Alabama NFL roundup: JK Scott âa weaponâ for Chargers

In the NFL’s third 6-0 game in the past 20 seasons, punting was at a premium, and JK Scott delivered for the Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday.

“He’s a weapon,” Chargers coach Brandon Staley said. “And he has been for us for two years. …

“In a game like that, when it becomes a defensive and field-position game, you’re going to need your specialists to come alive. We were really able to flip the field and get momentum. That was a way we were able to gain momentum in the game. He was fantastic.”

Scott punted eight times for a 45.9-yard average. Except for one touchback, New England started its possessions after the punts at its 18-yard line or worse and had a net return yardage of zero.

Scott had a 50-yard punt with a return of minus-5 yards to the New England 13-yard line, a 53-yarder downed at the New England 6, a 29-yarder out of bounds at the New England 9, a 52-yarder for a fair catch at the New England 9, a 62-yarder returned 5 yards to the New England 18, a 39-yarder out of bounds at the New England 2, a 50-yarder for a touchback and a 32-yarder for a fair catch at the New England 13.

“There’s some games where you don’t punt as much and there’s not as much of a role,” Scott said, “and today there was obviously more punts and you’re playing more of a role. I really, really was happy with how I played. …

“Really more just my mindset, I was just having so much fun. Not worried about results, not worrying about performance, just trying to go out there and have fun like a little kid playing ball.”

Scott was among the 46 former Alabama players who got on the field on the 13th Sunday of the NFL’s 104th season.

Four other former Alabama players were involved in the Los Angeles-New England game:

· Patriots defensive lineman Christian Barmore recorded one tackle for loss.

· Anfernee Jennings (Dadeville) started at linebacker for the Patriots. Jennings made three tackles.

· Patriots quarterback Mac Jones dressed for the game but did not play. After starting every game this season (and every healthy game of his career) for New England, Jones was benched on Sunday with the Patriots at 2-9. But the switch to Bailey Zappe did not spark New England’s offense. Zappe completed 13-of-25 passes for 141 yards with no touchdowns and no interceptions.

· Patriots linebacker Mack Wilson (Carver-Montgomery) made four tackles and broke up one pass.

In the other Sunday games:

Detroit Lions 33, New Orleans Saints 28

· Brian Branch started at safety for the Lions. Branch made seven tackles and intercepted one pass. Branch intercepted quarterback Derek Carr on New Orleans’ first snap of the game, and his 13-yard return put Detroit on the Saints 17-yard line, leading to the Lions’ second touchdown. The rookie has two interceptions.

· Lions defensive tackle Isaiah Buggs was designated as a game-day inactive.

· Lions running back Jahmyr Gibbs ran for 60 yards on eight carries, including a 36-yard gain that is the longest run of the rookie’s career. He also had a reception that lost 6 yards.

· Jameson Williams started at wide receiver for the Lions. Williams caught an 11-yard pass and ran 19 yards for a touchdown as Detroit took a 33-21 lead with 14:07 left to play. Williams scored his first rushing touchdown on his second NFL rushing attempt. His first went for a 40-yard gain last season.

Atlanta Falcons 13, New York Jets 8

· DeMarcco Hellams started at safety for the Falcons. Hellams made two tackles on defense and two tackles on special teams in his first NFL start.

· C.J. Mosley (Theodore) started at linebacker for the Jets. Mosley made five tackles.

· Quinnen Williams (Wenonah) started at defensive tackle for the Jets. Williams made four tackles, registered two quarterback hits and forced one fumble. Williams and safety Ashtyn Davis tackled Atlanta running back Bijan Robinson in the end zone for a safety for the first points of the game with 1:36 left in the first quarter.

Arizona Cardinals 24, Pittsburgh Steelers 10

· Minkah Fitzpatrick started at free safety for the Steelers. Fitzpatrick made five tackles as he returned from a four-game absence caused by a hamstring injury.

· Najee Harris started at running back for the Steelers. Harris ran for 63 yards on 16 carries and had two receptions for 14 yards.

· Steelers cornerback Levi Wallace made two tackles.

Indianapolis Colts 31, Tennessee Titans 28 (OT)

· Colts cornerback Tony Brown did not record any stats.

· Titans defensive back Shyheim Carter is on the practice squad and not eligible to play.

· Colts linebacker Ronnie Harrison made two tackles.

· Derrick Henry started at running back for the Titans. Henry ran for 102 yards and two touchdowns on 21 carries and caught an 18-yard pass before leaving the game to be evaluated for a head injury after a hard hit with 10:48 left in the fourth quarter. Henry’s third 100-yard game of 2023 was the 36th of his career.

· Ryan Kelly started at center for the Colts. Kelly returned to the lineup after missing the previous game because of a concussion.

Miami Dolphins 45, Washington Commanders 15

· Jonathan Allen started at defensive tackle for the Commanders. Allen made one tackle and registered one quarterback hit.

