Alabama Football: Crimson Tide in the NFL (Week 1)

NFL football is back! And returning with it are your favorite Crimson Tide players scattered among all 32 teams.

This weekly article will keep track of all of them, including stats and some of the top highlights from the weekend. Several former Tide players made their NFL debuts, while others returned to the NFL after a lengthy absence due to injury or retirement. Read on to see how they did.

News and Notes

Kansas City practice squad LB Nico Johnson is expected to be called up to the active roster with starter Derrick Johnson suffering a torn Achilles. Johnson will likely look for snaps behind fill in starters James Michael Johnson and Josh Mauga.

Green Bay Packers RB Eddie Lacy suffered a concussion in the fourth quarter of Green Bay’s season opener against the Seattle Seahawks. He has since passed the first part of concussion protocol.

Philadelphia Eagles Guard Evan Mathis suffered an MCL injury during the first half of Philadelphia’s matchup with the Jacksonville Jaguars. Mathis is expected to miss up to 4-6 with the injury.

Week 1 Stats

Javier Arenas – Cornerback

Atlanta Falcons (1-0) vs New Orleans Saints (0-1): Reserve; Inactive
Season: N/A

Mark Barron – Safety

Tampa Bay Buccaneers (0-1) vs Carolina Panthers (1-0): Starter; 7 Tackles (5 solo)
Season: 7 Tackles (5 solo)

James Carpenter – Offensive Guard

Seattle Seahawks (1-0) vs Green Bay Packers (0-1): Starter at Left Guard for a line that paved the way for 207 yards rushing and 2 touchdowns, while allowing only 1 sack.
Season: N/A

Josh Chapman – Defensive Tackle

Indianapolis Colts (0-1) vs Denver Broncos (1-0): Starter; 1 Tackle(1 solo)
Season: 1 Tackle(1 solo)

HaHa Clinton-Dix – Safety

Green Bay Packers (0-1) vs Seattle Seahawks (1-0): Reserve; 5 Tackles (3 solo), 1 sack, 1 fumble recovery, and 1 pass defended
Season: 5 Tackles (3 solo), 1 sack, 1 fumble recovery, and 1 pass defended

Marcell Dareus – Defensive Tackle

Buffalo Bills (1-0) vs Chicago Bears (0-1): Starter; 4 Tackles (2 solo)
Season: 4 Tackles (2 solo)

Brandon Deaderick – Defensive End

New Orleans Saints (0-1) vs Atlanta Falcons (1-0): Reserve; 1 Tackle (1 solo)
Season: 1 Tackle (1 solo)

Quinton Dial – Defensive Tackle

San Francisco 49ers (1-0) vs Dallas Cowboys (0-1): Reserve; Inactive
Season: N/A

D.J. Fluker – Offensive Tackle

San Diego Chargers (0-1) vs Arizona Cardinals (1-0): Starter at Right Tackle for an offensive line that struggled to establish a run game with only 52 yards rushing, but did a great job protecting the QB with no sacks given up.
Season: N/A

Wallace Gilberry – Defensive End

Cincinnati Bengals (1-0) vs Baltimore Ravens (0-1): Starter; 4 Tackles (3 solo), 1.5 Sacks, 1 TFL, 1 pass defended, and 1 QB hit
Season: 4 Tackles (3 solo), 1.5 Sacks, 1 TFL, 1 pass defended, and 1 QB hit

Roman Harper – Safety

Carolina Panthers (1-0) vs Tampa Bay Buccaneers (0-1): Starter; 2 Tackles (1 solo), 1 INT, and 1 pass defended
Season: 2 Tackles (1 solo), 1 INT, and 1 pass defended

Dont’a Hightower – Linebacker

New England Patriots (0-1) vs Miami Dolphins (1-0): Starter; 1 Tackle (0 solo) and 1 QB hit
Season: 1 Tackle (0 solo) and 1 QB hit

Mark Ingram – Running Back

New Orleans Saints (0-1) vs Atlanta Falcons (1-0): Starter; 13 carries for 60 yards (4.5 YPC), 2 rushing TDs (1 & 2), 1 catch for 1 yard (1 YPC), and 0 receiving TDs
Season: 13 carries for 60 yards(4.5 YPC), 2 rushing TDs, 1 catch for 1 yard(1 YPC), and 0 receiving TDs

