Northwestern in the NFL, Week 5: Defense shines at the next level, too

We’re over a month into the NFL season, and former NU standouts are continuing to make their mark on Sundays. Here’s an update on how these ex-Wildcats fared during the fifth week of NFL action:

Dean Lowry, DE, Green Bay Packers: Lowry struggled in the prime time game against the Cowboys, recording only a single tackle and notably being driven into the end zone by Ezekiel Elliott at one point. However, the Packers defense still limited the Cowboys to 24 points, helping to secure the team’s fourth victory of the season.

Dan Vitale, FB, Green Bay Packers: The bulldozing fullback didn’t run the ball this week, but he made his presence felt offensively yet again. The Packers ran for 120 yards, averaging 4.1 yards per carry, an efficient number, and four scores, largely behind Vitale. He also added a nice reception for nine yards.

Tyler Lancaster, NT, Green Bay Packers: Like his fellow lineman, Lancaster recorded a lone tackle against the Cowboys. The former Northwestern number one made his presence felt, though, with a high effort play to chase down Ezekiel Elliott on a screen.

Anthony Walker, MLB, Indianapolis Colts: The third-year NFL veteran helped his team to a massive upset win over the Chiefs. Walker recorded five tackles and assisted the colts defense in limiting a potent Kansas City offense to 10 points. The defensive captain’s team is now 3-2 and tied for first in the division.

Justin Jackson, RB, Los Angeles Chargers: JJTBC was again inactive due to a calf injury as the Broncos earned an impressive win against Jackson’s Chargers.

Joe Jones, ILB, Denver Broncos: Jones got his first action of 2019 after coming back from a triceps injury that kept him out of the first quarter of the season. He didn’t record any stats against the Chargers, but crucially, he recovered their onside attempt at the end of the game to seal the Broncos’ first victory.

Ifeadi Odenigbo, DE, Minnesota Vikings: Odenigbo had his biggest game of the year against the Giants, recording three tackles and a sack. He’s emerging as a reliable NFL player and earning his first professional sack should give him a boost as he tries to establish himself and potentially receive more consistent playing time.

Odenigbo’s pass-rushing ability looks to be there, but in order to get more snaps among a talented group of edge rushers he may have to continue developing the other dimension’s of his game. Regardless, the former seventh-round pick has officially made his presence felt.

Austin Carr, WR, New Orleans Saints: The former NU walk-on turned NFL receiver hasn’t caught a ball all year, and that continued to be the case on Sunday. Teddy Bridgewater passed successfully to six different players in hi successful outing against the Bucs, but Carr wasn’t one of them.

Sherrick McManis, DB/Special Teams, Chicago Bears: The special teams ace made a massive play on the defensive side of the ball as the Bears faced the Raiders in London. McManis punched the ball out of the hands of Trevor Davis on the goal line to swing the momentum and keep the Bears (for the moment) in the lead.

Though his team lost, McManis added two tackles and also made a huge block to spring Tarik Cohen on a big punt return that set Chicago up for an easy score.

Garrett Dickerson, TE, New York Giants: The former superback turned tight end still has yet to record a statistic this year. He saw his second game action of the year in a 28-10 win against the Vikings, but is still rounding back into form after suffering a quad injury at the end of the preseason that kept him out in early weeks.

Practice Squad Members: Nate Hall, LB, Buffalo Bills; Clayton Thorson, QB, Dallas Cowboys; Blake Hance, OT, Jacksonville Jaguars; Montre Hartage, S, Miami Dolphins

*Trevor Siemian is out for the year after having season-ending surgery on his ankle.