A few Rice football alums are playoff bound in Seattle, Minnesota and Houston. Final regular season stats and a roundup of the NFL Owls in Week 17.
There are former Rice football players scattered across the NFL. Stay tuned each week for their game results and notables from each player.
Week 17 results
Broncos 16 (Anderson, Callahan) – Raiders 15
Cowboys 47 (Covington) – Redskins 16
49ers 26 – Seahawks 21 (Ellerbee, Willson)
Ravens 28 – Steelers 10 (Boswell, McDonald)
Titans 35 – Texans 14 (Gaines)
Chicago 21 – Vikings 19 (Sendejo)
Calvin Anderson, OT, Broncos
Anderson did not appear in a game for the Broncos this season despite being signed midway through the season. He was inactive in every game following his arrival to Denver, including their Week 17 win over the Raiders.
Bryce Callahan, CB, Broncos
Callahan was placed on injured reserve earlier this season, never playing for the Broncos in 2019. Like Anderson, he did not make any appearances for Denver this season.
Christian Covington, DE, Cowboys
Covington tallied four tackles in the Cowboys dominant win over the Redskins in their final game of the 2019 season. The win wasn’t enough, though, as the Eagles clinched the final playoff berth in the NFC with a win over the Redskins, knocking the Cowboys out of the playoffs. Covington ends the year with a career-best 28 tackles with one sack and one pass break up.
Andrew Sendejo, Saf, Vikings
Sendejo was fourth on the team in tackles, finishing with seven in Sunday’s narrow loss to the Bears. Spanning two teams and 15 games, Sendejo tallied 44 tackles, three interceptions and four pass break ups during the regular season. The Vikings will travel to the Saints in the first round of the playoffs next weekend.
Emmanuel Ellerbee, LB, Seahawks
Ellerbee was placed injured reserve prior to the start of the season. He did not appear in any games with the Seahawks this year.
Luke Willson, TE, Seahawks
Willson was inactive for the Seahawks’ final regular season game, a heartbreaking loss to the 49ers that came down to a fourth-down stop at the goal line. Willson played eight games this season. He caught eight passes for 79 yards with a long of 17 yards.
DIVISION CLINCHING STAND BY THE 49ERS! 😤
(via @49ers) pic.twitter.com/MugS0OnKwO
— ESPN (@espn) December 30, 2019
The loss secures Seattle as the No. 5 seed in the NFC. They’ll travel to Philadelphia to play the Eagles in the first round of the playoffs next weekend.
Chris Boswell, K, Steelers
Boswell saw limited action on Sunday, making one extra point and one 26-yard field goal in the Steelers’ loss to the Lamar Jackson-less Baltimore Ravens. Boswell made 29 of 31 field goal attempts this season and was perfect on 28 extra point tries. The Steelers were eliminated from the playoffs with the loss, but the Titans’ win over the Texans in Week 17 would have kept them out regardless of the result of their game.
Vance McDonald, TE, Steelers
The Steelers couldn’t get much going on offense on Sunday. Quarterback Duck Hodges completed nine passes, two to McDonald, who had 19 receiving yards, second-most on the team. McDonald ends the year with 38 receptions for 273 yards and three touchdowns.
Phillip Gaines, CB, Texans
Gaines was placed on injured reserve following an ankle injury suffered during the Texans’ Week 8 game against the Colts. Gaines ends the season with six games played and two starts. He had two pass breakups. The Texans host the Bills in the first round of the playoffs next week.
More Owls in the NFL
From practice squads to current free agents, there are others Owls on the cusp of returning to active rosters. Find more detail on current contractual agreements and former Rice football players waiting for their next opportunity here.
