Tar Heels in NFL: Williams scores 2 TDs, in typical Javonte fashion; Holcomb returns INT for TD; Bernard hurt

By R.L. Bynum

Javonte Williams was back to coming off the bench Sunday for Denver but the productive plays kept coming.

He had only 16 touches after getting 29 a week earlier because starter Melvin Gordon III returned after missing one game with shoulder and hip injuries.

Gordon ran for 111 yards and two touchdowns and Williams combined for 83 yards (73 rushing and 10 yards receiving) and two touchdowns (one rushing and one receiving).

Williams scored the game’s first points on a five-yard touchdown run with 5:14 left in the first quarter, bulldozing his way past two Lions defenders to get the final two yards.

Early in the third quarter, Williams caught a Teddy Bridgewater pass on a quick slant pattern and appeared to lose his balance at the Lions 6. He recovered and spun past a Lions defender and pushed his way past another on the 10-yard scoring reception to push Denver’s lead to 24–10 with 11:03 left in the third quarter.


Cole Holcomb gave Washington a chance in its 27–20 home loss to the Dallas Cowboys when he intercepted Dak Prescott’s pass and returned it 31 yards for a touchdown with 4:13 left. Seven points was as close as Washington got, though, after trailing by 24 points at halftime.

“As soon as I got, I had to take it to the crib,” said Holcomb, adding that he was “super stoked” after the play.

Holcomb has fully embraced the rivalry with the Cowboys and was one of many Washington players who noticed that Dallas coach Mike McCarthy said his team would win and that McCarthy has the team ship in benches for the game.

“It is what it is. It’s Dallas,” Holcomb said. “We hate them; they hate us. They can do what they want. I really don’t give a s**t.”

Holcomb is hopeful that Washington (6–7) can still make the playoffs.

“It’s still all right in front of us,” he said. “We just got to stay focused and keep grinding.”

Wide receiver Dyami Brown started for Washington but had no catches on one target.


In Chicago’s 40–35 loss at Green Bay, Robert Quinn had two tackles, two sacks for 20 yards in losses, two tackles for losses and two quarterback hits. With 14 sacks, Quinn is tied with Nick Bosa for third in the NFL.

After Quinn “mocked the belt” following one sack of Aaron Rodgers, the Packers scored on five of their next seven possessions.

Asked about it, Rodgers said that, “it hasn’t ended well for the most part.”

ADVERTISEMENT

In Cleveland’s 24–22 home win over Baltimore, safety M.J. Stewart Jr. had two tackles on defense and two on special teams.


James Hurst started at right tackle in New Orleans’ 30–9 road victory over the New York Jets and Charlie Heck started at right tackle for Houston in the Texans’ 33–13 home loss to Seattle. Both played every offensive snap for their teams.


In Tampa Bay’s 33–27 overtime victory over Buffalo, Giovani Bernard left the game with a hip injury with 50 seconds left in the first half, although X-rays revealed no fractures. He’ll undergo further tests on Monday. Bernard, who had no statistics in the game, was barely able to walk off the field and slowly made it to the sidelines with the help of trainers.

Andre Smith played and had one special-teams assist for the Bills. Mitchell Trubisky didn’t play.


