CHRISTIAN McCAFFREY accomplished a feat not even he had done before, scoring four touchdowns in a single game. His performance for the 49ers came in a game in which Stanford alums, including Arizona's Michael Wilson and Zach Ertz, combined for six touchdowns, 20 receptions, and 306 yards in total offense.
Ertz himself achieved a measure of history, reaching 700 receptions for his career.
In all, 21 former Cardinal played in the NFL this week, and 25 have played in the regular season. Here is the summary of performances from former Stanford players around the NFL in Week 4:
Christian McCaffrey. Photo by Cary Edmondson/USA TODAY Sports.
San Francisco starting running back Christian McCaffrey scored a career-high four touchdowns in the 49ers' 35-16 victory over visiting Arizona and receiver Michael Wilson scored two touchdowns for the Cardinals, giving Stanford alums a combined six touchdowns in the game. Only two other times since the NFL-AFL merger in 1970 has one college accounted for six or more touchdowns in a single game.
McCaffrey rushed for 106 yards on 20 carries for his third 100-yard rushing effort in four games and caught seven passes for 71 yards Sunday. He continues to lead the NFL in rushing yards, with 459, and is tied for the league lead in touchdowns, with seven. He now alone holds the franchise record for touchdowns in consecutive games – a record he shared with Jerry Rice – with 13, including playoffs. McCaffrey scored on runs of 1, 18, and 2, and had a 6-yard TD reception. He was named NFC Offensive Player of the Month for September.
Michael Wilson. Photo by Cary Edmondson/USA TODAY Sports.
Wilson, the Cardinals' starting receiver in his rookie year, caught touchdown passes of 16 and 8 yards from Joshua Dobbs to cut Arizona's deficit to 21-16 in the third quarter – the first touchdowns of his career. Wilson's first, a diving 16-yarder at the edge of the end zone, was set up by his 33-yard catch a play earlier. Overall, Wilson had a career-high seven catches for 76 yards.
Arizona starting tight end Zach Ertz had six catches for 53 yards. Ertz, in his 11th season, has 702 in his career. He became the eighth tight end in NFL history to reach the milestone, joining Kansas City's Travis Kelce as the only ones still active from that club. Only two other tight ends have reached 700 receptions faster than Ertz' 148 games -- Kelse (120) and Jason Witten (145). Also, Ertz has a catch in 120 consecutive games.
Zach Ertz. Photo by Cary Edmondson/USA TODAY Sports.
The Los Angeles Chargers signed receiver Simi Fehoko on Tuesday, Sept. 26, and added him to their active roster. In his first game, a 24-17 victory over visiting Las Vegas, made a tackle on special teams and played four special teams snaps. Formerly of the Pittsburgh Steelers' practice squad, Fehoko becomes the 25th Stanford alum to play in the NFL this regular season. Chargers' offensive tackle Foster Sarell played two offensive snaps and four special teams snaps. For the Raiders, tight end Austin Hooper caught one pass for 11 yards and played 37 offensive snaps.
Dalton Schultz. Photo by Troy Taormina. USA TODAY Sports.
Houston tight end Dalton Schultz caught three passes for 42 yards and a touchdown in the Texans' 30-6 victory over visiting Pittsburgh. Schultz caught a 6-yard TD pass from running back Devin Singletary early in the fourth quarter to put the Texans ahead, 23-6. It was the first touchdown for Schultz, who played 35 offensive snaps in a Houston uniform. Offensive right guard Nate Herbig, in his first start for Pittsburgh, played all 59 of the Steelers' offensive snaps, and two special teams snaps.
Bobby Okereke. Photo by Danielle Parhizkaran/NorthJersey.com/USA TODAY Sports.
New York Giants starting middle linebacker Bobby Okereke had 10 tackles, including two tackles for loss, and had two quarterback hurries in a 24-3 loss to visiting Seattle on Monday night. Seahawks' tight end Colby Parkinson played 32 offensive snaps and seven on special teams, and cornerback Kyu Blu Kelly was in on 12 special teams plays, downing a 63-yard punt on the Giants' 2-yard line.
Kansas City starting strong safety Justin Reid had two tackles and two quarterback hurries in the Chiefs' 23-20 victory at the New York Jets on Sunday night, while playing every defensive snap. Jets' defensive tackle Solomon Thomas played 38 defensive snaps and five on special teams and had one tackle for loss.
Walker Little. Photo by Peter van den Berg/USA TODAY Sports.
Jacksonville starting left tackle Walker Little played all 66 offensive snaps in the Jaguars' 23-7 victory over Atlanta in London. Atlanta's starting center, Drew Dalman, played all 58 of the Falcons' offensive snaps.
Miami's Jake Bailey averaged 46.0 yards on three punts in the Dolphins' 48-20 loss at Buffalo. Bailey held on two extra-point kicks.
Minnesota starting defensive tackle Harrison Phillips had three tackles, including one solo, on 49 defensive snaps in the Vikings' 21-13 victory at Carolina.
New Orleans starting offensive left guard Andrus Peat played 46 offensive snaps and two special teams snaps in the Saints' 26-9 loss to visiting Tampa Bay, before leaving the game in the fourth quarter with a concussion.
Washington defensive end Casey Toohill had one solo tackle while playing five defensive snaps in the Commanders' 34-31 loss at undefeated Philadelphia.
Cincinnati receiver Trenton Irwin had one catch for 17 yards and returned a punt for two yards in the Bengals' 27-3 loss at Tennessee. Irwin played on 22 offensive snaps and two punt returns.
New England receiver Ty Montgomery played one offensive snap and 15 special teams snaps in the Patriots' 38-3 loss at Dallas.
Denver offensive tackle Cameron Fleming and Houston quarterback Davis Mills did not play.
New Orleans cornerback Paulson Adebo, Arizona tight end Elijah Higgins, and Philadelphia quarterback Tanner McKee were inactive.
Miami cornerback Ethan Bonner, Philadelphia defensive tackle Thomas Booker, Atlanta tight end Tucker Fisk, San Francisco linebacker Curtis Robinson, Cincinnati safety Michael Thomas, Washington receiver Brycen Tremayne, and Chicago defensive back Kendall Williamson were on practice squads.
Carolina defensive end Henry Anderson, Washington tight end Kaden Smith were on injured reserve.