UConn in the NFL: Week 3

Everyone’s favorite ‘sausage with hands’ is back in the box score, Ryan Griffin doubled his work load, and Byron Jones continues to shine. It’s week 3 of the NFL season and UConn football is still in the thick of things.

We’ve got to start with fullback Anthony Sherman. The Kansas City Chiefs are one of just three teams that remain undefeated on the year and Sherman is a huge part of that. While most of his contributions don’t show up on a box score, Sherman snagged his second reception of the year for 16 yards.

With Patrick Mahomes spreading the ball around and breaking touchdown records – 13 in the first three games – Sherman will have ample opportunity to produce in this offense. It’s still early, but the Chiefs now have the third best odds for winning the Super bowl at 9-to-1 (via OddsShark), so perhaps a ring could be in his future, as well.

Sherman wasn’t the only one hauling in passes this weekend. Tight end Ryan Griffin caught two of four passes thrown in his direction in the Houston Texans’ 22-27 loss to the New York Giants. In the ongoing tight end competition, rookies Jordan Thomas and Jordan Akins recorded two receptions for 53 yards and one reception for 18 yards, respectively. Griffin is still getting the most targets at the tight end position, but this continues to be a three-headed attack.

The Texans are as bad as the Chiefs are good, one of just three times that remain winless on the year. Quarterback Deshaun Watson has been sacked ten times this year which certainly doesn’t help things. If the Houston offense can get more stability, Ryan Griffin could reap the benefit. Until then, I’d expect more of the same.

Wide receiver Geremy Davis allegedly played for the LA Chargers on Sunday, but has still yet to be targeted by quarterback Phillip Rivers. Tim Boyle, meanwhile, is still sitting behind one-legged Aaron Rodgers on the Green Bay Packers sideline.

On the defensive side of the ball, Byron Jones continues to be UConn’s brightest star. Fitting that he plays for the Dallas Cowboys, but they were defeated by the Seattle Seahawks 24-13, leaving both teams with a 1-2 record on the year.

But Byron Jones can only do his job and he’s doing it very well. Quarterback Russell Wilson was held to just 192 yards in a game where Jones recorded five tackles. This is his first year playing corner with the Cowboys, a more natural fit for him. Pro Football Focus rates Jones as the highest-rated cornerback through three games.

Defensive tackle Shamar Stephen made his second start with the team and he’s beginning to make a bigger impact. Stephen recorded a solo tackle and assisted on two more, a slight improvement from week 2 in which he recorded 1 tackle and 1 assist. It’s a good sign that he’s starting and his stats should improve as he becomes more familiar with his new team.

Blidi Wreh-Wilson and Foley Fatukasi failed to enter the game for the Atlanta Falcons and New York Jets, respectively. Wreh-Wilson has been struggling with injury and Fatukasi is buried on the depth chart. Hopefully, they’ll see the field in the near future, as both the Falcons and the Jets sit in last place of their respective divisions, each with a 1-2 record.