John FitzPatrick to their active roster. FitzPatrick was previously a member of the Falcons’ practice squad.
Atlanta drafted FitzPatrick in the sixth round of the 2022 NFL draft. The 6-foot-7, 250-pound tight end appeared in nine games with the Falcons in 2023, but has not appeared in a game this season. FitzPatrick played college football at the University of Georgia from 2018-2021.
FitzPatrick, who has one career NFL reception for 12 yards, joins former Georgia Bulldogs Eric Stokes, Devonte Wyatt, Quay Walker and Javon Bullard on the Packers. He is primarily a blocking tight end and will help Green Bay while tight end Luke Musgrave is dealing with an ankle injury.
FitzPatrick is the second former Georgia Bulldogs draft pick to be signed off the Falcons’ practice squad this year. The Buffalo Bills previously signed 2024 sixth round draft pick Zion Logue to their active roster.
ESPN’s Adam Schefter announced Musgrave’s signing via social media.
Packers are signing TE John FitzPatrick off the Falcons’ practice squad and on to their active roster, per sources.
Packers TE Luke Musgrave has been dealing with an ankle injury.
Former UGA football standout wide receiver, punt returner signs the New York Giants, who released a former Georgia WR in a corresponding move
Former Georgia Bulldogs wide receiver and kick returner Kearis Jackson has signed with the New York Giants. Jackson signed with the Giants as a member of New York’s practice squad.
Jackson spent the 2023 NFL season with the Tennessee Titans. He returned six punts for 48 yards in two games. The Titans released Jackson ahead of the 2024 NFL season.
In a corresponding move, the Giants reached an injury settlement with former Georgia wide receiver Lawrence Cager, who is now a tight end at the NFL level.
Jackson did not record any statistics in New York’s 29-20 win over the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday. The Giants are 2-3 to start the season.
Kearis Jackson will look to carve out a role with the Giants as a punt returner or receiver. Star Giants receiver Malik Nabers missed New York’s most recent game due to injury.
Former Georgia Bulldogs quarterback delivered a huge comeback win in NFL Week 3
Former Georgia Bulldogs quarterback Matthew Stafford has been up-and-down this year, losing both his top two receivers and his tight end to injury. As a result, the Los Angeles Rams started the season 0-2 and were going against a San Francisco 49ers team that represented the NFC in the last Super Bowl.
However, despite facing a 24-14 deficit in the fourth quarter, Stafford led the Rams on an amazing 27-24 comeback victory over the 49ers. With under five minutes remaining, the 49ers had a 95.5% chance to win according to ESPN.
Stafford finished the day with 221 passing yards on 25 attempts, along with a touchdown. He finished with a 105.6 passer rating and he could’ve had even more touchdowns if the Rams didn’t run the ball on the one yard line to score. His touchdown pass was to Kyren Williams, who also scored two rushing touchdowns on the day.
This season, Stafford has 754 passing yards, two touchdowns, and an interception. He currently ranks third in the league in passing yards.
Stafford helped the Rams to win against the 49ers for just the second time in 10 regular season games. It’s a win both Rams fans and Bulldogs fans can be proud of. The Rams’ win over San Francisco may have saved Los Angeles’ season.
Former Georgia football star Brock Bowers has made team history through two games with the Las Vegas Raiders
Former Georgia Bulldogs star tight end Brock Bowers made Las Vegas Raiders team history in Week 2 and is off to an excellent start to the season. Bowers has 15 receptions for 156 yards through two weeks of the 2024 NFL season. Bowers has the most receiving yards and receptions of any Raiders tight end through the first two games of their career.
Bowers, who was the 13th pick in the 2024 NFL draft, is making an instant impact for the Raiders. He played a huge part in Las Vegas’ 26-23 upset win at the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday.
Bowers hauled in nine targets for 98 receiving yards. He came super close to scoring his first career touchdown in the third quarter.
Bowers is No. 13 in the NFL in receiving yardage after two weeks and has the most receiving yards of any tight end. He has the second-most receptions (tied) of any player in the NFL.
