BOCA RATON, Fla. – The 2023 NFL regular season has concluded. Six former Florida Atlantic University football players saw action in the final weekend and six Owls will continue their season in the playoffs, four on the active roster and two more on a playoff team’s practice squad. It was one of the most successful NFL seasons for former Florida Atlantic players yet, with franchise records being set and multiple Owls at the top of league-wide statistical leaderboards. Here’s a rundown of how each performed during the 18th week of the 2023 NFL season (All gametimes listed below are Eastern):
Active Owls (6)
#2 Azeez Al-Shaair | LB | Tennessee Titans
– With 10 tackles in the final outing, Al-Shaair finished the season with 163, placing him fifth in the NFL. It is the most tackles in one season ever recorded under the Titans’ name and the most for the franchise going back to 1986 when they were the Houston Oilers. It was a statement win for Tennessee, defeating the divisional rival Jacksonville Jaguars by a score of 28-20 and acting as a spoiler for their playoff hopes. Al-Shaair successfully bet on himself with a one-year deal and is prime for a multi-year contract in the upcoming free agency period.
Season Stats: In 17 games/17 starts, 163 tackles (84 solo, 79 assists, fifth place in NFL), nine tackles for loss, two sacks, four pass deflections
Titans’ Final Record: 6-11 (Fourth in AFC South)
#88 Harrison Bryant | TE | Cleveland Browns
– Bryant is heading to the playoffs for the second time in his career following an offensive resurgence with Joe Flacco at quarterback. In the team’s final regular season game, he served as the primary tight end playing a season high 35 snaps and making his ninth start of the season. The Browns came up short to Trey Hendrickson and the Cincinnati Bengals, 31-14, but Bryant will look ahead to the Wild Card matchup against his old FAU teammate.
Season Stats: In 17 games/nine starts, 13 catches for 81 yards (6.2 per catch with a long of 23), three touchdowns, four first downs
Browns’ Final Record: 11-6 (Second in AFC North, fifth seed in the conference)
Next Game: at Houston (and Singletary) – Saturday, 4:30 p.m. (NBC)
#91 Trey Hendrickson | DE | Cincinnati Bengals
– Hendrickson concluded his historic season with his ninth consecutive game with at least half a sack. He has done so in 15 out of 17 games on the season. Despite playing a season low 23 snaps, it did not stop him from bringing pressure to the opposing QB with two quarterback hits in the Bengals’ 31-14 win over Bryant and the Browns. Hendrickson will now head to Orlando for his third consecutive Pro Bowl appearance.
Season Stats: 17 games/17 starts, career-high 17.5 sacks (second in NFL), career-high 43 tackles (28 solo, 15 assists), 25 QB hits, career-high 16 TFL, three forced fumbles, three pass deflections
Bengals’ Final Record: 9-8 (Fourth in AFC North)
#1 Greg Joseph | K | Minnesota Vikings
– Joseph finished the year with four consecutive perfect games, going 2-for-2 on field goals and 2-for-2 on extra points attempts against the Detroit Lions. Both field goals came in the second quarter, first a 39-yarder and then from 43-yards as time expired in the half. The Vikings would ultimately lose 28-20.
Season Stats: In 17 games, 24-30 on field goals, 36-38 on extra point attempts
Vikings’ Final Record: 7-10 (Third in NFC North)
#42 James Pierre | CB | Pittsburgh Steelers
– Pierre and Pittsburgh are heading to the playoffs following a 17-10 takedown of the Baltimore Ravens. He contributed on 70% of the special teams snaps for the fourth time of the season.
Season Stats: In 16 games, eight tackles (six solo, two assists), played in career high 64% of Pittsburgh’s special teams snaps
Steelers’ Final Record: 10-7 (Third in AFC North, seventh seed in conference)
Next Game: at Buffalo – Sunday, 1:05 p.m. (CBS)
#26 Devin Singletary | RB | Houston Texans
– “Motor” ran the Texans into the postseason. Late in the fourth quarter with a tie game in a win-or-go-home scenario against the divisional rival Indianapolis Colts, Singletary rushed for what ultimately became the game winning touchdown, one of 24 carries on the evening for 63 yards.
This concludes Singletary’s regular season in which he took over as the lead running back midseason and tallied career highs in carries and rushing yards
Season Stats: 17 games/10 starts, 216 carries for 898 rushing yards (career-high, 21st in NFL, 4.4 per carry with a long of 24), four touchdowns, 30 receptions for 193 yards (6.6 yards per catch with a long of 41), 48 total first downs
Texans’ Record: 10-7 (AFC South champions, fourth seed in the conference)
Next Game: vs. Cleveland (and Bryant) – Saturday, 4:30 p.m. (NBC)
Inactive (1)
#73 Brandon Walton | OT | Tampa Bay Buccaneers
– Walton was inactive in the Buccaneers’ 9-0 victory over the Carolina Panthers which clinched the NFC South.
Season Stats: Four games, 16 snaps
Buccaneers’ Final Record: 9-8 (NFC South champions, fourth seed in the conference)
Next Game: vs. Philadelphia – Monday, 8:15 p.m. (ABC/ESPN)
Practice Squad (2)
#80 Zaire Mitchell-Paden | TE | Cleveland Browns
Browns’ Final Record: 11-6
#27 Zyon Gilbert | CB | Green Bay Packers
Packers’ Final Record: 9-8
Check back next Thursday to see how each Owl who qualified for the playoffs performed in the wild card weekend along with a preview of their respective team’s next game for those who advanced to the divisional round of the playoffs.