Kareem Jackson – Cornerback

Houston Texans (1-0) vs Washington Redskins (0-1): Starter; 8 tackles (6 solo)
Season: 8 tackles (6 solo)

Rashad Johnson – Safety

Arizona Cardinals (1-0) vs San Diego Chargers (0-1): Starter; 5 tackles (4 sol0)
Season: 5 tackles (4 solo)

Jarret Johnson – Linebacker

San Diego Chargers (0-1) vs Arizona Cardinals (1-0): Starter; 3 tackles (2 solo)
Season: 3 tackles (2 solo)

Julio Jones – Wide Receiver

Atlanta Falcons (1-0) vs New Orleans Saints (0-1): Starter; 7 catches for 116 yards (16.6 YPC), 0 receiving TDs, and a fumble lost
Season: Starter; 7 catches for 116 yards (16.6 YPC), 0 receiving TDs, and a fumble lost

Barrett Jones – Offensive Guard

St. Louis Rams (0-1) vs Minnesota Vikings (1-0): Reserve; Inactive
Season: N/A

Cornerback Dre Kirkpatrick

Cincinnati Bengals (1-0) vs Baltimore Ravens (0-1): Reserve; 3 Tackles (3 solo)
Season: 3 Tackles (3 solo)

Cyrus Kouandjio – Offensive Tackle

Buffalo Bills (1-0) vs Chicago Bears (0-1): Reserve at Right Tackle; Inactive
Season: N/A

Eddie Lacy – Running Back

Green Bay Packers (0-1) vs Seattle Seahawks (1-0): Starter; 12 carries for 34 yards (2.8 YPC), 0 rushing TDs, 3 catches for 11 yards (3.7 YPC), and 0 receiving TDs
Season: 12 carries for 34 yards (2.8 YPC), 0 rushing TDs, 3 catches for 11 yards (3.7 YPC), and 0 receiving TDs

Evan Mathis – Offensive Guard

Philadelphia Eagles (1-0) vs Jacksonville Jaguars (0-1): Starter at Left Guard for a line that paved the way for 145 yards rushing, while giving up 5 sacks. SPRAINED MCL BEFORE HALFTIME, DID NOT RETURN.
Season: N/A

Did You Know?

First Time For Everything: Both Josh Chapman and CJ Mosley made their 1st career starts week 1. Mosley, along with Jeoffrey Pagan, Vinnie Sunseri, and HaHa Clinton-Dix all made their NFL debuts as well.

11/25/12: The date of Rolando McClain’s last participated regular season game.

Running Back U?: Running Backs Mark Ingram, Eddie Lacy, and Trent Richardson all started for their respective teams, giving Alabama 1 more starter at the position than any other school.

Rolando McClain – Linebacker

Dallas Cowboys (0-1) vs San Francisco 49ers (1-0): Starter; 8 Tackles (7 solo)
Season: 8 Tackles (7 solo)

Dee Milliner – Cornerback

New York Jets (1-0) vs Oakland Raiders (0-1): Starter; Inactive
Season: N/A

C.J. Mosley – Linebacker

Baltimore Ravens (0-1) vs Cincinnati Bengals (1-0): Starter; 7 Tackles (5 solo) and 1 pass defended
Season: 7 Tackles (5 solo) and 1 pass defended

Kevin Norwood – Wide Receiver

Seattle Seahawks (1-0) vs Green Bay Packers (0-1): Reserve; Inactive
Season: N/A

Jeoffrey Pagan – Defensive End

Houston Texans (1-0) vs Washington Redskins (0-1): Reserve; no stats recorded
Season: N/A

Trent Richardson – Running Back

Indianapolis Colts (0-1) vs Denver Broncos (1-0): Starter; 6 carries for 20 yards (3.3 YPC), 0 rushing TD, 3 catches for 31 yards (10.3 YPC), and 0 receiving TDs
Season: 6 carries for 20 yards (3.3 YPC), 0 rushing TD, 3 catches for 31 yards (10.3 YPC), and 0 receiving TDs

DeMeco Ryans – Linebacker

Philadelphia Eagles (1-0) vs Jacksonville Jaguars (0-1): Starter; 5 Tackles (3 solo), 1 TFL, and 1 pass defended
Season: 5 Tackles (3 solo), 1 TFL, and 1 pass defended