By R.L. Bynum
For the most part, the former Tar Heels in the NFL didn’t have a much better weekend than the Carolina football team endured in the ACC championship game against Clemson.
It wasn’t a lucky Week 13.
Mack Hollins’ 35 yards on five catches in the Las Vegas Raiders’ 27–20 win over the Los Angeles Chargers was one of the few highlights from the UNC alums who played, while four others missed games with injuries.
Even without huge numbers on Sunday, Hollins continues to have his best NFL season. After combining for 46 catches, 750 yards and six touchdowns in his first five pro seasons, he has 45 catches for 566 yards and three touchdowns this season.
The former Carolina players who are head coaches didn’t fare well, as Jeff Saturday’s Indianapolis Colts and Arthur Smith’s Atlanta Falcons both lost.
The Colts (4–8–1), who won in Saturday’s debut against the Los Angeles Raiders on Nov. 13, lost 54–19 at Dallas for their third consecutive loss. Smith’s Falcons (5–8) lost to Pittsburgh 19–16 for their second loss in a row.
Missing their games this weekend because of injuries were Jets running back Michael Carter (ankle injury), Eagles defensive end Robert Quinn (suffered a knee injury in Friday practice), New York Giants offensive lineman Joshua Ezeudu (neck injury) and Atlanta defensive tackle Jalen Dalton (toe injury).
That list doesn’t even include three players who are on injured reserve: Denver running back Javonte Williams (torn ACL in right knee), Washington linebacker Cole Holcomb (foot injury) and Minnesota running back Ty Chandler (broken thumb).
As has been the case all season for Washington quarterback Sam Howell and for Pittsburgh quarterback Mitchell Trubisky since Week 6, neither played.
In the Commanders’ 20–20 overtime tie with the New York Giants, Washington wide receiver Dyami Brown (17 snaps) and Giants linebacker Tomon Fox (30 total snaps) had no statistics.
In Houston’s 27–14 home loss to Cleveland, Texans safety M.J. Stewart Jr. had two tackles, one for a loss, in 41 total snaps. Houston left tackle Charlies Heck played five total snaps.
Giovani Bernard made his season debut in Tampa Bay’s 17–16 Monday night home win over New Orleans but had no statistics in eight special-teams plays. James Hurst started at left tackle for the Saints and played all 59 offensive snaps.
Giovani Bernard, Tampa Bay Bucs running back
Age 31 | 5–9, 205 | 10th NFL season | UNC 2011–12
17–16 win vs. New Orleans (season debut) — Played on 8 special-teams plays (8%) with no statistics
Up next — 4:25 Sunday at San Francisco, Fox
Dyami Brown, Washington Commanders wide receiver
Age 23 | 6–0, 195 | second NFL season | UNC 2018–20
20–20 OT tie at New York Giants — Played with no statistics; 17 offensive snaps (20%)
Season statistics — 10 games, 5 catches on 12 targets for 143 yards (28.6 average, 75 longest), 2 TDs; 1 special-teams assist
Up next after Week 14 open date — 8:20 Sunday, Dec. 18 vs. New York Giants, NBC
Michael Carter, New York Jets running back
Age 23 | 5–8, 201 | second NFL season | UNC 2017–20
27–22 loss at Minnesota — Not active for the game because of an ankle injury
Season statistics — 11 games, 9 starts; 99 carries, 370 yards (25 longest, 3.7 average), 3 TDs; 28 catches on 35 targets, 209 yards (37 longest, 7.5 average)
Up next — 1 p.m. Sunday at Buffalo, CBS
Jalen Dalton, Atlanta Falcons defensive tackle
Age 25 | 6–6, 300 | third NFL season | UNC 2015–18
19–16 loss vs. Pittsburgh — Not active for the second consecutive game because of a toe injury
Season statistics — 4 games, 3 tackles, 4 assists
Up next after Week 14 open date — at Saints, 1 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 18, Fox
Joshua Ezeudu, New York Giants offensive lineman
Age 23 | 6–4, 308 | rookie NFL season | UNC 2018–21
20–20 OT tie vs. Washington — Wasn’t active for the second consecutive game because of a neck injury
Season statistics — 10 games, 2 starts; 245 offensive snaps, 136 special-teams snaps
Up next — 1 p.m. Sunday vs. Philadelphia, Fox
Tomon Fox, New York Giants linebacker
Age 24 | 6–3, 260 | rookie NFL season | UNC 2016–21
20–20 OT tie vs. Washington — Played with no statistics; 9 defensive snaps (11%), 21 special-teams snaps (62%)
