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Rice Football 2020: Owls in the NFL Divisional Round Update

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The last remaining Rice football alums have been eliminated from the NFL Playoffs. Here’s a rundown of all the NFL Owls who played in the Divisional Round.

There are former Rice football players scattered across the NFL. Stay tuned each week for their game results and notables from each player.

Divisional Round Results

49ers 27 – Vikings 26 (Sendejo)
Titans 28 – Ravens 12
Chiefs 51 – Texans 31 (Gaines)
Packers 28 – Seahawks 23 (Ellerbee, Willson)

Andrew Sendejo, Saf, Vikings

Sendejo was active in a Vikings secondary that didn’t have many opportunities to shine. 49ers quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo attempted just 19 passes on Saturday, the longest going for 22 yards. San Francisco had four times as many rushing attempts (47) as completions (11). Sendejo had three tackles in the loss.

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 and wasn’t on the field for Seattle’s playoff run which ended in the Divisional Round.

Luke Willson, TE, Seahawks

Willson’s season came to an end on Sunday night in a close loss the Packers. He caught the only ball thrown his way, an eight-yard reception. More notably, he registered the first carry of his six-year NFL career, gaining one yard.

Phillip Gaines, CB, Texans

Gaines was placed on injured reserve following an ankle injury suffered during the Texans’ Week 8 game against the Colts. He wasn’t available for the Texans playoff run. Instead, he had to watch a gut-wrenching come-from-behind victory by the Chiefs. After falling behind 24-0, Kansas City went on to score 41 unanswered points and win.

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.

Join The Roost. React to stories and news in the forum. Stay plugged into the latest happenings in Rice Football with practice notes recruiting updates and more. We are your No. 1 source for Rice Athletics News.

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Detroit Lions sign punter Jack Fox to futures contract

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Following the end of the regular season, former Rice football punter Jack Fox has signed a futures contract with the NFL’s Detroit Lions

Former Rice football punter Jack Fox has been swept up into the churn of NFL life. After going undrafted, Fox signed a free agent deal with the Kansas City Chiefs and was cut prior to the regular season. He was on and off the Chiefs’ practice squad during the season, eventually being signed to the practice squad by the Detroit Lions.

It looks like Fox will be in Detroit for at least a little while longer. At the end of the regular season, Fox agreed to a futures contract with the Lions.

What is a futures contract?

NFL teams don’t practice between the end of the season and training camp, thus eliminating the need for practice squad players. Even though they weren’t on the official roster, teams still want to make sure they can keep many of those players in the fold for the upcoming season when the rosters expand from 55 players to 90. And thus futures contracts were born.

Essentially a futures contract is a low-cost commitment between the player and the team to keep a player from signing elsewhere during the offseason. Futures contracts take effect at the start of the new league year (Mar. 18, 2020 at 4:00 p.m. ET).

What’s next for Fox?

It’s unlikely Detroit would have brought Fox in if they didn’t intend to give him a shot to compete for a spot on the active roster next season. The Lions’ current punter Sam Martin is eligible for free agency, leaving a potential opening at the position. Detroit also signed free agent Matt Wile who appeared briefly for the Falcons this season and was the full-time punter for the Vikings in 2018, averaging 45.2 yards per punt.

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Rice Football 2020: Owls in the NFL Wildcard Round Update

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Four Rice football alums are moving on in the NFL Playoffs. Here’s a rundown of all the NFL Owls still in the Super Bowl hunt after the Wildcard Round.

There are former Rice football players scattered across the NFL. Stay tuned each week for their game results and notables from each player.

Wildcard Round Results

OT | Texans 22 (Gaines) – Bills 19
Titans 20 – Patriots 13
Vikings 26 (Sendejo) – Saints 20
Seahawks 17 (Ellerbee, Willson) – Eagles 9

Owls out of the playoffs

Broncos – Anderson, Callahan
Cowboys – Covington
Steelers – Boswell, McDonald

Andrew Sendejo, Saf, Vikings

Sendejo played a role in limiting Drew Brees and the New Orleans Saints, holding them below 21 points for the first time since Week 10. The stout performance was enough to upset New Orleans at home. He had three tackles and a pass defended, marking the third time since joining the Vikings he’s registered multiple tackles.