· Dolphins guard Lester Cotton (Central-Tuscaloosa) did not record any stats.

· Dolphins defensive tackle Raekwon Davis made one tackle.

· Commanders running back Derrick Gore is on the practice squad and not eligible to play.

· Dolphins defensive tackle Da’Shawn Hand did not record any stats.

· Commanders defensive tackle Phidarian Mathis did not record any stats.

· Tua Tagovailoa started at quarterback for the Dolphins. Tagovailoa completed 18-of-24 passes for 280 yards with two touchdowns and no interceptions. Tagovailoa threw first-half touchdowns of 78 and 60 yards to wide receiver Tyreek Hill.

· Daron Payne (Shades Valley) started at defensive tackle for the Commanders. Payne made three tackles and recorded one tackle for loss.

· Brian Robinson Jr. (Hillcrest-Tuscaloosa) started at running back for the Commanders. Robinson gained 53 yards on seven rushing attempts, including a 29-yard run, before leaving the game because of a hamstring injury.

· Jaylen Waddle started at wide receiver for the Dolphins. Waddle had five receptions for 52 yards.

Houston Texans 22, Denver Broncos 17

· Will Anderson Jr. started at defensive end for the Texans. Anderson made five tackles, recorded two sacks, registered four quarterback hits and broke up one pass. Anderson’s first two-sack game gave the rookie five for the season.

· Texans linebacker Christian Harris made six tackles.

· Broncos safety Kareem Jackson was not eligible to play as he served the second game of a four-game suspension imposed by the NFL.

· Jerry Jeudy started at wide receiver for the Broncos. Jeudy caught three passes for 51 yards.

· Texans wide receiver John Metchie III had a 9-yard reception.

· Broncos inside linebacker Drew Sanders made one tackle on special teams.

· Patrick Surtain II started at cornerback for the Broncos. Surtain made five tackles and broke up one pass. Surtain missed part the game while being evaluated for a knee injury.

· Texans linebacker Henry To’oTo’o made one tackle on special teams.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers 21, Carolina Panthers 18

· Bradley Bozeman (Handley) started at center for the Panthers.

· Panthers guard Deonte Brown (Austin) is on the practice squad and not eligible to play.

· Panthers defensive tackle LaBryan Ray (James Clemens) made one tackle.

· Bryce Young started at quarterback for the Panthers. Young completed 15-of-31 passes for 178 yards with no touchdowns and one interception.

Los Angeles Rams 36, Cleveland Browns 19

· Amari Cooper started at wide receiver for the Browns. Cooper caught three passes for 34 yards before leaving the game to be evaluated for a concussion.

· Jerome Ford started at running back for the Browns. Ford gained 19 yards on nine carries and caught three passes for 33 yards and one touchdown. Ford scored the game’s first points on a 24-yard reception from quarterback Joe Flacco.

· Rams tight end Miller Forristall is on the practice squad and not eligible to play.

· Browns offensive lineman Alex Leatherwood is on the practice squad and not eligible to play.

· Dalvin Tomlinson started at defensive tackle for the Browns. Tomlinson made two tackles.

· Browns offensive tackle Jedrick Wills Jr. is on injured reserve and not eligible to play.

San Francisco 49ers 42, Philadelphia Eagles 19

· Landon Dickerson started at left guard for the Eagles.

· Jalen Hurts started at quarterback for the Eagles. Hurts completed 26-of-45 passes for 298 yards with one touchdown and no interceptions and ran seven times for 20 yards and one touchdown. Hurts scored on a 1-yard touchdown run with 6:51 left in the third quarter as Philadelphia cut San Francisco’s lead to 21-13 and threw a 2-yard TD pass to wide receiver DeVonta Smith with 5:33 remaining to reduce the 49ers’ lead to 35-19.

· Eagles cornerback Josh Jobe did not record any stats.

· Eagles wide receiver Julio Jones (Foley) did not record any stats.

· Forty-Niners tight end Cameron Latu is on injured reserve and not eligible to play.

· Eagles offensive lineman Ross Pierschbacher is on the practice squad and not eligible to play.

· Eagles cornerback Eli Ricks made two tackles.

· Eagles wide receiver Cam Sims is on the practice squad and not eligible to play.

· DeVonta Smith started at wide receiver for the Eagles. Smith had nine receptions for 96 yards and one touchdown. Smith scored on a 2-yard reception with 5:33 left to play.

· Eagles offensive tackle Tyler Steen did not record any stats.

Week 13 started on Thursday night, when the Dallas Cowboys defeated the Seattle Seahawks 41-35.

Week 13 concludes on Monday, when the Cincinnati Bengals and Jacksonville Jaguars square off at 7:15 p.m. CDT at EverBank Stadium in Jacksonville, Florida. ABC and ESPN will televise the game.

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Mark Inabinett is a sports reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter at @AMarkG1.