Week 6 was a milestone kind of Sunday for Alabama’s NFL crowd. Two former Crimson Tide standouts finally got their first trips to the end zone, and a handful of others showed up all over the league in games that stretched from London to the late window.
The biggest individual moments came from Josh Cuevas and Germie Bernard. Both players scored their first NFL touchdowns, giving the day a little extra Alabama flavor across the scoreboard.
That theme carried through the slate. In London, the Houston Texans beat the Jacksonville Jaguars 34-31 and got a solid outing from Henry To’oTo’o, who was back from injury and finished with six tackles, including three solos, plus a pass deflection. The win moved Houston back into the AFC South race after a rough opening stretch.
Chicago’s 31-23 win over Atlanta was a quieter day for Brian Robinson Jr., who was limited in a Falcons rushing effort that produced just 63 yards as a team. Robinson had two carries for one yard.
New England’s 26-19 victory over the New York Jets included a takeaway from Minkah Fitzpatrick, who recovered one of two Patriots fumbles. Fitzpatrick and Malachi Moore also combined for seven tackles for the Jets.
The most Alabama-heavy game of the day came in Cleveland, where the Browns edged the Ravens 13-10 in a fight for first place that went to the final play. Cuevas caught his first career touchdown pass, which was the only Ravens touchdown of the afternoon.
Derrick Henry also had a rare miscue late, losing a fumble that helped give Cleveland a opening to finish the game. On the Browns’ winning drive, Jerry Jeudy was a key piece, leading the team with 69 receiving yards on four catches.
The Saints beat the Giants 34-27, and the day turned rough for Jameis Winston. The Birmingham native was benched after struggling, with JJ McCcarthy replacing him.
Winston finished 14 of 26 for 152 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions. Afterward, head coach John Harbaugh declined to talk about the team’s quarterback future.
In Carolina’s 25-14 win over Philadelphia, Bryce Young was the story while Jalen Hurts remained on IR for the Eagles. Young completed 20 of 39 passes for 281 yards and two touchdowns. DeVonta Smith, back from injury, gave Philadelphia its best offensive spark by leading the team with seven catches for 75 yards.
Then came Pittsburgh’s 26-19 win over Tampa Bay, where Bernard made his own history. The former Alabama receiver set a Steelers rookie receiving record with 11 catches, breaking JuJu Smith-Schuster’s mark of nine.
His final grab was the biggest of all: a six-yard touchdown from Aaron Rodgers that put the game away and marked Bernard’s first NFL score. It was also Rodgers’ 358th touchdown pass.
On the other side, A’Shawn Robinson picked up his second career interception for the Buccaneers.
The night wrapped with Green Bay beating Dallas 23-13, a game the Packers controlled for four quarters. George Pickens, the former Hoover High standout, led the Cowboys with six catches for 79 yards. Caleb Downs, a one-time Crimson Tide defensive star, led Dallas with 12 tackles in the loss.
In Other News...
Alabama Suddenly Has A Troubling EJ Crowell Question
In the middle of a playoff chase, Alabama suddenly has to monitor the health of one of its key young pieces. EJ Crowell is among several notable college football players across the CFP race who are dealing with injuries of varying severity, and the uncertainty around his status is the kind of thing that can ripple through a tight late-season stretch. Coaches have given only limited detail, which has left the picture cloudy for a position group Alabama can least afford to lose depth from.
Crowell is not the only name on the list, with Indiana quarterback Josh Hoover, LSU edge rusher Princewill Umanmielen, Ohio State quarterback Julian Sayin and Texas edge rusher Colin Simmons also working through injury situations that could affect availability. For Alabama, the concern is less about what is known right now and more about what is not, since even a short absence can matter when the margins shrink this time of year. [Read more 🡒]
Jalen Hurts Facing A Much More Serious Absence Than Fans Expected
Jalen Hurts latest setback is far more serious than the usual soft-tissue injury update fans were bracing for. According to his agent, Nicole Lynn, the quarterback has been diagnosed with deep vein thrombosis in his injured calf and bilateral pulmonary emboli, a condition that has taken him out of football activities while he undergoes treatment with blood thinners.
Hurts is clinically stable and expected to make a full recovery, but the timeline alone changes the conversation around Alabamas quarterback room and the months ahead. With an absence projected at about three months, the focus now shifts from when he might return to whether the Tide can navigate the early part of the season without one of the most important players on the roster. [Read more 🡒]
Alabama Faces A Bigger Question Than Just The Tennessee Loss
Alabamas loss to Tennessee was frustrating enough on its own, but the bigger concern coming out of the weekend was the health of a roster already stretched thin. The Crimson Tide played the 26-10 defeat without several key contributors, and the postgame conversation quickly shifted from the scoreboard to who might be available the next time Alabama takes the field.
Kalen DeBoer spent part of his update sorting through the injury picture for Zabien Brown, EJ Crowell, Ryan Coleman-Williams, Racin Delgatty and Terrance Green, with each player being handled on a week-to-week basis. Some are expected back in practice soon, which at least gives Alabama some hope of getting healthier, but the uncertainty around that group makes the Tides immediate future feel just as important as the loss itself. [Read more 🡒]