Texas Longhorns in the NFL: Regular Season Week 3

The NFL’s most valuable team and its general manager refused to give up more than a second-round pick for Seattle Seahawks safety Earl Thomas in an offseason trade offer. On Sunday, the All-Pro safety picked off their franchise quarterback twice to lead Seattle to victory. The talk will be talk and money will be money but we do know one thing — Thomas will keep proving his worth whether he gets paid, traded, or neither happens. That man is simply one of the best to do it at his position. For all qualifying defensive players, he currently ranks first in the league through three weeks, according to Pro Football Focus. They have him at a 93.0 overall grade.

In other Longhorn news — former collegiate teammates and now Tennessee Titans, Kenny Vaccaro and Brian Orakpo, led the Titans to a 9-6 win in an absolute defensive battle of a game. In his first game back from injury, Marquise Goodwin scored his first touchdown of the season.

Check out how the rest of the NFL Longhorns performed this week.

Week 3 Injuries: D’Onta Foreman (PUP List)

Injured Reserve: DeShon Elliott (fractured forearm), Chris Warren III (knee), Fozzy Whittaker (ACL)

Earl Thomas (FS-SEA)

Season Totals: 18 tackles, 3 INTs, 3 PDs

Last Week: 24-13 win vs. Dallas Cowboys

One of the game’s best made a statement in front of both Dallas and Seattle on Sunday afternoon. This past offseason was filled with of uncertainty for Thomas. Dating back to last year after Dallas nearly knocked Seattle out of playoff contention, there was plenty of buzz about the Cowboys being a possible future destination for the All-Pro safety. They offered a second-round draft pick, but that wasn’t enough for Seattle’s asking price.

Thomas showed out on national television, capturing two interceptions, seven tackles (six solo), and two pass deflections to help Seattle earn its first win. Those seven tackles led the team.

Thomas’ first interception was an incredible shoestring pick after a deflection. After his second interception, he positioned himself towards the Dallas sideline and took a bow. Thomas later posted a picture of him taking a bow on Instagram with the caption, “Somebody gonna write the check ...”

This Week: at Arizona Cardinals (Sun. 3:05 p.m. FOX)

Malcolm Brown (RB-LAR)

Season Totals: 18 carries for 93 yards, 2 receptions for 18 yards

Last Week: 35-23 win vs. Los Angeles Chargers

Just a week after out-gaining Todd Gurley on seven fewer carries, Brown turned five carries into 42 yards (8.4 YPC) on Sunday. His production over the past two games shows that he should continue to get consistent game reps behind Gurley.

This Week: vs. Minnesota Vikings (Thurs. 7:20 p.m. NFL Network)

Marquise Goodwin (WR-SF)

Season Totals: 3 receptions for 30 yards - TD, 1 carry for -1 yard

Last Week: 38-27 loss at Kansas City Chiefs

In his first game back from a Week 1 injury, Goodwin caught an 11-yard touchdown pass and added a sweet touchdown celebration with teammate Kendrick Bourne. He had three catches for 30 yards on the game. The more important takeaway from this game was quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo suffered a non-contact torn ACL injury and was ruled out for the season. Goodwin will sure miss the quarterback that came in and sparked his career last season. Former third-round draft pick C.J. Beathard will be the starting quarterback in Garoppolo’s absence.

This Week: vs. Seattle Seahawks (Sun. 3:05 p.m. FOX)

Marcus Johnson (WR-IND)

Season Totals: 1 carry for -2 yards

Last Week: 20-16 loss at Philadelphia Eagles

Johnson’s first touch as a Colt went for a negative two-yard loss.

This Week: vs. Houston Texans (Sun. 12:00 p.m. CBS)

Geoff Swaim (TE-DAL)

Season Totals: 8 receptions for 69 yards

Last Week: 24-13 loss at Seattle Seahawks

In a game in which the Cowboys failed to get anything going offensively, Swaim led the team with five receptions and 47 yards.

This Week: vs. Detroit Lions (Sun. 12:00 p.m. FOX)

Trey Hopkins (OG-CIN)

Last Week: 31-21 loss at Carolina Panthers

Hopkins got the start at center this week in place of the injured Billy Price.

This Week: at Atlanta Falcons (Sun. 12:00 p.m. CBS)

Desmond Harrison (OT-CLE)

Last Week: 21-17 win vs. New York Jets

Harrison earned a 68.8 Pro Football Focus game grade, which was good for a top-five performance on Cleveland’s offense.

This Week: at Oakland Raiders (Sun. 3:05 p.m. FOX)

Connor Williams (OT-DAL)

Last Week: 24-13 at Seattle Seahawks

Williams had a shaky game three performance against Seattle. Expect a ride of up-and-down performances for the rookie who’s still adjusting to the guard position. Here was one of his more positive plays on a pull sweep play.

This Week: vs. Detroit Lions (Sun. 12:00 p.m. FOX)

Malcom Brown (DT-NE)

Season Totals: 9 tackles

Last Week: 26-10 at Detroit Lions

On a night in which the Patriots got dominated at the line-of-scrimmage, Brown had two total tackles. Lions running back, Kerryon Johnson, eclipsed the 100-yard mark against the Patriots to snap Detroit’s 70-game streak without having a 100-yard rusher.

