In Week 2 of the NFL’s regular season, a few former Gators had big performances for their respective professional teams. Here’s a look at how some of those players did this weekend in this edition of Gators in the NFL:
Thompson and Gillislee score:
Two former Gators found the end zone in Week 2 of the NFL season.
Bears wide receiver Deonte Thompson was a bright spot for Chicago in its 29-7 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Thompson caught four passes on five targets for 57 yards — good for second best on the team — and scored Chicago’s only touchdown of the day. He also had a 20-yard reception in the fourth quarter, the longest completed pass by quarterback Mike Glennon on Sunday.
This week’s performance was a significant improvement from Week 1, where Thompson had just one catch for 15 yards.
New England Patriots running back Mike Gillislee added another touchdown to his season total on Sunday in a 36-20 win against the New Orleans Saints.
Gillislee ran for a game-high 69 yards on 18 carries, including a 2-yard run into the end zone in the second quarter to put the Patriots up by 14 points.
So far, the former Gator is having an impressive season. In two weeks, Gillislee has 114 rushing yards and four touchdowns, compared to his 577-yard, eight-touchdown season in 2016.
Defenders making highlights:
Oakland Raiders defensive back Reggie Nelson followed up a big game in Week 1 with another solid performance against the New York Jets.
Last week, Nelson had eight tackles, five of which were solo. This week, he added eight more, three solo and five assisted in the Raiders’ 45-20 win.
On the opposite side of the field, Jets safety Marcus Maye wasn’t too far from Nelson in terms of production. Maye led the team with seven tackles, six of which were solo.
Detroit Lions linebacker Jarrad Davis also played well in Week 2 in the Lions’ 24-10 win against the New York Giants.
Davis recorded six tackles (three solo, three assisted) on Monday and sacked Giants quarterback Eli Manning in the win. Following his nine-tackle game last week, the former Gator is having an impressive start to his rookie campaign.
Atlanta Falcons safety Keanu Neal and defensive back Brian Poole had another good week in a 34-23 win over the Green Bay Packers.
Neal, who is tied for third on the team in tackles, had five solo tackles, including one for a loss. Poole recorded six total tackles, four of which were solo, and had one pass defended in the win.
You can follow Jake Dreilinger on Twitter @DreilingerJake, and contact him at jdreilinger@alligator.org.
Chicago Bears wide receiver Deonte Thompson (14) catches a touchdown pass ahead of Tampa Bay Buccaneers defensive back Robert McClain (36), during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 17, 2017, in Tampa, Fla. The Bucs defeated the Bears 29-7. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)
