Week 1 ProCanes Report: Tight End U Shines
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 University of Miami Hurricanes did during the week prior. Tight End U showed up big in Week 1 of the NFL season, as David Njoku, Greg Olsen and Jimmy Graham reminded fans across the country why, often imitated but never duplicated, The U stands alone. Read on for more from across the league.
Top Performers:
Greg Olsen (Seattle Seahawks) – four catches, 24 yards, 1 touchdown
At 35 years young, Greg Olsen looked as ready as ever Sunday to serve as a top option in a talented offense. Olsen, who joins three other Hurricanes on the Seahawks roster – RB DeeJay Dallas, RB Travis Homer and WR Phillip Dorsett – hauled in four passes for 24 yards, including the 60th touchdown of his career in a 38-25 victory. Olsen is in his first year with the Seahawks.
David Njoku (Cleveland Browns) – three catches, 50 yards, 1 touchdown
Offseason speculation was bound when the Browns fortified their tight end room, but fourth-year tight end David Njoku reminded everyone of his abilities in a loss to Baltimore during Week 1 action. Njoku hauled in three passes for 50 yards – second-most on the Browns in both categories – and added a long reception of 28 yards. He was placed on the IR early this week but reports indicate he will be back soon.
Denzel Perryman (Los Angeles Chargers) – three tackles, one tackle for loss, one forced fumble
Just like he always has, Denzel Perryman was in the middle of the Los Angeles Chargers’ defense making plays during a Week 1 win over the Cincinnati Bengals. Perryman finished with three tackles, one tackle for loss, and one forced fumble on a big hit to running back Joe Mixon that was recovered by teammate Nick Vigil. Perryman is one of two ProCanes starters on the Chargers D, joining safety Rayshawn Jenkins.
Stat of the Week: ProCanes tight ends combined for 16 catches, 136 yards and three TDs in Week 1.
A Cut Above: Miami’s 31 players on active 53-man rosters for Week 1 were the most of any program in the ACC.
Other Notables:
- K.J. Osborn (Minnesota Vikings), who won the Vikings’ returner job in training camp, had two kickoff returns totaling 64 yards, including a long return of 38 yards, in his NFL debut.
- Sheldrick Redwine and Olivier Vernon (Cleveland Browns) combined for four tackles in the Browns’ opener against Baltimore, where Calais Campbell made his debut with three PBUs.
- Michael Badgley (Los Angeles Chargers), or “The Money Badger,” as he’s been nicknamed in Los Angeles, finished 3-for-4 on field goal attempts and recorded 10 points in the Chargers’ win.
- Chris Herndon (New York Jets) caught six passes in the Jets’ loss to Buffalo, serving as one of the top targets in the New York offense. Herndon missed most of 2019 with two separate injuries.
photos courtesy of Cleveland Browns, Seattle Seahawks, Minnesota Vikings, Los Angeles Chargers & Baltimore Ravens.
