Clemson Football alumni: NFL report highlights for week 2

It’s week 2 of NFL Preseason football and here is what some of the former Clemson football players did for their teams. 

In week one, Houston Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson completed his one pass attempt when the Texans defeated the Kansas City Chiefs 17-0.

However, fans wanted to see more of him in week two, and he did get more snaps. It was still only one drive, but he was 5 of 8 with 73 passing yards and a 1-yard touchdown pass to former South Carolina receiver Bruce Ellington.

During the 11-play drive, he looked comfortable in the pocket and was decisive and precise in his pass attempts. He also could have easily had a perfect completion percentage if it wasn’t for the three dropped passes.

The former Clemson All-American and national champion appears to be fully recovered from a right knee ACL surgery and NFL fans are excited.

One of Watson’s favorite targets at Clemson, Mike Williams, missed most of his rookie season because of injuries, and Los Angeles Chargers fans didn’t get to see the 6-foot-3 inch receiver that gave Alabama fits in the 2016 National Championship game.

With the offense 25 yards away from the end zone, Williams out jumped a Seattle Seahawks defender for the Geno Smith pass and scored his first touchdown. It was his only catch of the night, but a glimpse into what a healthy Williams can do.

“Well, the Chargers got a power forward playing wide receiver,” said the Chargers radio broadcast team. “And that’s the Mike Williams that we saw at Clemson and the Mike Williams that we’ve seen so far in training camp for the Chargers.”

The Chargers won the game 24-14, and he now has three catches, 43 yards and a touchdown in the two games.

In the same game, two other former Clemson receivers did their best to uphold the WRU moniker. Artavis Scott is trying to make the 53-man roster after spending his rookie season on the practice squad. He is having a strong camp for the Chargers and unlike last preseason, he has gotten opportunities on game day. Scott has seven receptions(tied for team lead) and 80 yards. He is also being used on special teams and averages almost 25 yards on four kickoff returns with a long of 39.

On the opposite side of the field, Jaron Brown led the Seahawks in receiving yards with 74 on two receptions. His 45-yard reception is his first big play in his new uniform, and he was asked about that play in his post game interview.

“It’s important to give the quarterback a good target and Rus(Russell Wilson) made a great throw and placed it perfectly,” he said. “I had to just go up and make that play.”

He spent five years with the Arizona Cardinals before signing a 2 year, $5.5 million contract with the Seahawks. The veteran of WRU is coming off his best season where he started eight games, had 31 receptions and scorer four times.

Brown has dealt with some injuries in his career and third year New York Jets receiver Charone Peake is coming off of an injury shortened 2017 season. He was placed on injury reserve for a high ankle sprain after the third game and this preseason is very important to his future with the Jets.

After getting minimal action in the Jets 17-0 win over Atlanta, Peake caught a 13-yard pass and a 16-yard touchdown pass on back-to-back plays in the 15-13 loss to the Washington Redskins. He finished the game with two receptions for 29 yards.

Clemson has several receivers in the NFL, but Wayne Gallman is the lone running back in the league.

The New York Giants sophomore had an up and down rookie year on a 3-13 team and in year two, he’s in a battle with veteran Jonathan Stewart for the number two spot behind No. 2 overall draft pick Saquon Barkley. Barkley is out with a strained hamstring injury and Gallman showed his all-around skills on Friday.

Gallman scored two touchdowns, one a second quarter 8-yard catch and the other a one cut fourth quarter 11-yard run. He rushed five times for 26 yards and caught two balls for nine yards in the 30-17 win.

Here is a rookie report for Week 2:

• Dorian O’Daniel, Kansas City Chiefs, had two total tackles and a tackle for loss.
• Ray-Ray McCloud, Buffalo Bills, caught the one pass that was thrown his way, a 12-yard reception.