NFL Pack Pros: In Week 17, former NC State standouts on special teams and in the trenches
With the playoff competition in both conferences at its height, former Wolfpack football players are using outstanding on-field performances to sway results in their teams’ favor.
On the tail end of the holiday season, the penultimate week of the 2023 NFL season gifted NC State football fans plenty of action among the league’s Pack Pros. With the playoff race reaching its peak in both conferences, Wolfpack football alumni are swinging results in favor of their teams with great performances on the field.
Let’s welcome in the new year by looking at the latest highlights and stats from NFL Pack Pros this week.
Garrett Bradbury, C, Minnesota Vikings
Bradbury and the Vikings offensive line had a rough go of things against the Packers, allowing four sacks and 14 QB hits on Nick Mullins and Jaren Hall. Green Bay won 33-10 in Minnesota, dropping the Vikings’ home record to 2-6 for the season.
Ikem Ekwonu, OT, Carolina Panthers
Ekwonu and the Panthers will officially end the season winless on the road after a 26-0 loss to the Jaguars. Carolina’s O-line gave up three sacks and six QB hits on Bryce Young.
Trenton Gill, P, Chicago Bears
Gill did his part in Chicago’s 37-17 win over the Falcons, averaging 48.8 yards on four punts with one touchback and a long of 56. He also performed kickoff duty for the Bears, notching four touchbacks to keep the ball away from standout returner Cordarrelle Patterson.
BJ Hill, DT, Cincinnati Bengals
Hill chipped in three tackles for the Bengals defense, but it wasn’t enough to prevent a comeback 25-17 win by the Kansas City Chiefs. The result sealed Cincinnati’s elimination from this year’s playoffs, but Hill and company will hope to end the season on a high note next week when they host the in-state rival Browns.
Justin Jones, DT, Chicago Bears
Jones was quiet in Chicago’s win against Atlanta, but did log one assisted tackle in the victory. He’ll hope to boost his stats of the year in next week’s season finale at Green Bay.
Larrell Murchison, DT, Los Angeles Rams
Murchison contributed well in the Rams’ 26-25 win over the Giants. He did not show up in the basic box score, but plugged up lanes well for Los Angeles on defense and special teams. Murchison logged a season-high 11 special teams snaps against New York to go with his 14 snaps on defense.
Derrek Pitts, CB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Pitts made his fourth in-game appearance of his rookie year in a 23-13 loss to the Saints. Though the Bucs couldn’t get things done in New Orleans, Pitts did his part on his six special teams snaps. Though both Tampa Bay and New Orleans stand at 8-8, the Buccaneers hold the tiebreaker by win percentage against common opponents. Pitts will hope to help the Bucs secure a playoff spot by clinching the NFC South division with a win next week at Carolina.
Germaine Pratt, LB, Cincinnati Bengals
Like Hill, Pratt also struggled to put up numbers against the Chiefs, logging only one assisted tackle all game. Cincinnati’s second leading tackler will hope to bounce back next week against Cleveland.
