NFL Roundup: Dez Fumbles, Cowboys Stumble and Vincent Taylor Goes down with Injury

The NFL’s Week 16 slate took place over Christmas weekend and several former Pokes were in action. Overall, it was a pretty rough week for OSU alums.

Dez Bryant

The Cowboys’ WR1 has had a frustrating season and Dallas fans have shared in that sentiment. Is Dez elite? That’s been the question repeated over and over on social media much of the year. I still think he can be but his numbers have been far from it. He’s holding just a 53.2-percent catch rate and is averaging just 54.3 yards per game with six scores. Dez hasn’t had a 100-yard game since Week 6 of last season.

The stat about #Cowboys Dez Bryant is crazy. 21 straight games without 100+ receiving yards. That's well off the standard for a WR1… Elite WRs are expected to do much more regardless of situation or circumstance. #fact

— Bucky Brooks (@BuckyBrooks) December 24, 2017

Part of that is on Bryant, part of that is probably on the Dallas offense that has been a bit exposed sans its leading rusher in Ezekiel Elliott who just returned from a six-week suspension. Part of that is on second-year QB Dak Prescott who hit a bit of a sophomore slump and has yet to really form a strong connection with his leading receiver.

On Christmas Eve, Dez had one of the rougher games of his season, catching just three of his six targets for 44 yards. One of those catches was fumbled and then another ball thrown a little behind him — but one he got both hands on — was missed and intercepted. The Cowboys fell 21-12 to Seattle, ending any slim playoff hopes for America’s team.

Chris Carson

What looked like might be an impressive early comeback for the rookie tailback who went down in Week 4 with a lower leg injury, has been all but dispelled. According to 247Sports, Seattle head coach Pete Carroll announced Tuesday that Carson would not practice ahead of the Seahawks’ regular season finale against the Arizona Cardinals.

“I asked this morning. I don’t think so. He’s not quite there. He didn’t get it, unfortunately,” Carroll said on 710 ESPN Seattle’s Brock and Salk.

That game in Seattle be 13 weeks since Carson went down in Week 4 and the rookie is still the leader among Seahawks running backs in rushing yards with 208 on 49 attempts. If the ‘Hawks make the playoffs, it’s still possible that Carson may see the field this year, but most signs are pointing to a summer return for the 7th-Round pick.

Vincent Taylor

Taylor was injured on the opening kickoff of the Dolphins’ 29-13 loss to Kansas City. The team announced it as a knee injury and Taylor was carted off of the field. His status is unclear moving forward. The Dolphins end their season on Sunday when Buffalo heads to South Beach.

Dan Bailey

The former OSU kicker — and former most accurate NFL kicker — is in the midst the most frustrating season he’s seen during his 11-year career. After missing five weeks with injury (his first missed time since joining the league), Bailey has missed two field goals in two of the last three games.

On Sunday, Bailey missed attempts of 34 and 48 yards, both wide right. Dallas lost 21-12, with Bailey being the only one to score on a beat-up Seattle defense.

“I’m not sure what it was. Obviously I just missed it,” Bailey said. “They both had good rotations. From a ball-striking standpoint they felt pretty good. I’m honestly just going to have to look at it.

“I felt like I had a great pre-game, a good week of practice. Even the misses, I felt like I was striking the ball well. I don’t know if I just blocked myself because they were both to the right. I’m just going to have to take a look at it and see.”

Lane Taylor

Taylor and his fellow O-linemen could not bolster and short-handed Green Bay offense against the tough Vikings defense. The Packers fell 16-0 to Minnesota on Saturday once again without Aaron Rodgers, who was placed on injured reserve. Brett Hundley was sacked once, threw two interceptions and completed just 42.5 percent of his passes for 130 yards in the scoreless showing by the Packers.

Kevin Peterson

Peterson saw 18 snaps on special teams during the Rams’ 27-23 win over Tennessee in what clinched LA’s division title. Peterson has been pretty solid in his relief role since being promoted from the practice squad earlier this season. And now he’s headed to the playoffs with even more chance to make a name for himself.

THAT FEELING WHEN YOU A DIVISION CHAMP #NFCWEST pic.twitter.com/AtMxRXcxTj

— Kevin Peterson (@Pistol_Peterson) December 24, 2017

Lenzy Pipkins

The rookie DB saw 19 plays on defense and 12 on special teams during the Packers’ 16-0 loss to Minnesota. He tallied one solo tackle and one assist.

Tyler Patmon

Patmon recorded from six snaps on special teams and no stats in the Jaguars 44-33 loss to San Francisco.

Inactive

Russell Okung (Chargers) injury, Emmanuel Ogbah (Browns) injury, Chris Carson (Seahawks) injury, Brandon Weeden (Titans), Blake Jarwin (Cowboys)