#ProTops: Counting Snaps from Week 4 of the NFL Season
His name is Bailey Zappe.
Another ho-hum week for former Hilltoppers in the NFL. Nothing to see here. I almost didn’t even put one together this week. We’ll try again next week.
I am, of course, being cleverly deceitful. It was a huge week for WKU NFLers: DeAngelo Malone is starting to feel comfortable as a professional, Tyler Higbee is emerging as maybe one of the most targeted tight ends in the league and…and…I feel like I’m forgetting…something? Hmm…
DeAngelo Malone, Atlanta Falcons
Malone saw a significant decrease in snaps this week, but he made those snaps count, including blowing up an attempted reverse for a six-yard loss.
After seeing double-digit defensive snaps in each of the first two games he played this season (he was inactive in Week 1), he saw just four this week (5.5% of plays), but continued to get good run on special teams (13 snaps, 50%).
Not going to lie, I don’t know exactly how PFF grades work, but Malone finished as the second-highest graded defensive Falcon despite his low snap count (83.0).
Tyler Higbee, Los Angeles Rams
The Rams offense looks severely broken, but Tyler Higbee is becoming a Jack Doyle-esque security blanket for Matthew Stafford. In Monday night’s game against the 49ers, Higbee caught 10 passes on 14 targets for 73 yards.
As of publication of this story, his snap count totals and PFF grades were not available. This story will be updated once they are.
Bailey Zappe, New England Patriots
A Hilltopper quarterback has made his NFL regular season debut for a second-straight season, as Bailey Zappe entered Sunday’s game in Green Bay after Brian Hoyer left with a head injury.
He didn’t light the world up on fire, but he didn’t look completely unprepared either, which you’ll take. He went 10-for-15 for 99 yards and a touchdown to Devante Parker.
His PFF grade came in at 51.0. Again, I don’t fully know how that’s calculated, but for his first appearance, in relief of an injured starter, in Green Bay. Not too shabby.
He also set a fun piece of history. We’ll let CBS explain.
What a day. I don’t know about yall, but I was grinning ear to ear seeing our boy take the NFL field.
George Fant, New York Jets
Fant was placed on IR last week. He’ll be eligible to return Week 8 (if I’m doing my math correctly).
Mike White, New York Jets
After being the QB2 in the absence of Zach Wilson the first three weeks of the season, White - now relegated to QB3 - was a “healthy scratch” inactive in the Jets win vs. Pittsburgh.