Through two weeks, Bowers has the most receptions of any player on the Raiders. He is still looking for his first career NFL touchdown, but that is just a matter of time.
“It appears the Raiders have found the ideal one-two punch in the passing game with those two players, just as the franchise envisioned when it selected Bowers in the first round,” said Luke Straub of Raiders Wire.
Thus far, Bowers has formed a potent duo with NFL veteran receiver Davante Adams. Bowers and Adams have 29 of the Raiders’ 55 receptions this season.
Bowers is a top candidate to win the offensive rookie of the year award. Bowers has been very productive at every stop of his football career and that does not appear to be changing in the NFL.
How five former Georgia Bulldogs performed in Week 1 of the NFL season
Week 1 of the NFL season is in the books and there were several former Georgia Bulldogs that shined as NFL action returned. Georgia has 45 players on active rosters in the NFL, nine players on practice squads and three players (including Nick Chubb) on reserve.
NFL teams love former Georgia Bulldogs. A total of 33 former Dawgs have been selected over the past three NFL drafts.
“You know, it’s unfortunate because the feedback we get from the NFL is there’s nowhere they’d rather have players than here developing,” said Georgia head coach Kirby Smart at his weekly press conference.
We look to examine how five former Georgia football standouts performed to begin the 2024 NFL season.
Matthew Stafford, Los Angeles Rams
Result: Overtime loss at Detroit Lions 26-20
In his third time playing the team that took him first overall, Stafford balled out again, with 317 yards, a touchdown, and an interception for an 85.2 passer rating. He earned a spot on this list for his second half. Stafford’s first half was dreadful, leading the Rams to only three points and throwing an interception when they were driving. In his second half, he threw 201 yards and led the Rams to a massive comeback, tying it with a touchdown to Cooper Kupp early in the fourth quarter. However, he couldn’t execute the drive to win, and in overtime, the Lions ran all over the Rams defense to lose the game.
Many Buffalo fans will thank Josh Allen for his heroics in this nailbiter against the Cardinals, but Cook deserves his props. Cook had 71 yards rushing on 19 carries, which is below average at 3.7 yards per attempt, but he salvaged his day with 32 receiving yards on three receptions.
Pickens has been a candidate to break out for a while. With better QB play, he was expected to potentially be a Pro Bowl receiver. In Week 1, he lived up to the hype, totaling 85 yards on six receptions. It would’ve been even more had the Steelers not committed a penalty on a 46-yard bomb from Justin Fields.
The Chargers stuck with a run-heavy game plan under Jim Harbaugh, so the Chargers only had 144 passing yards. However, former Bulldog Ladd McConey still shined, leading with 39 receiving yards and a touchdown in his debut. He looks like one of the top two receivers on the Charger’s depth chart and could potentially lead the team in receiving yards
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Travon Walker, Jacksonville Jaguars
Result: Loss vs. Miami Dolphins 20-17
Walker has had high expectations since being picked 1st overall in 2022. In this week, he’s lived up to the billing, racking up six tackles, one tackle for loss, and sacking former Alabama quarterback Tua Tagovailoa twice. He could be in the running for DPOW with this performance. Unfortunately, it couldn’t prevent the Jaguars from blowing a 17-point-lead to the Dolphins.
Former UGA QB Stetson Bennett named as the Los Angeles Rams’ biggest roster question entering Week 3 of the preseason
Former Georgia Bulldogs quarterback Stetson Bennett is fighting for his roster spot in the NFL with one week left in the preseason. The Los Angeles Rams have a unique quarterback situation entering Week 3 of the preseason.
The Rams will start veteran quarterback Matthew Stafford in the season opener as long as he is healthy. Los Angeles’ top backup, Jimmy Garoppolo, is suspended for the first two games of the regular season.
The Rams could elect to roll with Bennett as their No. 2 quarterback for two weeks or they could elect to claim a quarterback on waivers following roster cuts.
