The NFL's Week 3 is almost in the books, with just one Monday Night Football game remaining between the Philadelphia Eagles and Chicago Bears. Across the league in games starting on Thursday night through Sunday, several former Gamecocks had big performances for their respective teams.
During Sunday night football the Denver Broncos defeated the Los Angeles Rams 30-26 in Mile High Stadium. Broncos quarterback Bo Nix had himself a huge night, helping Denver overcome a 16-point deficit to win 30-26.
Late in the third quarter, Nix found former South Carolina tight end Nate Adkins for an eight-yard touchdown pass to even the game at 16-all:
Nate Adkins finds himself open and Bo Nix finds him for 6️⃣@LARvsDEN on NBC/Peacock
— NFL (@NFL) September 28, 2026
Stream on @NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/SCTMqRC3up
Elsewhere in the NFL on Sunday, the San Francisco beat the Arizona Cardinals 36-30 at home to improve to 3-0 on the season. On the 49ers very first score of the game, receiver Mike Evans flipped the ball to Deebo Samuel Sr., who ran it 80 yards for an electric touchdown up the left sideline:
MIKE EVANS FLIPS IT TO DEEBO FOR THE TD@AZvsSF on FOX/FOX One
— NFL (@NFL) September 27, 2026
Stream on @NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/GOuLwblygR
Samuel added two carries for 14 yards in the victory.
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During the Browns' 21-18 win over the Carolina Panthers, Raheim Sanders had a nifty 17-yard carry early in the second quarter:
Raheim Sanders turns on the boost for a huge gain for the Browns 👏pic.twitter.com/jYmHKwmeWu
— Browns Nation (@BrownsNationCP) September 27, 2026
On defense, several Gamecocks had big performances. Although the Cincinnati Bengals fell 30-27 to the Pittsburgh Steelers, linebacker Demetrius Knight Jr. had himself a day, getting nine total tackles including a run stuff. He had a nice rush on quarterback Aaron Rodgers, too:
It has felt like the Bengals have something these last couple weeks with the delayed Demetrius Knight blitzes. pic.twitter.com/pZirX0t3BW
— Bengals & Brews (@BengalsBrews) September 28, 2026
Knight is currently first on the Bengals' defense in tackles, with 28 total tackles so far.
In Seattle, the reigning Super Bowl champions fell 33-31 to the Washington Commanders. But on defense, former Gamecock Ernest Jones IV had a big day, finishing with eight total tackles, including three solo stops. He also had a crucial pass defended that prevented what would have been a big gain for the Commanders:
Antonio Williams drops a potential huge catch and run. Great design by Blough to bring him in motion into a stack on a free release.
— Grant Paulsen (@GrantPaulsen) September 27, 2026
Ernest Jones got a finger tip on the ball at the last second to force the drop. But would’ve been a huge play for WSH. pic.twitter.com/trGajBM1qc
Seahawks' second-year veteran Nick Emmanwori finished with just two tackles in the loss.
And last but certainly not least, a pair of Gamecock rookies are starting to find their footing on defense. Chargers defensive lineman Nick Barrett was credited with a half sack during Los Angeles' 24-16 loss to the Buffalo Bills. The same goes for Jaguars rookie Bryan Thomas Jr., who got a half sack during the Jags' dominant 35-6 victory over the New England Patriots on Sunday.
During Thursday Night Football between the Green Bay Packers and Atlanta Falcons, Packers rookie Brandon Cisse finished with seven total tackles, including four solo stops. It was the best statistical performance of his Packers career thus far.
He did let a deep ball go past him to Drake London in the second half, but he should improve in the coming weeks. Cisse's teammate and fellow cornerback Keisan Nixson, finished the game with six total tackles in the loss.
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