The NFL is back and the #ProJackets are making their presence felt all across the league. We catch up with the Tech Men on NFL teams in this week's edition of #ProJackets.
Three different Jackets made their NGFL debuts this past week with Keylan Rutledge (Houston Texans), Jordan van den Berg (Chicago Bears) and Rodney Shelley (Los Angeles Chargers) each getting action in Week 1.
Keylan Rutledge made his first-career NFL start, at left guard. He was the highest rated offensive lineman for the Texans in their Week 1 loss to Buffalo and was one of only four guards in the NFL to produce an offensive grade of 70 or higher with at least 70 snaps played, according to Pro Football Focus.
Among the veterans, five-year NFL pro Jordan Mason found the end zone to help his Vikings secure a crucial NFC North Division victory over Green Bay, rushing for 59 yards and a score on 15 carries with an impressive 57 yards after contact.
Zeek Biggers started off his second professional season the right way, finishing as Pro Football Focus' 4th highest rated interior defensive lineman among players that played at least 50% of their team's snaps, turning in two tackles and a QB Hurry in the Dolphins' Week 1 defeat.
ZEEK BIGGERS (DT– MIAMI DOLPHINS)
2nd NFL season
Week 1: 2 tackles, 1 solo tackle, 1 pressure in the Dolphins' 27-13 loss to Las Vegas.
Week 2: at San Francisco 49ers: Sunday, Sept. 20 at 4:25 pm on FOX
HARRISON BUTKER (K– KANSAS CITY CHIEFS)
10th NFL season
Week 1: 1/1 on Field Goals and 4/4 on PATs in Kansas City's 31-10 win over Denver
Week 2: vs Indianapolis Colts: Sunday, Sept. 20 at 8:20 pm on NBC
JACKSON HAWES (TE– BUFFALO BILLS)
2nd NFL season
Week 1: Played in 25 offensive snaps and eight plays on special teams in a 36-31 win over Houston.
Week 2: vs Detroit Lions: Thursday, Sept. 17 at 8:15 pm on Prime Video
EJ JENKINS (TE– PHILADELPHIA EAGLES)
4th NFL season
Week 1: Saw action in 26 snaps, mostly on special teams in a 24-22 win over Washington.
Week 2: at Tennessee Titans: Sunday, Sept. 20 at 1:00 pm on FOX
HAYNES KING (QB– CAROLINA PANTHERS)
1st NFL season
Week 1: Did not play in a 59-37 loss to Chicago.
Week 2: at Atlanta Falcons: Sunday, Sept. 20 at 1:00 pm on FOX
JORDAN MASON (RB– MINNESOTA VIKINGS)
5th NFL season
Week 1: 15 carries for 59 yards and a touchdown in a 39-22 win over Green Bay.
Week 2: at Chicago Bears: Sunday, Sept. 20 at 1:00 pm on FOX
KEYLAN RUTLEDGE (OL– HOUSTON TEXANS)
1st NFL season
Week 1: Started at LG and was the highest rated offensive lineman in a 36-31 loss to Buffalo.
Week 2: vs Cincinnati Bengals: Sunday, Sept. 20 at 1:00 pm on CBS
RODNEY SHELLEY (CB– LOS ANGELES CHARGERS)
1st NFL season
Week 1: Saw action in 14 snaps, mostly on special teams in a 26-14 loss to Arizona.
Week 2: vs Las Vegas Raiders: Sunday, Sept. 20 at 4:05 pm on CBS
JORDAN VAN DEN BERG (DT– CHICAGO BEARS)
1st NFL season
Week 1: Played in 28 snaps, 22 on defense, in a 59-37 win over Carolina.
Week 2: vs Minnesota Vikings: Sunday, Sept. 20 at 1:00 pm on FOX
DARREN WALLER (TE– CAROLINA PANTHERS)
10th NFL season
Week 1: Made two catches for 28 yards in a 59-37 loss to Chicago.
Week 2: at Atlanta Falcons: Sunday, Sept. 20 at 1:00 pm on FOX
KEION WHITE (DE– SAN FRANCISCO 49ers)
4th NFL season
Week 1: Made a fumble recovery, his second in 10 games as a 49er, in a 27-7 victory over the Rams in Melbourne, Australia.
Week 2: vs Miami Dolphins: Sunday, Sept. 20 at 4:25 pm on FOX
Three former Jackets are on practice squads:
OL Devin Cochran (Detroit Lions)
WR Dean Patterson (Tampa Bay Buccaneers)
WR Eric Rivers (Tampa Bay Buccaneers)
Full Steam Ahead
Full Steam Ahead is a $500 million fundraising initiative to achieve Georgia Tech athletics’ goal of competing for championships at the highest level in the next era of intercollegiate athletics. The initiative will fund transformative projects for Tech athletics, including renovations of Bobby Dodd Stadium at Hyundai Field (the historic home of Georgia Tech football), the Zelnak Basketball Center (the practice and training facility for Tech basketball) and O’Keefe Gymnasium (the venerable home of Yellow Jackets volleyball), as well as additional projects and initiatives to further advance Georgia Tech athletics through program wide-operational support. All members of the Georgia Tech community are invited to visit atfund.org/FullSteamAhead for full details and renderings of the renovation projects, as well as to learn about opportunities to contribute online.
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