This Week: vs. Miami Dolphins (Sun. 12:00 p.m. CBS)

Alex Okafor (DE-NO)

Season Totals: 5 tackles

Last Week: 43-37 OT win at Atlanta Falcons

Okafor had a solo tackle in the Saints’ wild overtime win.

This Week: at New York Giants (Sun. 3:25 p.m. CBS)

Brian Orakpo (DE-TEN)

Season Totals: 5 tackles, FR, PD, QB pressure

Last Week: 9-6 win at Jacksonville Jaguars

On the last play of the game, while the Jaguars were trying to score on a bunch of laterals, Orakpo recovered his fourth career fumble. He also had two solo tackles and a pass deflection. This was a statement win for the Titans against a divisional foe and one of the league’s best teams. The stout performance from Orakpo, Vaccaro, and the rest of the Titans defense was much needed.

This Week: vs. Philadelphia Eagles (Sun. 12:00 p.m. FOX)

Jordan Hicks (LB-PHI)

Season Totals: 24 tackles, 1.5 sacks, 2.5 TFL, 3 PDs

Last Week: 20-16 win vs. Indianapolis Colts

Hicks led the Eagles defense with eight solo tackles and two pass breakups.

This Week: at Tennessee Titans (Sun. 12:00 p.m. FOX)

Derrick Johnson (LB-OAK)

Season Totals: 11 tackles

Last Week: 28-20 loss at Miami Dolphins

Johnson had just one solo tackle and the Raiders slow start continues after falling to 0-3.

This Week: vs. Cleveland Browns (Sun. 3:05 p.m. FOX)

Sam Acho (LB-CHI)

Season Totals: 1 tackle

Last Week: 16-14 win at Arizona Cardinals

Acho had a solo tackle in a win.

This Week: vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (Sun. 12:00 p.m. FOX)

Adrian Colbert (S-SF)

Season Totals: 11 tackles

Last Week: 38-27 loss at Kansas City Chiefs

It was a rough day for the 49ers secondary going up against the sensational Patrick Mahomes. Colbert racked up three tackles on the day.

This Week: at Los Angeles Rams (Sun. 3:25 p.m. CBS)

Quandre Diggs (SS-DET)

Season Totals: 12 tackles, 3 PDs, INT, TD

Last Week: 26-10 win vs. New England Patriots

Matt Patricia’s well-coached defense got the job done against his former team. Diggs played a part in the lockdown coverage and totaled three tackles on the night. On Brady’s lone interception, he threw it into double-coverage and Diggs was the back safety in perfect position to help Darius Slay pick it off.

This Week: at Dallas Cowboys (Sun. 12:00 p.m. FOX)

Adrian Phillips (SS-LAC)

Season Totals: 9 tackles, PD, INT

Last Week: 35-23 loss at Los Angeles Rams

Phillips totaled two solo tackles in a loss.

This Week: vs. San Francisco 49ers (Sun. 3:25 p.m. CBS)

Kenny Vaccaro (SS-TEN)

Season Totals: 15 tackles, sack, PD, INT, QB pressure

Last Week: 9-6 win at Jacksonville Jaguars

Vaccaro notched his first sack of the season and played a big part in helping the Titans take down the Jaguars. He was all over the field with four tackles and a quarterback pressure. I’m sure Tennessee isn’t regretting this late free-agent signing as he’s leading their secondary to a hot start.

This Week: vs. Philadelphia Eagles (Sun. 12:00 p.m. FOX)

Michael Dickson (P-SEA)

Season Totals: 21 punts - 48.6 YPP, 7 downed inside 20 yard-line

Last Week: 24-13 win vs. Dallas Cowboys

Dickson punted eight times for an average of 43.8 yards. His long on the day was 61 yards and he pinned two inside-the-20. Despite a near-record breaking debut, Dickson currently ranks ninth in the NFL in per punt average.

This Week: at Arizona Cardinals (Sun. 3:05 p.m. FOX)

Phil Dawson (K-ARI)

Season Totals: 2-2 XPs (100%)

Last Week: 16-14 loss vs. Chicago Bears

We’re three weeks into the season and Dawson is still yet to attempt a field goal. Arizona’s offense remains a mess and the opportunities just haven’t been there. He did make both extra-point attempts this week, though.

This Week: vs. Seattle Seahawks (Sun. 3:05 p.m. FOX)

Justin Tucker (K-BAL)

Season Totals: 5-6 FGs (83.3%), 10-10 XPs (100%)

Last Week: 27-14 win vs. Denver Broncos

Tucker netted two 52-yard field goals and had his 43-yard attempt blocked in the Ravens win. Those two 52-yard field goals marks eight straight made field goals from over 50 yards for the kicker. Tucker was named AFC Special Teams player of the week on Tuesday.

This Week: at Pittsburgh Steelers (Sun. 7:20 p.m. NBC)

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