Season statistics — 10 games, 2 starts; 7 tackles, 6 assists, 1 sack
Up next — 1 p.m. Sunday vs. Philadelphia, Fox
Charlie Heck, Houston Texans left tackle
Age 26 | 6–8, 311 | third NFL season | UNC 2015–19
27–14 loss vs. Cleveland — Played off the bench; reported tackle-eligible three times; 3 offensive snaps (5%), 2 special-teams snaps (6%)
Season statistics — 11 games, 1 start; 19 offensive snaps, 32 special-teams snaps
Up next — 1 p.m. Sunday at Dallas, Fox
Mack Hollins, Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver
Age 29 | 6–4, 221 | sixth NFL season | UNC 2013–16
27–20 win vs. Los Angeles Chargers — Started; 5 catches on 9 targets, 35 yards (14 longest), 8.5 fantasy points; 60 offensive snaps (98%), 2 special-teams snaps (7%)
Season statistics — 11 games, 8 starts; 1 of 1 passing, 4 yards; 1 rush, 0 yards, 45 catches on 64 targets, 566 yards (12.6 average, 60 longest), 3 TDs
Up next — 8:15 p.m. Thursday vs. Los Angeles Rams, Prime Video
Sam Howell, Washington Commanders quarterback
Age 22 | 6–1, 220 | rookie NFL season |UNC 2019–21
20–20 OT tie at New York Giants — Didn’t play
Season statistics — Hasn’t played
Up next after Week 14 open date — 8:20 Sunday, Dec. 18 vs. New York Giants, NBC
James Hurst, New Orleans Saints tackle
Age 30 | 6–5, 310 | ninth NFL season | UNC 2010–13
17–16 loss at Tampa Bay — Started at left tackle; played all 59 offensive snaps
Season statistics — 12 games; 12 starts, 1 fumble recovery, 1 tackle on an interception return; 737 offensive snaps, 26 special-teams snaps
Up next after Week 14 open date — 1 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 18, vs. Atlanta, Fox
Robert Quinn, Philadelphia Eagles defensive end
Age 32 | 6–4, 245 | 12th NFL season | UNC 2008–09
35–10 win vs. Tennessee — Missed game with a knee injury suffered in practice Friday
Season statistics — 12 games, 7 starts; 8 tackles (1 for a loss), 2 assists, 1 sack
Up next — 1 p.m. Sunday at New York Giants, Fox
M.J. Stewart Jr., Houston Texans safety
Age 27 | 5–11, 200 | fifth NFL season | UNC 2014–17
27–14 loss vs. Cleveland — 2 tackles, 1 for a loss; 12 defensive snaps (19%), 29 special-teams snaps (94%)
Season statistics — 12 games; 20 tackles, 4 assists, 1 tackle for a loss, 1 fumble recovery, 7 special-teams tackles, 3 special-teams assists
Up next — 1 p.m. Sunday at Dallas, Fox
Mitchell Trubisky, Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback
Age 28 | 6–2, 220 | sixth NFL season | UNC 2014–16
19–16 win at Atlanta — Didn’t play
Season statistics — 5 games, 4 starts; 78 of 138, 797 yards (36 longest), 3 TDs, 2 INTs, 5 sacks; 13 rushes, 29 yards
Up next — 1 p.m. Sunday vs. Baltimore, CBS
Out for the season
Running back Javonte Williams, Denver (torn ACL in right knee); 4 games, 4 starts; 47 carries, 204 yards (4.3 average, 17 longest); 16 catches on 22 targets, 76 yards (4.8 average, 13 longest)
On injured reserve
Running back Ty Chandler, Minnesota, broken thumb (2 games, 1 special-team assist)
Linebacker Cole Holcomb, Washington, foot injury (7 games, 7 starts; 37 tackles, 32 assists)
On practice squads
Fullback Jake Bargas, Miami Dolphins (signed Nov. 9; released in camp first by Vikings, then by Bears)
Defensive tackle Aaron Crawford, New York Giants (signed Nov. 9; Ravens released him during training cap)
Cornerback Kyler McMichael, Buffalo Bills
Linebacker Chazz Surratt, New York Jets (released by Minnesota)
Signed to practice squads, then released
Wide receiver Dazz Newsome, Kansas City (released earlier in camp by Chicago)
Released during camp and unsigned
Linebacker Jeremiah Gemmel, Denver (earlier by San Francisco)
Wide receiver Austin Proehl, New York Giants
Offensive tackle Jordan Tucker, Pittsburgh
Released from injured reserve with settlements
Tight end Bug Howard, Tampa Bay
Released after Week 3
Running back Antonio Williams, New York Giants
Released after Week 5
Linebacker Andre Smith, Buffalo Bills (hasn’t played; served a suspension for violating NFL’s performance-enhancing drug policy)
Released after Week 6
Defensive back Myles Dorn, Minnesota Vikings (3 games, 1 assist)
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