By R.L. Bynum
Only two Tar Heels remain in the NFL playoffs heading into next weekend’s divisional round — Houston offensive lineman Charlie Heck and Detroit wide receiver Antoine Green. Both saw limited action on wild-card weekend.
Heck played seven offensive snaps at right tackle, and seven special-teams snaps in Houston’s 45–14 home victory Saturday over the Cleveland Browns.
Heck came off the bench after starting left tackle Laremy Tunsil suffered a knee injury, shifting George Fant to left tackle. Heck’s playing time was limited because Tunsil later returned to
The Texans’ offensive line helped them pile up 356 yards in the victory, advancing them to a 4:30 Saturday second-round game at Baltimore (ABC, ESPN). The teams didn’t play during the regular season.
Heck, who will be a free agent in the offseason, missed the first 11 games recovering from a back injury, then started four of the last six games.
Green, a rookie, wasn’t targeted for any passes in his three offensive snaps and also played seven special-teams snaps in Detroit’s 24–23 home win Sunday against the Los Angeles Rams. The Lions next face Tampa Bay at 3 p.m. Sunday (NBC).
It was the Lions’ first playoff victory in 32 years.
Two other Tar Heels didn’t play last weekend as their teams lost wild card games.
Quarterback Mitch Trubisky, who got benched and didn’t play in Pittsburgh’s last three regular-season games, didn’t play in Monday’s 31–17 loss at Buffalo.
Dallas rookie offensive lineman Asim Richards wasn’t active for the Cowboys’ 48–20 Sunday home loss to Green Bay.
Antoine Green, Detroit Lions wide receiver
Age 24 | 6–2, 199 | rookie NFL season | UNC 2017–20
Roster situation — Second-string wide receiver behind Marvin Jones Jr.