Northwestern in the NFL, Week 13: Hartage gets on the field

As the professional contingent of Wildcats continues to deal with far more than their fair share of injuries, a few stars showed out under the bright lights on Thursday, Sunday, and Monday. Without further ado, let’s get to the highlights:

Anthony Walker, Jr. - LB, Indianapolis Colts

The Franchise went off in the Colts’ tough 31-17 loss to the Titans. Walker had a game-high 12 tackles, including half a sack and a quarterback hit. He continues to produce in spurts, as he has racked up 37 of his 70 tackles on the season in just three weeks: 12 this week, 1ten against the Steelers on Week 9, and 15 during Week 3 against the Falcons.

Here is that half-sack, in which Walker works off of the running black block and just ultimately refuses to give up on the play:

Justin Jackson - RB, Los Angeles Chargers

Jackson was a full participant in practice this week after recovering from a calf injury, but was a healthy scratch Sunday against the Broncos, remaining stuck behind Melvin Gordon and Austin Ekeler in a loaded Chargers backfield.

Ifeadi Odenigbo - DE, Minnesota Vikings

Odenigbo didn’t have a massive week, but he did have a very efficient one. In the Vikings’ 37-30 loss to Seattle, the breakout defensive end recorded only two tackles, but importantly, one was a sack. Odenigbo also added a QB hit.

Russell Wilson is not an easy man to bring down, especially in the open field, but here Odenigbo gets the job done thanks to sheer speed and power for his fourth sack of the season in eight games played (despite an extremely limited snap count):

Joe Jones - LB, Denver Broncos

Jones failed to record a stat in the Broncos’ 23-20 win over the Chargers.

Danny Vitale - FB, Green Bay Packers

Vitale could not haul in his only target in the Packers’ 31-13 walloping of the New York Giants. The Packers also did not move the ball all that much behind him in the ground game. He did manage a special teams tackle, though, and a win is a win.

Dean Lowry - DE, Green Bay Packers

Lowry recorded six tackles, one of which was for a loss. The former fourth-round pick became one of the most impactful yet under-the-radar players on the Green Bay defense after the offseason extension. His six tackles were the most among the Packers’ d-linemen, and third-highest recorded by any player on the team behind Blake Martinez and Adrian Amos.

Tyler Lancaster - DT, Green Bay Packers

Lanny had a quiet day, only recording one tackle as he continues to establish himself within the rotation on the defensive line’s interior.

Ibraheim Campbell - SS, Green Bay Packers

Campbell recorded one tackle in a relatively small amount of playing time, as the former Wildcat remains behind Darnell Savage in the Packers’ depth chart.

Montre Hartage - S, Miami Dolphins

After spending a significant portion of the year on Miami’s practice squad, NU’s best CB this decade finally made it to the show. The Dolphins surprised the nation, beating the Eagles 37-31 in a game that very well might have ended the Birds’ playoff hopes. Montre didn’t play a ton, but he took advantage of the opportunity, recording his first (and only) career NFL tackle in his first game as a pro:

Practice Squad Members: Clayton Thorson, QB, Dallas Cowboys; Blake Hance, OT, Jacksonville Jaguars

Sherrick McManis joined Austin Carr on the IR on November 30th after missing the Bears’ Thanksgiving Day game against the Lions with a groin injury, his third consecutive absence. Neither player will see the field for the remainder of the season.

Tyrell Sutton and the Hamilton Tiger-cats lost the Grey Cup to the Winnipeg Blue Combers last week, ending his season on an unfortunate note.