Tag: ProDucks

Social Media Buzz: Penei Sewell makes game-sealing catch for Lions

Twitter went wild when OT Penei Sewell made a game-sealing catch for a first down, giving the Lions a win on Sunday.

We all know the Sewells are talented on the football field, but now they’re just showing off.

Earlier this season, Oregon Ducks linebacker Noah Sewell scored his first touchdown at the fullback position. Now older brother Penei showed the world he has some soft hands.

At 6-foot-5 and 335 pounds, Sewell is one of the best offensive linemen in the NFL. But in the Lions’ 34-23 win over Minnesota, Detroit pulled out some trickeration and threw to Sewell on a crossing pattern for the first down to seal the win.

No one expected a pass to go to him, so naturally, a defender didn’t go with Sewell in the route. The dive past the first down marker was the frosting on a very big cake.

Hereโ€™s how the social media world reacted to the play on Sunday:

Marcus Mariota loses his starting job in Atlanta to Desmond Ridder

It looks like former Duck quarterback Marcus Mariota has lost his starting job in Atlanta in favor of Desmond Ridder.

We’ve seen this song and dance before.

Former Oregon Ducks quarterback Marcus Mariota has lost his starting job in Atlanta in favor of rookie Desmond Ridder. The Falcons are 5-8, on a bye week, and evidently reevaluating their quarterback situation.

It looked like Mariota had found a home after four seasons in Tennessee and another three with the Las Vegas Raiders. He lost his starting job with the Titans and never got an extended look in Sin City. Mariota signed a two-year deal for $18.75 million. But the contract was effectively a one-year pact, as it includes $6.75 million for 2022, a $5 million signing bonus plus $1.75 million guaranteed base salary. For the second year, however, there’s a $12 million option with a $3 million roster bonus due on the fifth day of the 2023 league year.

With his benching, it would be highly unlikely the Falcons would exercise the Year 2 option.

Mariota’s first, and probably only season in the ATL, could have gone better. He is averaging just 171 yards a game, 15 touchdowns, but nine interceptions.

Ridder is a third-round pick in last year’s draft out of Cincinnati and had a solid preseason leading some to speculate that he had actually done enough to win the job.

Should Mariota move on from the Falcons after this season, he will be looking for his third team in three seasons and his fourth in his eight-year NFL career.

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Justin Herbert, Penei Sewell named among ESPN’s top 25 under 25

Some Oregon legends like Justin Herbert and Penei Sewell have been named to the 25-under-25 list, with Jevon Holland getting an honorable mention.

The prime of one’s professional football career is usually between the age of 25-30. For those who are already a star in the NFL before that should be set for life and if injuries don’t creep up, a really good stint in the league.

According to an ESPN+ article, Oregon legend and Eugene native Justin Herbert is well on his way to having a long and successful career as the quarterback with the Los Angeles Chargers.

In his third year, Herbert has already surpassed the 5,000-yard mark for a season and has over 12,000 yards total. If his career stays on this trajectory and possibly takes the Chargers to a couple of Super Bowls, Herbert might have a place in Canton someday. But he would be the first to say it’s way too early to think of such things.

Former offensive lineman Penei Sewell barely made it on the list and defensive back Jevon Holland just missed, but was an honorable mention.

Here are the Top 25 NFL players that are age 25 or younger according to ESPN writers Matt Bowen, Matt Miller and Jordan Reid.

REACTIONS: Kayvon Thibodeaux has breakout NFL moment with game-winning strip sack

Former Duck Kayvon Thibodeaux showed why he was so highly regarded by the NFL with a strip-sack to win the game for the Giants.

Kayvon Thibodeaux’s professional career didn’t get off to the best start due to injuries. But it looks like his sprained knee is fully healthy as he had a monster game to help the New York Giants defeat Baltimore 24-20.

The Ravens were driving with less than two minutes remaining and looking to win the game in the waning moments. But the former Oregon Duck defensive end managed to sack and strip Baltimore quarterback Lamar Jackson and the Giants recovered the fumble and preserve the victory.

New York is now 5-1 on the season thanks to Thibodeaux’s first of what the Giants expect to be many huge plays from No. 5. Being in the largest media market in the country, social media and Giants fans went wild.

Here are the best of them.

WATCH: Devon Allen hits paydirt in Eagles NFL preseason game

Devon Allen exploded onto the NFL scene with a 55-yard touchdown to help the Eagles defeat the Browns 21-20.

Devon Allen’s speed was never in question.

It was his time away from football to compete in the Olympics that could hinder his chances to make an NFL roster.

Those questions were answered in a big way on Sunday when he got behind the Cleveland Brown defense to score a 55-yard touchdown for the Philadelphia Eagles. As it turned out, the third-quarter score was the game-winning play as the Eagles defeated the Browns 21-20.

Allen signed a one-year contract with Philadelphia after his Pro Day in Eugene back in April. The last time he played football was back in 2015 with the Ducks when he was injured early in that season. From then on, Allen put all of his efforts to be a world-class hurdler.

His last race was at Hayward Field at the World Championships where he was disqualified due to a controversial false start. It seems like Allen has put that way behind him and is looking to make an impact with the Eagles.

So far so good.

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Sabrina Ionescu makes WNBA history yet again

Sabrina Ionescu became the first WNBA player to record 500 points, 200 rebounds and 200 assists in a season.

