Buffs in the NFL: Winfree Records First NFL Reception

With Davante Adams and Allen Lazard placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list and Marquez Valdes-Scantling (hamstring) on injured reserve, the Green Bay Packers turned to their practice squad for help at wide receiver ahead of last Thursday’s matchup with the Arizona Cardinals. Enter Juwann Winfree, who was elevated from the practice squad before the game. The former Buffaloes wideout was targeted six times – second most among Packers players - and caught four passes for 30 yards in the Packers 24-21 victory on Thursday Night Football. “Great team win! Boy did I miss playing live football!” Winfree tweeted after the game. A sixth-round pick by the Denver Broncos in the 2019 NFL Draft, Winfree saw action in three games that year before being placed on injured reserve. After being waived by the Broncos last September, he found a home on Green Bay’s practice squad. His receptions on Thursday night were the first of his career. Former Buffaloes kicker Mason Crosby connected on a 21-yard field goal and added three extra points in the Packers win.

Elsewhere Eagles linebacker Davion Taylor started and recorded five tackles in Philadelphia’s dominating 44-6 road win over the Detroit Lions. Staying in the NFC East, Giants right tackle Nate Solder saw action on all 60 offensive plays in New York’s 20-17 loss Monday Night to the Kansas City Chiefs. Cornerback Chidobe Awuzie and defensive tackle Josh Tupou started and combined for eight tackles in the Cincinnati Bengals 34-31 loss to the New York Jets. Offensively, former Colorado standouts Phillip Lindsay and Laviska Shenault Jr. couldn’t get much going in Week eight. Lindsay rushed three times for eight yards in the Houston Texans 38-22 loss to the Los Angeles Rams. Shenault Jr. had two receptions for 13 yards and one rush for eight yards in the Jacksonville Jaguars 31-7 loss to the Seattle Seahawks.

Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback Ahkello Witherspoon was inactive for week eight.