ProCanes Report: Njoku Continues #TightEndU Tradition
The weekly 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. A week after one of the most dominant defensive performances in Jacksonville history by first-year Jaguar Calais Campbell, Week 2 featured another group of impressive performances by ProCanes across the NFL. Whether it was Cleveland rookie David Njoku hauling in his first touchdown, Indianapolis running back Frank Gore joining elite company or wide receiver Phillip Dorsett making all kinds of plays in the open field for New England, ProCanes made their mark with a strong weekend.
David Njoku (Cleveland Browns) – three catches, 27 yards, one touchdown
It was only a matter of time before Cleveland’s rookie tight end made his way into the endzone, and David Njoku did just that Sunday in a loss to Baltimore. Njoku, who was selected with the 21st overall pick in the 2017 NFL Draft after an eye-popping redshirt sophomore season at the University of Miami, scored Cleveland’s lone touchdown against one of its divisional rivals in a 24-10 setback. Njoku made a beautiful play on a 23-yard pass from quarterback Kevin Hogan in the second quarter to help halve a 14-0 Baltimore lead, and caught three passes on the afternoon. He has caught five passes in his first two games in the NFL. During the same week where Carolina placed Pro Bowl tight end Greg Olsen on injured reserve, Njoku is looking to continue on the #TightEndU tradition.
Allen Hurns (Jacksonville Jaguars) – six catches, 82 yards, one touchdown
Jacksonville Jaguars’ fourth-year wide receiver Allen Hurns is off to a sizzling start to 2017, and led all players with 82 yards in a 37-16 loss to Tennessee Sunday. Hurns, who struggled with injuries in 2016, has nine catches totaling 124 yards in Jacksonville’s first two games of the season. He capped Sunday’s scoring with a seven-yard touchdown reception from quarterback Blake Bortles, and, entering Sunday Night Football, had as many touchdowns since 2014 (20) as Pro Bowlers Julio Jones, A.J. Green and Brandin Cooks. After going undrafted following a standout career at The U, Hurns has over 150 career receptions and 2,300 career receiving yards.
Phillip Dorsett (New England Patriots) – three catches, 68 yards
On a dominant day from quarterback Tom Brady and the New England offense, first-year Patriot wide receiver Phillip Dorsett emerged as one of Brady’s favorite targets. Dorsett caught three passes for 68 yards in his team’s 36-20 win, including a long reception of 38 yards. Dorsett, who was traded to New England shortly before the 2017 started after two years with Indianapolis, also had a 7-yard rush in the victory. Dorsett is looking to build off a 2016 season with the Colts where he had career-high totals of 33 catches, 528 yards and two touchdowns. He was one of two Hurricanes selected in the first round in the 2015 NFL Draft, picked 29th overall by Indianapolis.
Frank Gore (Indianapolis Colts) – 14 carries, 46 rushing yards, one touchdown
In his 13th professional season and third with the Indianapolis Colts, 34-year-old Frank Gore simply won’t slow down. The veteran running back became just the 24th player in NFL history to record 75 rushing touchdowns, capping a opening scoring drive for Indianapolis with a 5-yard touchdown run in the first quarter of an overtime loss to Arizona. Perhaps more impressive is the company Gore finds himself in as a player with 75 or more rushing touchdowns and 15 or more receiving touchdowns: the other five – Jim Brown, Walter Payton, LaDainian Tomlinson, Marshall Faulk and Marcus Allen – are all Pro Football Hall of Famers. Gore is well on his way, becoming just the seventh player ever to rush for at least one touchdown in 13 straight seasons.
