Monday #ProCanes Report: Olsen Nearing 1,000
The Monday Morning #ProCanes report will weed through all the NFL highlights and news to bring you the information you care about the most… what the former University of Miami Hurricanes did during the week prior. Known more for his electric kick return abilities, first-year Atlanta Falcon Devin Hester had another solid performance at wide receiver Sunday, finishing with five catches, 85 yards and a touchdown. He wasn’t the only #ProCane to turn in a strong performance – Panthers tight end Greg Olsen had 10 catches and totaled 110 yards, Jaguars rookie wideout Allen Hurns had six catches for 70 yards, while Frank Gore rumbled his way to the 63rd rushing touchdown of his career. Read on for more.
Devin Hester (Atlanta Falcons) – five catches, 85 yards, one touchdown
Competing without top wide receiver Julio Jones, Atlanta received a boost from the speedy Devin Hester, who turned in his best offensive performance of the season in a 27-20 loss to Pittsburgh. Hester hauled in five receptions for 85 yards, including his second receiving touchdown of the year on a 17-yard pass from quarterback Matt Ryan late in the second quarter that cut into Pittsburgh’s lead. Hester equaled his best receiving output of the season with five catches, and caught a 46-yard pass on Atlanta’s first drive of the second half – his longest catch of the season. Seven of Hester’s receptions have gone for 20 or more yards, while his 14.0 yards-per-catch average is the third-best mark of his career.
Greg Olsen (Carolina Panthers) – 10 catches, 110 yards
Even an injury to Carolina starting quarterback Cam Newton wasn’t going to stop Greg Olsen Sunday afternoon. In tandem with backup quarterback Derek Anderson, the eighth-year tight end recorded game-high totals of 10 catches and 110 yards in a 19-17 win over division rival Tampa Bay. The performance marked his second consecutive weekend with double-digit catches. Olsen, who has already topped the best yardage output of his career with 960 yards this season, will likely reach the 1,000-yard plateau for the first time in his career this fall. He ranks first among tight ends in receptions (81) and second at the position in receiving yards.
Allen Hurns (Jacksonville Jaguars) – six catches, 70 yards
It came as a shock to many when the Miami Hurricanes single-season leader in receiving yards went undrafted this past spring. Allen Hurns has proven the doubters wrong in his first season with Jacksonville, and had another strong performance in a disappointing defeat to Baltimore Sunday. Hurns caught six passes from fellow rookie Blake Bortles, totaling 70 yards in his best individual performance since Week 9. A 27-yard catch helped Jacksonville convert on an improbably 3rd-&-18 situation, and a 23-yard catch late in the second half marked his 11th catch of 20 yards or more this season. Hurns, who set the Jaguars rookie record with his sixth touchdown catch against Houston last weekend, leads all Jaguars in receiving yards (636) and TDs.
Jimmy Graham will take the field for New Orleans Monday night against Chicago for the final game of Week 15. Kickoff is set for 8:30 p.m. on ESPN.