Giovani Bernard, Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back
33–27 OT win vs. Buffalo — Played, no statistics; left game with a hip injury but X-rays revealed no fractures; 7 offensive snap (8%), 5 special-teams snaps (14%)
Season statistics —
10 games, 8 rushes, 58 yards (24 longest); 23 catches, 123 yards, 3 TDs, 1 fumble; 1 kickoff return for 18 yards; 2 punt returns, 7 yards
Up next — vs. New Orleans, 8:20 p.m. Sunday, NBC (WRAL in Triangle)
———————————————
Dyami Brown, Washington wide receiver
27–20 loss vs. Dallas —
Started; 0 receptions on 1 target; 23 offensive snaps (34%), 8 special-teams snaps (27%)
Season statistics — 9 games, 9 receptions on 21 targets, 87 yards (longest 22 yards); 1 rush for -4 yards
Up next —
at Philadelphia, 1 p.m. Sunday, Fox
———————————————
Michael Carter, New York Jets running back
30–9 loss vs. New Orleans — On injured reserve: Missed third of at least three consecutive games with low-grade high ankle sprain
Season statistics — 9 games, 102 carries, 367 yards (3.5 average, longest 18 yards), 4 TDs; 31 receptions, 306 yards (9.9 average; longest 23)
Up next —
at Miami, 1 p.m. Sunday, CBS
———————————————
Eric Ebron, Pittsburgh Steelers tight end
36–28 loss at Minnesota —
On injured reserve: Missed third of at least three consecutive games with knee injury
Season statistics — 9 games, 12 receptions, 84 yards (7.0 average, longest 19), 1 TD; 1 rush, 1 yard, 1 TD
Up next — vs. Tennessee, 1 p.m. Sunday, CBS
———————————————
Charlie Heck, Houston Texans right tackle
33–13 loss vs. Seattle —
Started; 81 offensive snaps (100%), 4 special-teams snaps (14%)
Season statistics — 11 games, 9 starts; 515 offensive snaps, 25 special-teams snaps
Up next — at Jacksonville, 1 p.m. Sunday, CBS
———————————————
Cole Holcomb, Washington outside linebacker
27–20 loss vs. Dallas —
Started; 3 tackles, 5 assists; 1 interception, returned 31 yards for TD; 85 defensive snaps (100%)
Season statistics — 12 games, 63 tackles, 37 assists, 2 tackles for losses, 1 interception, 1 TD, 1 sack, 2 forced fumbles, 1 recovered fumble, 1 interception
Up next —
at Philadelphia, 1 p.m. Sunday, Fox
———————————————
Mack Hollins, Miami Dolphins wide receiver
Off this weekend
Season statistics — 13 games, 13 catches, 181 yards, 4 TDs; 5 special-teams tackles; 1 tackle
Up next —
vs. New York Jets, 1 p.m. Sunday, CBS
———————————————
James Hurst, New Orleans Saints tackle
30–9 win at New York Jets —
Started at right tackle; 70 offensive snaps (100%); 6 special-teams snaps (6%)
Season statistics — 12 games, 10 starts; 553 offensive snaps, 42 special-teams snaps
Up next —
at Tampa Bay, 8:20 p.m. Sunday, NBC (WRAL in Triangle)
———————————————
Robert Quinn, Chicago Bears outside linebacker
45–30 loss at Green Bay — Started; 2 tackles, 2 sacks for 20 yards, 2 tackles for losses, 2 QB hits; 53 defensive snaps (82%)
Season statistics — 12 games, 33 tackles, 7 assists, 14 sacks, 14 tackles for losses, 10 QB hits, 2 forced fumbles
Up next —
vs. Minnesota, 8:15 p.m. Monday, ESPN
———————————————
Andre Smith, Buffalo Bills weakside linebacker
33–27 OT loss at Tampa Bay — Played, one special-teams assist; 25 special-teams snaps (71%)
Season statistics — 10 games, 3 special-teams tackles, 5 special-teams assists
Up next —
vs. Carolina, 1 p.m. Sunday, Fox
———————————————
M.J. Stewart Jr., Cleveland Browns strong safety
24–22 win vs. Baltimore —
2 tackles, 2 special-teams tackles; 14 defensive snaps (19%), 20 special-teams snaps (65%)
Season statistics — 7 games, 10 tackles, 3 assists, 4 special-teams tackles; 1 kickoff return, 20 yards
Up next — vs. Las Vegas, 4:30 p.m. Saturday, NFL Network
———————————————
Chazz Surratt, Minnesota Vikings weakside linebacker
36–28 win vs. Pittsburgh —
Not active for game
Season statistics —
7 games, no statistics
Up next — at Chicago, 8:15 p.m. Monday, ESPN
———————————————
Mitchell Trubisky, Buffalo Bills quarterback
33–27 OT loss at Tampa Bay — Didn’t play
Season statistics — 4 games; 5 of 7 passing for 28 yards (longest 8), 1 interception; 10 rushes for 27 yards (longest 22), 85.4 passer rating
Up next — vs. Carolina, 1 p.m. Sunday, Fox
———————————————
Javonte Williams, Denver Broncos running back
38–10 win vs. Detroit —
15 carries, 73 yards (9 longest), 1 TD; 1 catch on 2 targets for 10 yards, 1 TD; 33 offensive snaps (49%)
Season statistics — 12 games, 138 carries, 632 yards (4.6 average; longest 49 yards), 3 TDs; 30 catches, 222 yards (7.4 average, 42 longest), 1 TD
Up next — vs. Cincinnati, 4:05 p.m. Sunday, CBS
———————————————
On practice squads
Jake Bargas, Minnesota Vikings fullback
Myles Dorn, Minnesota Vikings safety
Dazz Newsome, Chicago Bears wide receiver
Antonio Williams, Buffalo Bills running back
———————————————
Injured and out for the season
Jalen Dalton, New Orleans Saints defensive tackle, suffered a triceps injury
Ryan Switzer, Cleveland Browns wide receiver, had ankle surgery Aug. 20
———————————————

Leave a comment