Florida Gators in the NFL: Week 5 Roundup
Here's a look at how former Florida Gators, now in the NFL, fared in Week 4 of the 2023 season.
DL Gervon Dexter Sr. grades highly as a pass rusher
For the first time in 15 games, the Chicago Bears are back in the win column after a 40-10 victory over the Washington Commanders.
In the win, the Bears were able to put constant pressure on quarterback Sam Howell, who was sacked five times. Chicago rookie Gervon Dexter Sr. was a consistent presence in the backfield.
Over 33 snaps, the former Gator pressured the passer six times, graded at an 82.4 (out of 100) on pass rushes and won 22% of his pass rushes, per Pro Football Focus. Dexter finished the contest with one total tackle and two QB hits.
CB Kaiir Elam, LB Jeremiah Moon active for first time
For the first time in the 2023 season, a pair of Dan Mullen-era Gators were active for their respective teams.
Defensive back Kaiir Elam, a 2022 first-round draft pick, made his first start of the season in the Buffalo Bills' 25-20 loss against the Jacksonville Jaguars after being inactive for the first four weeks of the season.
Elam struggled in the loss, giving up six catches for 93 yards in eight targets. But on the other hand, Elam performed well as a tackler with 11 total stops, eight of which were solo.
"God has a plan, honestly. I know how I prepare. I have trust and have faith that I can help this team win," Elam told media postgame. "My number not being called - all I can do is have a great practice and give the coaches confidence to put me in the game."
Meanwhile, the Baltimore Ravens elevated Jeremiah Moon, Elam's former UF teammate, to its active roster after he spent the first month of the season on the team's practice squad.
In a backup and special teams role, Moon only recorded one solo tackle. His biggest play, however, came during the Ravens' late fumble recovery during a Pittsburgh Steelers' punt return.
Moon, wearing No. 48, had punt returner Gunner Olszewski wrapped up, and Olszewski would end up fumbling the football. Baltimore would go on to turn the ball over three times and lose 17-10 to Pittsburgh.
Other performances
For the third time in five weeks, Indianapolis Colts' rookie quarterback Anthony Richardson was forced to leave a game due to an injury.
In the second quarter of Indianapolis' 23-16 win over Tennessee, Richardson suffered what is believed to be a Grade 3 AC joint sprain while being tackled on a four-yard run, per NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. Colts' head coach Shane Steichen said Richardson will miss "some time" but has not indicated whether the former Gator will be placed on the injured reserve.
Rapoport reported that the injury is likely to keep Richardson out for at least a month, which would likely mean a move to the IR. Players placed on IR must miss a minimum of four games.
Prior to the injury, Richardson completed nine passes in 12 attempts for 98 yards, including a 38-yarder to Josh Downs to set up a field goal.
A trio of Mullen-era teammates reunited after the Atlanta-Houston matchup on Sunday afternoon.
In the Falcons' 21-19 win over the Texans, tight end Kyle Pitts caught a team-high seven passes for 87 yards, both of which were season-highs. Meanwhile, running back Dameon Pierce rushed for 66 yards on 20 carries.
After the game, Pierce and Pitts participated in a jersey swamp and were joined by former Gator defensive back Patrick Moorer II, who is currently an equipment assistant with the Texans.
Week 4 Gators in the NFL Stats
- Marco Wilson (Arizona): 11 tackles (eight solo)
- DJ Humphries (Arizona): Starting left tackle
- Kyle Pitts (Atlanta): Seven catches, 87 yards
- Jeremiah Moon (Baltimore): One tackle (one solo)
- O'Cyrus Torrence (Buffalo): Starting right guard
- Kaiir Elam (Buffalo): 11 tackles (eight solo)
- CJ Henderson (Carolina): Five tackles (three solo), two tackles-for-loss, one sack
- Eddy Pineiro (Carolina): 1/1 FG (long of 33 yards), 3/3 PATs
- Gervon Dexter Sr. (Chicago): One tackle, two QB hits, one pass defended
- Zach Carter (Cincinnati): No stats
- Evan McPherson (Cincinnati): 2/2 FG (long of 40 yards), 4/4 PATs
- Dante Fowler Jr. (Dallas): One tackle (one solo), one tackle-for-loss
- Alex Anzalone (Detroit): 11 tackles (eight solo), two QB hits
- TJ Slaton (Green Bay): Two tackles (one solo)
- Brenton Cox Jr.: (Green Bay): No stats
- Dameon Pierce (Houston): 20 carries, 66 yards. One catch, 16 yards
- Jonathan Greenard (Houston): Three tackles (two solo), one tackle-for-loss
- Anthony Richardson (Indianapolis): 9/12, 98 yards. Two carries, five yards
- Taven Bryan (Indianapolis): One tackle (solo), one tackle-for-loss
- Kadarius Toney (Kansas City): Five catches, 26 yards. One carry, one yard
- Tommy Townsend (Kansas City): Three punts, 140 yards, one touchback, one downed inside 20-yard line
- Jawaan Taylor (Kansas City): Starting right tackle
- Van Jefferson (Los Angeles Rams): No stats
- Jonathan Bullard (Minnesota): Seven tackles (one solo)
- Brandon Powell (Minnesota): Four catches, 43 yards. One carry, nine yards. One punt return, three yards
- Trent Brown (New England): Starting left tackle
- Max Garcia (New Orleans): Backup center
- Fred Johnson (Philadelphia): Backup left tackle
- Keanu Neal (Pittsburgh): Five tackles (five solo)
Other Gators in the NFL
- Richard Gouraige (Buffalo, practice squad)
- Justin Shorter (Buffalo, injured reserve)
- David Sharpe (Carolina, practice squad)
- Malik Davis (Dallas, practice squad)
- CJ Gardner-Johnson (Detroit, injured reserve)
- Ventrell Miller (Jacksonville, injured reserve)
- La'Mical Perine (Kansas City, practice squad)
- Demarcus Robinson (Las Angeles Rams, inactive)
- Amari Burney (Las Vegas, inactive)
- Marcus Maye (New Orleans, suspended)
- Jarrad Davis (New York Giants, injured reserve)
- Trey Dean (New York Jets, practice squad)
- Stone Forsythe (Seattle): Bye
- Kyle Trask (Tampa Bay): Bye
Stay tuned to All Gators for continuous coverage of Florida Gators football, basketball and recruiting. Follow along on social media at @AllGatorsOnFN on Twitter and All Gators on FanNation-Sports Illustrated on Facebook.
Get your Gators football, basketball, baseball and other sporting events tickets from SI Tickets here.
