Week 8 was a quieter stretch for the former Minnesota Golden Gophers in the NFL, with several players on bye and Eric Murray’s season ending after an elbow injury. Still, there were a few notable returns and role changes worth tracking, including Antoine Winfield Jr. getting back on the field, Terell Smith making his 2026 debut, and Brevyn Span-Ford stepping into the Cowboys’ top tight end job.
In Dallas, Span-Ford made the biggest move of the week. He played 65 offensive snaps and 14 on special teams in the Cowboys’ overtime loss to Arizona, taking over the TE1 spot. He was targeted five times, caught four passes for 31 yards, and also added a special teams tackle.
Winfield also returned for Tampa Bay after missing time with a rib injury. Against Atlanta, he logged 51 defensive snaps and one on special teams, finishing with seven tackles, five solo. He was targeted three times and allowed two catches for just 7 yards.
Smith’s first action as a Steeler came on special teams only, but it marked his return to the field. He played 12 special teams snaps in Pittsburgh’s win over Cleveland and made one tackle.
There was also a strong showing from Jack Gibbons in Arizona’s overtime win over Dallas. He was on the field for 57 defensive snaps and five on special teams, and he led the Cardinals with 11 tackles, including three solo stops. In coverage, he was targeted four times, gave up three catches, and allowed just 12 yards.
Boye Mafe was active in Cincinnati’s overtime win over Tennessee, too. He played 60 defensive snaps and posted four solo tackles, including a sack of Cam Ward. He added a second quarterback hit and forced a fumble.
Blake Cashman had a busy night in Minnesota’s loss at Detroit, playing 71 snaps and finishing with 10 tackles, five solo and one for a loss. He also gave up a pair of receptions for 18 yards and was charged with one missed tackle. That miss came on a late Jahmyr Gibbs run that helped seal the game for Detroit.
A few other Gophers saw limited work. Rashod Bateman played 39 snaps in Baltimore’s loss to Buffalo and was targeted three times, catching one pass for 22 yards. In Jacksonville’s win over Indianapolis, Daniel Faalele played 10 offensive snaps and six on special teams, while Danny Striggow logged 26 defensive snaps and six on special teams and recorded one solo tackle for a loss.
Benjamin St. Juste returned for Green Bay after missing four weeks, though his role was limited to nine special teams snaps in the Packers’ win over Carolina. He did not record a stat.
On the other side of the ledger, Eric Murray’s season ended when he suffered an elbow injury on the opening kickoff in Jacksonville’s game against Indianapolis and was placed on Injured Reserve. Justin Walley also missed Indianapolis’ game with a knee injury suffered against Minnesota in Week 7.
Aireontae Ersery did not play because Houston was on bye, and Max Brosmer remained the third quarterback for Minnesota without seeing action. Jordan Howden, John-Michael Schmitz, and Tyler Nubin were all on bye as well.
A few practice squad names stayed in place, too. Kyler Baugh and Esezi Otomewo were not called up for Pittsburgh, while Deven Eastern remained on Seattle’s practice squad and did not play.
Elsewhere, Nick Kallerup played four offensive snaps and seven on special teams for Seattle in the loss to Chicago without recording a stat, and Ko Kieft logged ten special teams snaps for Tampa Bay in its win over Atlanta.
In Other News...
Gophers Face One Brutal Test If They Want To Shock UCLA
Minnesota gets back to Huntington Bank Stadium on Saturday morning with a chance to reset after a tough overtime loss to Indiana, but the assignment could hardly be more demanding. The Gophers are 5-3 and now draw an unbeaten UCLA team that has turned defense into its calling card, with FOX carrying the 11 a.m. kickoff and KFXN-100.3 FM on the radio side.
For Minnesota, the challenge goes beyond simply slowing down the Bruins. The Gophers have had trouble finding consistency on offense, and now they have to navigate that against one of the nations most disruptive defenses while dealing with a banged-up skill group. Tight ends Pierce Walsh and Julian Johnson are doubtful, leaving Minnesota with even less margin for error in a game that already looks like a brutal test. [Read more 🡒]
Gophers Are Quietly Building A Regional Pipeline Fans Will Love
The Red River Valley has become a familiar stop on Minnesotas football map, and this season three players from the area are already contributing for the Gophers in Riley Sunram, Karter Menz and Mason Carrier. For P.J. Fleck, that kind of local presence fits the way he has long talked about recruiting, with the Dakotas and Minnesota treated as in-state territory in the programs eyes.
What makes the trend notable is that it does not appear to be a one-off class or a lucky stretch of geography. Minnesota is already seeing more traction in that region, and the next wave could deepen the connection even further as the Gophers continue to build relationships there. If that momentum holds, the program may be turning a nearby pipeline into a lasting part of its roster construction. [Read more 🡒]
Gophers Just Took Another Hit In The Cade Tyson Saga
Cade Tysons path back onto a college court took another turn this week, and it is not the one Minnesota wanted to hear. A federal appeals court ruled Tyson remains ineligible to play this season, leaving the Gophers without the scorer who led them a year ago and extending the uncertainty around one of the more unusual eligibility cases in the sport.
Tyson is still exploring other legal options, with an eye on getting back on the floor for the 2026-27 season. For Minnesota, the immediate issue is simple enough: a roster already trying to move forward now has to do it without knowing whether one of its most productive recent players will eventually have another shot, and the latest ruling only deepens the wait. [Read more 🡒]