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 and won’t be on the field for Seattle’s playoff run.

Luke Willson, TE, Seahawks

Willson was active against the Eagles but did not catch a pass. His experience as a blocker continues to be his ticket onto the field. The Seahawks heavily targeted their wide receivers on Sunday with Jacob Hollister registering the only two catches from the tight end position.

Phillip Gaines, CB, Texans

Gaines was placed on injured reserve following an ankle injury suffered during the Texans’ Week 8 game against the Colts. He won’t be available for Houston’s playoff run.

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.

Join The Roost. React to stories and news in the forum. Stay plugged into the latest happenings in Rice Football with practice notes recruiting updates and more. We are your No. 1 source for Rice Athletics News.

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Rice Football 2019: Owls in the NFL Week 17 Update

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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.

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.

Join The Roost. React to stories and news in the forum. Stay plugged into the latest happenings in Rice Football with practice notes recruiting updates and more. We are your No. 1 source for Rice Athletics News.

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Rice Football 2019: Owls in the NFL Week 16 Update

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Multiple NFL Owls are in the playoff hunt. Which former Rice football alums got a step closer to the postseason in Week 16?

There are former Rice football players scattered across the NFL. Stay tuned each week for their game results and notables from each player.

Week 16 results

Broncos 27 (Anderson, Callahan) – Lions 17 
Eagles 17 – Cowboys 9 (Covington)
Cardinals 27 – Seahawks 13 (Ellerbee, Willson)
Jets 16 – Steelers 10 (Boswell, McDonald)
Texans 23 (Gaines) – Bucs 20
Packers 23 – Vikings 10 (Sendejo)

Calvin Anderson, OT, Broncos

Anderson has yet to appear in a game for the Broncos this season. He was inactive again this week. The Broncos host the Raiders in Week 17.

Bryce Callahan, CB, Broncos

Callahan was placed on injured reserve earlier this season, never playing for the Broncos in 2019. He will be sidelined for the remainder of the year. The Broncos host the Raiders in Week 17.

Christian Covington, DE, Cowboys

Covington was limited to one tackle in the Cowboys’ Week 16 defeat to the Eagles. The Cowboys host the Redskins in Week 17. They can clinch a playoff birth with a win next week and an Eagles’ loss to the Giants.

Andrew Sendejo, Saf, Vikings

Sendejo made one tackle in the Vikings’ Monday Night Football loss to the Packers. The Vikings host the Bears in Week 17.

Emmanuel Ellerbee, LB, Seahawks

Ellerbee was placed injured reserve prior to the start of the season. The Seahawks host the 49ers on Sunday Night Football in Week 17.

Luke Willson, TE, Seahawks

Willson was eased back into the offense after missing the previous four weeks with a hamstring injury. He played on 22 snaps and was not targeted. The Seahawks host the 49ers on Sunday Night Football in Week 17.

Chris Boswell, K, Steelers

Boswell continues to be one of the most reliable players for the Steelers this season. He made his only field goal attempt Sunday, a 49-yard try, as well as his sole extra point. The Steelers visit the Ravens in Week 17 who could be resting multiple starters. They can clinch a playoff birth with a win next week and a Titans’ loss to the Texans.

Vance McDonald, TE, Steelers

McDonald hauled in three passes on six targets, tallying nine reciving yards against the Jets. The Steelers visit the Ravens in Week 17 who could be resting multiple starters. They can clinch a playoff birth with a win next week and a Titans’ loss to the Texans.

Phillip Gaines, CB, Texans

Gaines was placed on injured reserve following an ankle injury suffered during the Texans’ Week 8 game against the Colts. The Texans host the Titans in Week 17.

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.

Join The Roost. React to stories and news in the forum. Stay plugged into the latest happenings in Rice Football with practice notes recruiting updates and more. We are your No. 1 source for Rice Athletics News.

Recent Posts
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