Cameron DaSilva of Rams Wire highlights Bennett’s status as quarterback No. 2 as the Rams’ biggest roster question entering the final week of the preseason.
“Bennett is the only one who’s played this preseason and while he’s had plenty of struggles, the Rams haven’t exactly given (Dresser) Winn a chance to unseat him. Even as poorly as Bennett has played at times this summer, the Rams don’t necessarily have a better option.
Barring a free-agent signing in the next week, Bennett appears on track to be QB2 in Weeks 1 and 2.”
Bennett has looked efficient and effective at times. He leads all quarterbacks in passing with 437 yards entering the preseason finale. However, he also has thrown the most interceptions of any quarterback: five (no other quarterback has thrown more than two).
Bennett, who played the entirety of the Rams’ first two preseason games, looks to clean up his turnover issues in Week 3 of the preseason.
Former Georgia Bulldog lineman earns more guaranteed money with a contract restructure.
Andrew Thomas, one of the most notable Georgia Bulldogs in the NFL, has agreed to a contract restructure with his NFL team, the New York Giants, according to John Fennelly of Giants Wire. The Giants converted $4.175 million of Thomas’s base salary into a signing bonus, which freed $3.3 million in cap space.
After the New York Giants drafted Thomas No. 4 overall in 2020, he’s been as consistent as they come. After his rookie year, he’s only allowed nine sacks in three seasons and a PFF grade higher than 75 in the past 3 seasons, including an excellent 89.1 PFF grade in 2022. The 2022 season saw him earn a spot on the second All-Pro team.
This warranted a five-year, $117.5 million extension from New York in the 2023 offseason. This included $67 million guaranteed, which broke the record for the most guaranteed money ever given to a tackle. Now, Thomas will have more money guaranteed to him, as the Giants now have $18 million in cap space to work with.
“The Giants have converted $4.175M of LT Andrew Thomas’ base salary into a signing bonus, creating $3.34M in 2024 cap space. The team now has around $18M in cap space. Plenty of room to operate with,” said ESPN’s Field Yates via social media.
The Giants have converted $4.175M of LT Andrew Thomas’ base salary into a signing bonus, creating $3.34M in 2024 cap space.
The team now has around $18M in cap space. Plenty of room to operate with.
Los Angeles Rams star quarterback Matthew Stafford catches his own pass in a crazy training camp play
Former Georgia Bulldogs quarterback Matthew Stafford is back in action in preparation for the 2024 NFL season with the Los Angeles Rams. Stafford is not expected to play much (if at all) this preseason, but he is participating in training camp.
In a recent joint practice with the Dallas Cowboys, Stafford completed a pass to himself on fourth down. Several Dallas defenders bobbled the football and allowed Stafford, who was scrambling, to catch his own pass in a football rarity.
Stafford’s reception came in a drill near the end zone. It is evident that Dallas defenders respected Stafford’s red noncontact jersey, but that did not stop Stafford from somersaulting into the end zone.
The Rams and Cowboys play their preseason opener on Aug. 11 at 4:30 p.m. ET. Matthew Stafford is not expected to play, but former Georgia quarterback Stetson Bennett should see a significant amount of action for Los Angeles.
The top photos of former Georgia Bulldogs in the NFL during 2024 training camp
Every team in the NFL has begun training camp in preparation for the 2024 NFL season. There are currently over 60 Georgia Bulldogs in the NFL, so there’s a lot of Dawgs across the league.
The 2024 NFL preseason gets underway at 8:00 p.m. ET on Aug. 1 in the Hall of Fame Game. Preseason, which has been shortened to three games, offers an opportunity for players to prove themselves to their respective teams.
Several former Georgia Bulldogs, like quarterback Stetson Bennett, are trying to make rosters, which will be trimmed down substantially following the preseason. The NFL regular season begins on Sept. 5. Football is so close to being back.
Let’s take a look at some of the best photos of Georgia Bulldogs in NFL training camp including pictures of several of Georgia’s eight selections in the 2024 NFL draft.
