The past week saw one former Arkansas player cut from his team and another picked up for the first time this season. Here is an update on all 13 former Razorbacks who were on NFL 53-man rosters during Week 4…
Alex Collins - Baltimore Ravens
The issue that has plagued Collins’ professional career reared its ugly head again in the Ravens’ 26-14 win over the Pittsburgh Steelers. Early in the second quarter, he took a handoff on first-and-goal from the 2 only to fumble it away to the Steelers.
That mistake greatly limited what could have been a big game for Collins, as backup Buck Allen saw his snaps and touches increase afterward. Collins still ended up playing 37 of 77 offensive snaps and finished with 11 carries for 42 yards. He also caught a 3-yard touchdown pass that put Baltimore up 14-0 midway through the first quarter.
Season Stats: 4 games (4 starts), 141 offensive snaps; 45 carries, 158 yards, 2 TDs, 8 receptions, 70 yards, 1 TD, 2 fumbles (2 lost); 1 tackle, (1 solo)
A.J. Derby - Miami Dolphins
Thanks to a foot injury suffered last week, Derby was one of seven inactive players for the Dolphins in their 38-7 loss to the New England Patriots.
Season Stats: 3 games (0 starts), 94 offensive snaps, 33 special teams snaps; 2 receptions, 35 yards, 1 TD; 1 fumble recovery
Trey Flowers - New England Patriots
Back from a concussion, Flowers started at defensive end in the Patriots’ 38-7 win over the Miami Dolphins. He played 28 of 49 defensive snaps and made just one solo tackle, but his presence alone was big for New England’s defense. As a team, the Patriots allowed only 172 yards and had a shutout until giving up a garbage-time touchdown in the final three minutes of the game.
Season Stats: 3 games (3 starts), 85 defensive snaps; 8 tackles (5 solo), 2 TFLs, 1.5 sacks, 3 QB hits, 1 forced fumble
Mitchell Loewen - New Orleans Saints
For the third time in four weeks, Loewen was one of seven inactive Saints players in their 33-18 win over the New York Giants.
Season Stats: 1 game (0 starts), 4 defensive snaps, 13 special teams snaps
Jason Peters - Philadelphia Eagles
Peters started at left tackle and played all 78 offensive snaps in the Eagles’ 26-23 overtime loss to the Tennessee Titans. However, it wasn’t his best performance. Not only was he called for holding, but he also had this happen: (Watch the video with sound for Brian Westbrook’s commentary.)
Season Stats: 4 games (4 starts), 239 offensive snaps
Darius Philon - Los Angeles Chargers
As he has all season, Philon started at defensive tackle in the Chargers’ 29-27 win over the San Francisco 49ers. He played 45 of 60 defensive snaps and five special teams snaps and was also whistled for a roughing the passer penalty.
However, Philon’s biggest play came late in the game. San Francisco running back Matt Breida had just hauled in a screen pass that gained 20 yards and had a couple of blockers in front of him. It could have gone for a lot more, but Philon tracked him down and made the stop late in the fourth quarter, preserving Los Angeles’ two-point lead. It was one of two solo tackles he made in the game.
Season Stats: 4 games (4 starts), 169 defensive snaps, 21 special teams snaps; 9 tackles (6 solo), 3 TFLs, 1 QB hit
Frank Ragnow - Detroit Lions
Coming off his best game as a professional, Ragnow started at left guard and played all 54 offensive snaps in the Lions’ 26-24 loss to the Dallas Cowboys. According to Pro Football Focus, he really struggled against stunts in his first two games, but “backed up his breakout game last week against the Patriots with another solid outing” against Dallas, a team that uses a lot of stunts.
After allowing the most pressures in the NFL through the first two weeks of the season, Ragnow hasn’t allowed a single one the last two games.
Season Stats: 4 games (4 starts), 274 offensive snaps, 20 special teams snaps
Chris Smith - Cleveland Browns
With the return of Emmanuel Ogbah, Smith was limited to only five defensive snaps in the Browns’ 45-42 overtime loss to the Oakland Raiders. His lone tackle in the game was a solo stop after a one-yard gain.
Season Stats: 4 games (2 starts), 141 defensive snaps, 1 special teams snap; 11 tackles (7 solo), 3.5 TFLs.
Martrell Spaight - Miami Dolphins
Just four days after signing with the Dolphins, Spaight was on the field for 16 special teams snaps in their 38-7 loss to the New England Patriots. Miami added him in response to linebacker Chase Allen going down with a foot injury.
Season Stats: 1 game (0 starts), 16 special teams snaps
Jeremy Sprinkle - Washington Redskins
The Redskins had their bye in Week 4.
Season Stats: 3 games (1 start), 71 offensive snaps, 43 special teams snaps
Travis Swanson - Miami Dolphins
After being active but not playing the last two weeks, Swanson was forced into action early in the Dolphins’ 38-7 loss to the New England Patriots when starting center Daniel Kilgore went down with an arm injury. The debut couldn’t have gone worse, as his first snap sailed over quarterback Ryan Tannehill’s head and the Patriots recovered at the 22. Tannehill took blame after the game, saying he should have caught the snap, but New England scored one play later to make it 17-0.
Swanson ended up playing 33 of 49 offensive snaps and one special teams snap. With Kilgore’s status up in the air, he could move into a starting role next week.
Season Stats: 1 game (0 starts), 33 offensive snaps, 1 special teams snap
Jonathan Williams - New Orleans Saints
Three unproductive weeks in which he totaled one yard on four touches led the Saints to cut Williams and replace him with Dwayne Washington from the practice squad. It was a disappointing showing from Williams, who many New Orleans fans and media expected to fill the hole left by Mark Ingram’s suspension because of his strong preseason performance (31 carries for 124 yards and two touchdowns).
Season Stats: 3 games (0 starts), 18 offensive snaps; 3 carries, 0 yards, 1 reception, 1 yard
Deatrich Wise Jr. - New England Patriots
Wise played only 19 of 49 defensive snaps in the Patriots’ 38-7 win over the Miami Dolphins, finishing with one assisted tackle. Although he wasn’t given any credit for it, he also helped clean up a sack by John Simon - as seen in the picture at the beginning of this story.
Season Stats: 4 games (0 starts), 129 defensive snaps, 16 special teams snaps; 8 tackles (5 solo), 3 TFLs, 2.5 sacks, 5 QB hits
Jarius Wright - Carolina Panthers
The Panthers had their bye in Week 4.
Season Stats: 3 games (2 starts), 102 offensive snaps, 3 special teams snaps; 9 receptions, 92 yards, 1 TD, 1 fumble (0 lost); 1 tackle (1 solo)