WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Six Purdue Football alums represented the Boilermakers in the NFL as the season progressed through week nine.
Charlie Jones started the week with a bang when he returned the opening kickoff for a 98-yard touchdown against the Bears. His return marked the first time in history that a Bengals player returned the opening kickoff for a touchdown at home.
Jones’ 98-yard touchdown marked the longest kick return in the NFL this season. He became the third Bengal with multiple career kick returns for a touchdown in his career, joining Tremaine Mack and Brandon Wilson, who both also have two in their respective careers.
Derrick Barnes recorded a sack and two tackles-for-loss on Sunday against Minnesota. He has at least one sack and one tackle-for-loss in three of the last four games. He ranks second on the Lions with 48 total tackles and third with four sacks and six tackles-for-loss.
George Karlaftis added to his team lead with a half-sack on Sunday against the Bills to raise his season total to five. He is one of six players in the NFL with at least 30 tackles, five sacks and seven tackles-for-loss.
Marcus Mbow and Tyrone Tracy Jr. both started for the Giants on Sunday at right tackle and running back, respectively. They are the first pair of Boilermakers to appear in offensive snaps together in the NFL since Dennis Kelly and Kevin Pamphile both played on the offensive line in the Titans’ 2018 season opener.
Mbow had an 82.3 run blocking grade that ranked 10th in the NFL by an offensive lineman and was the second-highest grade by a rookie offensive lineman. Tracy carried the ball five times for 18 yards and caught three passes for 19 yards.
BOILERMAKERS AROUND THE NFL
• Charlie Jones (Cincinnati) – Returned the opening kickoff for a 98-yard touchdown, totaled four kick returns for 197 yards and two punt returns for 12 yards vs. Chicago.
• Derrick Barnes (Detroit) – Recorded a sack and two tackles-for-loss vs. Minnesota.
• George Karlaftis (Kansas City) – Had a half-sack and totaled six tackles at Buffalo.
• Marcus Mbow (N.Y. Giants) – Made his first NFL start at right tackle and produced an 82.3 run blocking grade, 10th in the NFL by an offensive lineman, vs. San Francisco.
• Tyrone Tracy Jr. (N.Y. Giants) – Rushed five times for 18 yards and added three receptions for 19 yards vs. San Francisco.
• Raheem Mostert (Las Vegas) – Caught one pass for 14 yards and had five kick returns for 202 yards, including a 54-yard return, vs. Jacksonville.
• Aidan O’Connell (Las Vegas) – Designated for return from the injured reserve that opens a 21-day window for the Raiders to elevate him to the active roster or place him back on the injured reserve.
• Sanoussi Kane (Baltimore) – Inactive at Miami
• Payne Durham (Tampa Bay) – Bye Week
• Jalen Graham (San Francisco) – Practice Squad
• Reese Taylor (Denver) – Practice Squad
• Cory Trice Jr. (Pittsburgh) – Injured Reserve
• Rondale Moore (Minnesota) – Injured Reserve (out for season)
