THE DEBUT OF Miami cornerback Ethan Bonner last week means that 29 Stanford alums have played in NFL regular-season games this season. Overall, 266 alumni have played in NFL or AFL regular-season games.
Bonner becomes the fifth former Stanford player to make his NFL debut this season, joining Atlanta tight end Tucker Fisk, Arizona tight end Elijah Higgins, Washington cornerback Kyu Blu Kelly, and Arizona receiver Michael Wilson.
Here is a summary of how former Cardinal fared in Week 15 of the NFL season:
Christian McCaffrey. Photo by Mark J. Rebilas/USA TODAY Sports.
San Francisco starting running back Christian McCaffrey scored three touchdowns and had 187 yards from scrimmage in the 49ers' 45-29 victory at Arizona on Sunday. McCaffrey rushed for 115 yards on 18 carries and caught five passes for 72 yards. He scored back-to-back touchdowns bridging the second and third quarters on pass plays of five and 41 yards to give the 49ers a 28-13 lead. His final score came on a 1-yard run in the third quarter.
McCaffrey leads the NFL in rushing yards (1,292), carries (244), touches (301), yards from scrimmage and all-purpose yards (both with 1,801), and is tied for the lead in touchdowns (20). The 72 receiving yards were a season-high for McCaffrey, who scored seven touchdowns in two games against the Cardinals this season. McCaffrey has the third-highest offensive grade (91.3) among halfbacks by Pro Football Focus. The 49ers, on a six-game winning streak, hold the top seed in the NFC, with an 11-3 record and have clinched the NFC West Division title and a playoff spot with three games to go.
Elijah Higgins. Photo by Mark J. Rebilas/USA TODAY Sports.
For the Cardinals, rookie tight end Elijah Higgins scored his first career touchdown, an eight-yard pass from Kyler Murray in the back corner of the end zone, in the final minute. Higgins caught a career-high four passes – equaling his total for the season -- for 44 yards while playing 25 offensive snaps and 12 on special teams. Starting receiver Michael Wilson played 65 (88 percent) offensive snaps for the Cardinals.
Michael Wilson. Photo by Joe Camporeale/USA TODAY Sports.
Houston tight end Dalton Schultz stole the ball away from Tennessee defender Roger McCreary to help the Texans tie the score and force overtime during a 19-16 victory in Nashville. With the Texans down 16-9 and driving with under five minutes left, McCreary appeared to intercept a Case Keenum pass only for Schultz to strip McCreary of the ball on the way down to complete a 15-yard catch to the Titans' 3-yard line. That enabled Houston to score the tying touchdown with 3:08 left. Schultz caught four passes for 58 yards while playing 65 (84 percent) offensive snaps as the Texans earned a key victory to stay in playoff contention. At 8-6, Houston is the first team out in the AFC playoff picture on a tiebreaker.
Dalton Schultz. Photo by Andrew Nelles/The Tennessean/USA TODAY Network.
Houston quarterback Davis Mills was sacked on his only play, on what was set up to be a "Hail Mary" pass on the final play of regulation.
Miami cornerback Ethan Bonner made his NFL debut Sunday, with a tackle and a quarterback hurry in the Dolphins' 30-0 victory over the visiting New York Jets. Bonner played 11 defensive snaps and 13 on special teams.
Dolphins' starting punter Jake Bailey landed three of his four punts inside the 20-yard line – to the 12, nine, and 13 – while averaging 35.8 yards per kick. He also served as the holder on three field goals and three successful extra-point tries. The Dolphins are 10-4 and lead the AFC East by two games.
For the Jets, defensive end Solomon Thomas had a sack, tackle for loss, quarterback hurry, and three tackles overall. His five sacks this season are a career high.
Atlanta tight end Tucker Fisk made his first NFL start and caught his first NFL pass, for nine yards and a first down, in the Falcons' 9-7 loss at Carolina. Fisk played 20 offensive snaps and three on special teams.
Paulson Adebo makes the tackle. Photo by Stephen Lew/USA TODAY Sports.
New Orleans starting cornerback Paulson Adebo had two solo tackles and broke up a pass in the Saints' 24-6 victory over the visiting New York Giants. Adebo played every defensive snap. Teammate Andrus Peat started at left tackle and played all 62 offensive snaps for the Saints. Giants' starting middle linebacker Bobby Okereke had three tackles, including two solo, and had a quarterback hurry. Okereke is 10th in the NFL in tackles, with 122.
Bobby Okereke. Photo by Stephen Lew/USA TODAY Sports.
Kansas City starting safety Justin Reid made seven tackles, including six solo, and had a tackle for loss in the Chiefs' 27-17 victory at New England. Reid, whose TFL came on the first play from scrimmage, played all 53 defensive snaps. The Chiefs lead the AFC West by two games, at 9-5. Reid is tied for 12th in tackles by a safety, with 66.
Washington starting defensive end Casey Toohill had four tackles, including three solo, in the Commanders' 28-20 loss at the Los Angeles Rams. Toohill played 60 (80 percent) defensive snaps.
Casey Toohill on the chase. Photo by Kirby Lee/USA TODAY Sports.
Las Vegas tight end Austin Hooper played 26 offensive snaps in the Raiders' 63-21 victory over the visiting Los Angeles Chargers on Thursday night. Hooper is No. 10 in pass blocking among tight ends by Pro Football Focus, with a 79.1 grade. Chargers' offensive tackle Foster Sarell played three special teams snaps.
Cincinnati receiver Trenton Irwin played 10 offensive snaps in the Bengals' 27-24 overtime victory over visiting Minnesota on Saturday. Vikings' starting defensive tackle Harrison Phillips had two solo tackles while playing 54 (77 percent) defensive snaps. The Vikings are sixth in the NFC playoff picture, with the L.A. Rams, Seattle, and New Orleans just behind. Each of the four are 7-7, with only two available playoff spots among them.
Jacksonville starting left tackle Walker Little played all 62 offensive snaps and two on special teams in the Jaguars' 23-7 loss to visiting Baltimore. Jacksonville is in a three-way tie for the AFC South lead with Indianapolis and Houston, each at 8-6.
Seattle tight end Colby Parkinson caught one pass for six yards in the Seahawks' 20-17 victory over visiting Philadelphia on Monday night. Parkinson played 21 offensive snaps and four on special teams.
Pittsburgh offensive guard Nate Herbig played two special teams snaps in the Steelers' 30-13 loss at Indianapolis on Saturday.
Denver offensive tackle Cameron Fleming played three offensive snaps in the Broncos' 42-17 loss at Detroit on Saturday.
Atlanta center Drew Dalman did not play. Dalman continues to lead NFL centers with a season run-blocking grade of 91.0 by Pro Football Focus.
Washington cornerback Kyu Blu Kelly and Philadelphia quarterback Tanner McKee were inactive. Kelly was placed on waivers by Green Bay last week and claimed by the Commanders. This is the fourth team of Kelly's rookie campaign after being drafted by Baltimore and starting the season with Seattle.
Philadelphia defensive tackle Thomas Booker, Los Angeles Chargers receiver Simi Fehoko, San Francisco linebacker Curtis Robinson, Cincinnati safety Michael Thomas, Washington receiver Brycen Tremayne, Chicago defensive back Kendall Williamson were on practice squads.
Carolina defensive end Henry Anderson was on injured reserve.
Running back/receiver/returner Ty Montgomery was cut by New England last week.