NFL Week 5 Features a Showdown of Crimson Tide QBs: Bama in the NFL Tracker

Keeping up with and how to watch former Alabama players with the Ultimate Bama in the NFL database, and what happened with the Cam Robinson trade to Cleveland:

Jan 13, 2025; Glendale, AZ, USA; Minnesota Vikings tackle Cam Robinson (74) against the Los Angeles Rams during an NFC wild card game at State Farm Stadium. | Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

If you were wondering why the Houston Texans decided to trade one of the most veteran former Alabama Crimson Tide players in the NFL, with left tackle Cam Robinson getting shipped to the Cleveland Browns, the answer is simple. He wanted to start.

Robinson had only made one start in four games with the Texans, as the team likes the longterm option of rookie Aireontae Ersery, a second-round selection out of Minnesota, at left tackle. So the 30-year-old who signed a one year deal worth up to $14.5 million deal during the offseason, was essentially a luxury on the bench.

"It gives Cam an opportunity to go play," Texans head coach, and former Crimson Tide linebacker, DeMeco Ryans said during a press conference. "Cam wants to play, so it gives him an opportunity to do that, and we wish Cam nothing but the best."

Ryans added: "He's handled himself the right way since he's been here. He's done everything the right way, everything that we've asked him to do, so we wanted to do right by him and give him the opportunity."

With the move, Blake Fisher, a second-round selection out Notre Dame is the primary backup at left tackle. Houston no longer has to pay Robinson, and they swapped seventh- and sixth-round picks with the Browns in next year's draft, respectively.

So whey did the Cleveland make the move? At 1-3 the Browns are in serious danger of falling too far behind in the ACFC North this season, and their offensive line is a mess.

Starting left tackle Dawand Jones (knee) is out for the season. All-Pro right tackle Jack Conklin has been out with an elbow injury so the key reserve, 34-year-old Cornelius Lucas, had to go to right tackle. KT Leveston, a seventh-round pick in 2024, became Cleveland's third starter at left tackle in Sunday’s loss to Detroit, but the Lions had a lot of success on the edges in the 34-10 victory.

In four weeks, the Browns had four different lines, and very few options.

Robinson, who has played in 102 career games, was immediately put at the top of the depth chart at left tackle, and the Browns are hoping he can provide some immediate stability (along with Conklin returning). The cost was minimal, both in terms of swapping the low draft picks but also financially. When Robinson signed with the Texans the deal included a $8.75 million signing bonus, which has already been paid, so the Browns are only the hook for roughly $3 million.

For their point of view that might make him the cheapest starting left tackle in the league, so there's very little impact on their salary cap.

However the team that might benefit the most from the trade is the Minnesota Vikings, for two reasons:

1) When Minnesota traded for Robinson last season after starting left tackle Christian Darrisaw suffered a knee injury, they gave up a conditional fourth-round pick to Jacksonville. Because he left as a free agent, the Vikings can get a compensatory draft pick next year, and the more he plays the better the pick. They could conceivably get their fourth-round selection back, or close to it.

2) Did you see who the Browns are playing this weekend? The Vikings, and in London. So not only will Robinson be expected to man the key protection spot against a team that rushes the quarterback well, he'll have to do it before having much of a chance to learn the offense and after flying across the Atlantic Ocean.

Bama in the NFL Week 5 Tracker

For the full set of statistics on how the former Crimson Tide players did this week, check out our elaborate Bama in the NFL Week 5 Tracker. It will be updated throughout the weekend until every game is concluded.

Bama in the NFL Tracker - Click to view | Kristi L. Patrick

The Ultimate Bama in the NFL Database

Contract Info, Status of Former Alabama Crimson Tide Players
Active Crimson Tide Players by Team, Position
All-Time Alabama Crimson Tide Players in the NFL
All-Time Crimson Tide Draft Selections

Game of the Week

For Alabama fans, it has to be the matchup of the quarterback who everyone thought was going to win the Heisman Trophy against the one who did, Tua Tagovailoa against Bryce Young with the Miami Dolphins at the Carolina Panthers. Both teams are 1-3, and statistically their passing numbers are almost identical this season:

• Tagovailoa: 752 passing yards, 69.3 completion percentage, 7 TDs. 4 Int.

• Young: 753 passing yards, 60.4 completion percentage, 5 TDs, 3 Int.

However, Tagovailoa has a 93.2 passer rating, compared to 77.1 for Young.

When the played in 2023, Miami won 42-21. Tagovailoa was 21 of 31 for 262 yards and three touchdown passes, while Young finished 23 of 38 with 217 yards and one score, but was sacked four times.

Oct 15, 2023; Miami Gardens, Florida, USA; Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, right, and Carolina Panthers quarterback Bryce Young (9) hug after the game at Hard Rock Stadium. | Sam Navarro-Imagn Images

NFL Week 5 Crimson Tide Notes

• Record watch: With his next rushing touchdown Baltimore Ravens running back Derrick Henry will tie Walter Payton (110 career rushing touchdowns) for the fifth-most in NFL history. The top four are Emmitt Smith( 164 career rushing touchdowns), LaDainian Tomlinson (145), Marcus Allen (123) and Adrian Peterson.

• The Eagles Jalen Hurts is the first quarterback in NFL history with five touchdown passes, four rushing touchdowns and no interceptions in his team’s first four games of a season.

• Crimson Tide matchup of the week: Patrick Surtain II on DeVonta Smith.

• Mac Jones will get the start Thursday night against the Los Angeles Rams as Brock Purdy (toe) has been ruled out. However, who's he going to throw to? wide receivers Jauan Jennings (ankle/ribs), Ricky Pearsall (knee) and Jordan Watkins (calf) are all out. The depth chart lists Kendrick Bourne, Demarcus Robinson and tight end Jake Tonges, but there's always Christian McCaffrey out of the backfield. His 31 receptions top the team.

SEE ALSO: 2 Upgrades Mac Jones Provides the 49ers Over Brock Purdy

How to Watch: NFL Week 5

Thursday's Game
San Francisco 49ers at Los Angeles Rams, 7:15 p.m. | Amazon Prime Video
Sunday's Game
Minnesota Vikings vs. Cleveland Browns, at London, 8:30 a.m. | NFL Network
Houston Texans at Baltimore Ravens, noon | CBS
Miami Dolphins at Carolina Panthers, noon | Fox
Las Vegas Raiders at Indianapolis Colts, noon | Fox
New York Giants at New Orleans Saints, noon | CBS
Dallas Cowboys at New York Jets, noon | Fox
Denver Broncos at Philadelphia Eagles, noon | CBS
Tennessee Titans at Arizona Cardinals, 3:05 p.m. | CBS
Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Seattle Seahawks, 3:05 p.m. | CBS
Detroit Lions at Cincinnati Bengals 3:25 p.m. | Fox
Washington Commanders at Los Angeles Chargers, 3:25 p.m. | Fox
New England Patriots at Buffalo Bills | NBC
Monday's Game
Kansas City Chiefs at Jacksonville Jaguars, 7:15 p.m. | ABC, ESPN, ESPN2

Kristi Patrick at Travelmation -Vistit: https://escapewithkristi.com/ | Call today!