Huskies Playing on Sunday

NFL games count nearly two dozen ex-UW players in uniform

While current Washington footballers took the bye weekend off, ex-Huskies turned NFL veterans stayed relatively busy.

On Sunday, 22 former UW players showed up on pro rosters while another five were on injured reserve. Eleven filled starting roles. 

Who said Washington isn't a football school? Seventeen of the 32 NFL teams had a Huskies player on the roster. 

In San Francisco, the Arizona Cardinals started Budda Baker at free safety and rookie Byron Murphy at right cornerback in its secondary. Reserve tight end Darrell Daniels kept an Arizona scoring drive alive with a 4-yard reception on a 4th-and-1 situation. Ezekiel Turner was available as a backup linebacker. All Huskies once.

Baker finished with 13 tackles, 12 solo, including a tackle for loss, in the Cardinals' 36-26  loss to the 49ers.

In Philadelphia, New England starting nose tackle Danny Shelton led the Patriots in tackles with 7, 6 of them solo, including a key sack, in a 17-10 victory over the Eagles. 

The Atlanta Falcons started Kaleb McGary at right tackle and Desmond Trufant at left cornerback in a 29-3 victory over the Carolina Panthers in Charlotte. Trufant contributed 7 tackles, including a TFL, and had an interception. He was backed up at his position by rookie Jordan Miller. Starting linebacker Shaq Thompson had 5 tackles for the Panthers. All were Huskies. 

For Baltimore, starting right cornerback Marcus Peters--who has 3 interception returns for touchdowns this season--chipped in 3 tackles in the Ravens' 41-7 romp over Houston.

Wide receiver Marvin Hall came off the bench and caught a 39-yard pass in the Lions' 35-27 loss to Dallas.

In Miami, reserve running back Myles Gaskin received his first NFL carry in the Dolphins' 37-20 loss to Buffalo. Same as his first pro reception the week before, it went for no gain.

Starting nose tackle Vita Vea provided 4 tackles in the Tampa Bay Buccaneers'  34-17 defeat to New Orleans. 

For the Sunday Night Football game, rookie Taylor Rapp started at strong safety and Cory Littleton at inside linebacker for the Los Angeles Rams, while Greg Gaines and Coleman Shelton were available off the bench at nose tackle and center, respectively. Again, all Huskies once. 

The photo accompanying this story is evidence of the Huskies' pro presence: Baker of the Cardinals upending former UW teammate Will Dissly for the Seahawks in an earlier game, before Dissly got hurt.