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Football

Rookies Riding High

Standout Performers

J.J. Arcega-Whiteside • WR • Philadelphia Eagles • First season • @jjarcega_22

Appearing on 38 percent of offensive snaps in Philadelphia's 37-31 loss at Miami, Arcega-Whiteside caught his first career touchdown pass from Carson Wentz, a 15-yard strike in the opening quarter. Arcega-Whiteside has appeared on 80 snaps during Weeks 12-13, more than his combined snaps during Weeks 4-11.

Blake Martinez • ILB • Green Bay Packers • Fourth season • @Big__Blake50

Martinez logged his sixth double-digit tackle outing of the year in Green Bay's 31-13 win at the New York Giants. Starting and appearing on 88 percent of the Packers' defensive snaps, Martinez finished with 10 tackles, seven of which were solo, while earning a game-high 77.7 grade against the run, per Pro Football Focus.

Trent Murphy • DE/OLB • Buffalo Bills • Sixth season • @TMurphy_93

Murphy made a huge impact on a Thanksgiving-day 26-15 win at Dallas, finishing with one sack, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery and four tackles for the 9-3 Buffalo Bills. Murphy started the game while appearing on 63 percent of defensive snaps and six special teams snaps.

Bobby Okereke • LB • Indianapolis Colts • First season • @BobbyOkereke

Okereke's had another strong showing in Indianapolis' 31-17 loss against Tennessee, registering one sack and one forced fumble on three total tackles. Appearing on 48 percent of defensive snaps, Okereke was targeted twice in pass coverage, forcing -2 yards passing on such downs. 

Justin Reid • S • Houston Texans • Second season • @jreid_viii

A week after sitting out with a concussion, Reid emphatically returned in Houston's 28-22 win against New England on Sunday night, playing 85-of-87 defensive snaps with six tackles and one pass breakup. Reid was targeted twice by Tom Brady with both pass attempts going for incompletions.

Kaden Smith • TE • San Francisco 49ers • First season • @TheKadenSmith

Following his first career touchdown in Week 12, Smith logged another dynamic display in his second-straight start on Sunday, leading the team with and setting career highs in receptions (6) and receiving yards (70) in the New York Giants' 31-13 loss to Green Bay. Smith, appearing on 91 percent of offensive snaps, was targeted eight times by fellow rookie Daniel Jones.

Quick Hitters

  • Henry Anderson finished with three tackles and two quarterback pressures on 45 defensive snaps and seven special teams snaps in the New York Jets' 22-6 loss at Cincinnati.
  • Johnson Bademosi appeared on one defensive snap and 16 special teams snaps in New Orleans' 26-15 win at Atlanta on Thanksgiving Day.
  • Jake Bailey punted four times for 176 yards, a 44.0 average and a 38.0 net average in New England's 28-22 loss at Houston on Sunday night.
  • David DeCastro was nearly perfect in pass protection during Pittsburgh's 20-13 win against Cleveland, allowing one pressure on 28 pass-blocking snaps while playing all 62 offensive snaps.
  • Zach Ertz hauled in three passes for 24 yards in Philadelphia's 37-31 loss at Miami. Ertz ties Hall of Famer Shannon Sharpe for the fourth-most seasons of 70 or more receptions in NFL history with five.
  • Cameron Fleming appeared on three special teams snaps in Dallas' 26-15 loss against Buffalo on Thanksgiving Day.
  • Nate Herbig was inactive for Philadelphia's 37-31 loss at Miami.
  • Austin Hooper was inactive for Atlanta's 26-15 loss against New Orleans with a knee injury sustained in Week 10.
  • Peter Kalambayi appeared on a team-high 22 special teams snaps in Houston's 28-22 win against New England on Sunday night.
  • Josh Mauro was inactive for Oakland's 40-9 loss at Kansas City.
  • Christian McCaffrey had one of his quietest outings of the season in Carolina's 29-21 loss against Washington, rushing 14 times for 44 yards while catching 7-of-13 targets for 58 yards. Despite a down week, McCaffrey became the first player in NFL history to record 75 or more receptions in each of his first three seasons.
  • Ty Montgomery rushed once for seven yards and caught one pass for one yard on 17 total snaps in the New York Jets' 22-6 loss at Cincinnati, also returning two kickoffs for 32 yards.
  • Andrus Peat sat out New Orleans' 26-18 win at Atlanta on Thanksgiving Day with an ankle injury sustained in Week 10.
  • Jordan Richards appeared on 15 special teams snaps in Baltimore's 20-17 win against San Francisco.
  • Brennan Scarlett was inactive for Houston's 28-22 win against New England on Sunday night with a shoulder injury sustained in Week 12.
  • Dalton Schultz appeared on two offensive snaps and eight special teams snaps in Dallas' 26-15 loss against Buffalo on Thanksgiving Day.
  • Richard Sherman made seven tackles on 97 percent of defensive snaps in San Francisco's 20-17 loss at Baltimore. Lamar Jackson targeted Sherman twice, completing one pass for two yards.
  • Michael Thomas made one special teams tackle on seven defensive snaps and a game-high 19 special teams snaps as the New York Giants were defeated by Green Bay, 31-13.
  • Solomon Thomas made one tackle on 18 defensive snaps and four special teams snaps during San Francisco's 20-17 loss at Baltimore.
  • Levine Toilolo was inactive for San Francisco's 20-17 loss at Baltimore.