Just three days ago, Sabrina Ionescu became just the second player in WNBA history with 500 points, 200 rebounds, and 150 assists.

She’s at it again.

The former Duck and current New York Liberty star doesn’t have to share the spotlight with Candace Parker anymore as she became the first player in league history to score 500 points, grab 200 rebounds and dish out 200 assists in a single season.

The record-breaking assist came early in the contest with the Phoenix Mercury where the Liberty (13-18) are aiming for their fourth straight win.

It’s been an incredible season for Ionescu as she is playing free and healthy for the first time in her short three-year professional career and the dividends are paying off big time.

 

Former Duck linebacker Kiko Alonso retires from the NFL

Former Oregon linebacker Kiko Alonso signed a contract with the New Orleans Saints before retiring.

In a ceremonial move, Kiko Alonso signed a contract with the New Orleans Saints and then promptly retired, ending a six-year career in the NFL.

The former Oregon Duck linebacker was drafted in the second round by Buffalo in 2013, but unfortunately, he was hampered by a series of injuries. He missed the 2014 season and then moved on to Philadelphia where he was united with Chip Kelly.

But that reunion lasted just a season and Alonso moved to South Beach in Miami where he spent the next three seasons.

Alonso had his most productive years with the Dolphins (2016-18), he averaged almost 120 tackles, had five picks, and scored his only professional touchdown.

With his career seemingly on track, Alonso went to New Orleans. Unfortunately, he suffered a devastating knee injury in the Saints’ Wild Card loss at Minnesota in 2020.

After rehabbing for the better part of two seasons, Alonso had enough.

As a Duck, he had an integral part of the defense in 2011 and 2012 that helped Oregon win the Rose Bowl for the time since 1963 with a victory over Wisconsin. In that game, Alonso had a key interception in the second half of Russell Wilson, which set up a go-ahead score.

In his four seasons in Eugene, Alonso racked up 144 tackles and six interceptions.

Sabrina Ionescu continues her historic WNBA season in New York

Sabrina Ionescu is just the second WNBA player to rack up 500 points, 200 rebounds, and 150 assists in a season.

In her third WNBA season, Sabrina Ionescu continues to have a historic year.

She becomes just the second player in league history to rack up 500 points, 200 rebounds, and 150 assists in a single season. The only other player to achieve the feat is Candace Parker.

Ionescu earlier set WNBA triple-double records and now those stats are adding up. But to no one surprise, it’s all about winning for her. Thankfully for the New York Liberty’s case, that’s exactly what is happening in te Big Apple.

Although the record isn’t impressive on face value, 12-18, the Liberty got off to a slow start, losing seven of their first eight games. From that point on, New York is 11-11, mostly because of the former Duck standout.

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Report: Tyler Dorsey ready for an NBA return in Dallas

Sources have told The Athletic that former Duck Tyler Dorsey is set to make his NBA return with Dallas this season.

After three seasons in the EuroLeague, former Oregon Duck guard Tyler Dorsey is ready to make his return to the NBA. According to The Athletic, Dorsey signed a two-way contract with the Dallas Mavericks.

Two-way contracts allow NBA teams to carry two extra players in addition to the 15 on their regular season roster. These players generally bounce back and forth between the NBA and G League, but remain under team control and canโ€™t be poached by rival franchises.

Dorsey signed a one-year deal with the Mavs.

Affectionally known as Mr. March at Oregon, Dorsey played over a season in with the Atlanta Hawks before being traded to Memphis in the middle of his second year. He then decided to move on and play over in Isreal for two years and then in Greece with hopes of resurrecting his career. This season, he played for Olympiacos where he averaged nearly 13 points.

Dorsey was drafted by the Hawks in the second round of the 2017 draft (41st overall) where he averaged 7.2 points in the 56 games he played in. But Atlanta kept shuffling him between the NBA and the G League’s Erie BayHawks.

The Hawks traded Dorsey over to the Grizzlies where he was reunited with former Duck teammate Dillon Brooks. But Dorsey’s stay in Memphis was a short one. It was just 21 games, but he did hit 50 percent of his shorts, including 37 percent from three-point range.

Now with some much-needed experience on and off the court overseas, Dorsey is hoping his basketball career in America can get back and stay on track.

Outfielder Anthony Hall goes to the Yankees in the fourth round

Oregon outfielder Anthony Hall was selected by the New York Yankees in the fourth round of the 2022 MLB draft.

Major League scouts spent a lot of time at PK Park for good reason. There was a lot of talent on that field and Anthony Hall was definitely among them.

The New York Yankees took notice and drafted the Oregon outfielder in the fourth round, 130th overall, in the 2022 MLB draft Monday morning.

Hall becomes the second Duck to get selected after shortstop Josh Kasevich was drafted by the Toronto Blue Jays. Like Kasevich, Hall had a breakout season in 2022 as he hit .333 with 14 home runs and 56 runs batted in.

This is what MLB scouts said about Hall before being drafted.

A left-handed-hitting and throwing outfielder, Hall has the chance to be an impact bat. Thereโ€™s some definite juice in his swing with plus raw power, especially to the pull side, but heโ€™s shown the ability to hit the ball out the other way, too. His approach got better on the Cape, as he took more pitches and used the whole field more consistently, and that has helped him get to his power more this spring. He crushes fastballs, but he needs to continue to refine his recognition of softer stuff.