Another week of NFL action featured seven former IU football players among those who made in-game appearances this weekend.
Headlining the Hoosier performers were two former IU running backs, Tevin Coleman and Jordan Howard.
Coleman rushed for 33 yards on 15 attempts for the Atlanta Falcons, but he also recorded a five-yard touchdown reception during Atlanta’s home game against New Orleans. Coleman made the short catch, shed a would-be Saints tackler and stayed in bounds before diving and successfully reaching the football around the pylon for the touchdown.
Coleman’s effort wasn’t able to spark an Atlanta win, as New Orleans won the game 43-37 in overtime.
While Coleman scored his first rushing touchdown of the season in Atlanta’s opening game, it took Howard until Sunday to run his way into the end zone.
The Chicago Bears running back totaled 61 rushing yards on 24 carries against the Arizona Cardinals, including a season-long rush of 17 yards.
In addition to his rushing score, Howard had two catches for 20 yards as the Bears won 16-14.
A pair of former Hoosier offensive guards faced each other on the West Coast as Rodger Saffold and the Los Angeles Rams played against crosstown rivals Dan Feeney and the Los Angeles Chargers at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum.
Feeney started once again for the Chargers, as he has for all three games this season, giving him 12 career NFL starts.
Saffold has also started all three games for the Rams, but now has 98 career starts in the NFL.
Bragging rights from the matchup went to Saffold as the Rams beat the Chargers 35-23.
Jason Spriggs, another former IU offensive lineman, also saw game action for the Green Bay Packers in their game at the Washington Redskins. Spriggs didn’t start, which has become normal for the offensive tackle this season as he’s played in all three games, but none in a starting role.
He made the 26th game appearance of his career as Green Bay lost 31-17.
Wide receiver Cody Latimer posted one catch Sunday for the New York Giants in its 27-22 road win against the Houston Texans.
Latimer’s lone reception from Giants quarterback Eli Manning went for 15 yards. He now has three receptions this season.
Lastly, tight end Ian Thomas made his second-straight start for the Carolina Panthers following an injury to starting tight end Greg Olsen. Thomas, a rookie, had a season and therefore career high in both catches with three and receiving yards with 20 as the Panthers won their home game 31-21 against the Cincinnati Bengals.
Thomas has played in all three of Carolina’s games this season, totaling seven catches for 34 yards.
