State NFL roundup: Former ACA standout helps hot Houston win again

Cornerback Kamari Lassiter intercepted a pass for the second game in a row as the Houston Texans extended their winning streak to six games with a 40-20 victory over the Arizona Cardinals.

The former American Christian Academy standout made five tackles and broke up another one as the Texans took a step toward the playoffs after starting the season with three consecutive losses. Houston is 9-5 now and hasn’t lost since an 18-15 setback against the Denver Broncos on Nov. 2.

On a second-and-20 snap from the Houston 22-yard line on Sunday, Lassiter intercepted quarterback Jacoby Brissett in the end zone for a touchback with 8:55 left in the third quarter.

Lassiter has four interceptions this season, including one last week in a 20-10 victory over the Kansas City Chiefs. Lassiter has seven interceptions in his two NFL seasons.

Lassiter was among the 39 players from Alabama high schools and colleges (excluding Alabama and Auburn) who got on the field on the 15th Sunday of the NFL’s 106th season.

Eight other former state players were involved in the Arizona-Houston game:

Jake Andrews (Stanhope Elmore, Troy) started at center for the Texans.Nico Collins (Clay-Chalkville) started at wide receiver for the Texans. Collins had three receptions for 85 yards and two touchdowns. Collins completed the game with 1,001 receiving yards to record his third consecutive 1,000-yard season. Collins scored on a 57-yard pass with 14:11 left in the first quarter and a 4-yard pass with 3:09 left in the game from quarterback C.J. Stroud.

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Texans wide receiver Tank Dell (Alabama A&M) is on the physically-unable-to-perform list and not eligible to play.Tytus Howard (Monroe County, Alabama State) started at left guard for the Texans. Cardinals wide receiver Tejhaun Palmer (UAB) is on the practice squad and not eligible to play.Texans cornerback Tremon Smith (Saks) made one tackle and broke up one pass.Cardinals cornerback Starling Thomas V (Ramsay, UAB) is on injured reserve and not eligible to play.Texans safety Jimmie Ward (Davidson) is on reserve/physically unable to perform and not eligible to play.

In the other Sunday games:

Chicago Bears 31, Cleveland Browns 3

Mohamoud Diabate (Auburn High) started at linebacker for the Browns. Diabate made eight tackles and recorded two tackles for loss.Browns safety Chris Edmonds (Samford) did not record any stats. Cleveland elevated Edmonds from its practice squad to make him eligible to play.Bears tight end Qadir Ismail (Samford) is on the practice squad and not eligible to play.Quinshon Judkins (Pike Road) started at running back for the Browns. Judkins ran for 21 yards on 12 carries and had three receptions that netted minus-4 yards.Browns linebacker Nathaniel Watson (Maplesville) is on injured reserve and not eligible to play. Alex Wright (Elba, UAB) started at defensive end for the Browns. Wright made four tackles and recorded his fourth sack of the season.

Baltimore Ravens 24, Cincinnati Bengals 0

Bengals defensive end Cedric Johnson (Davidson) did not record any stats.Bengals kicker Evan McPherson (Fort Payne) was limited to kicking off to start the game.Bengals cornerback Cam Taylor-Britt (Park Crossing) is on injured reserve and not eligible to play. Ravens offensive tackle Carson Vinson (Alabama A&M) did not record any stats.

Jacksonville Jaguars 48, New York Jets 20

Jaguars quarterback Carter Bradley (South Alabama) is on the practice squad and not eligible to play.Josh Hines-Allen (Abbeville) started at defensive end for the Jaguars. Hines-Allen made two tackles and registered two quarterback hits. Jaguars quarterback Nick Mullens (Spain Park) kneeled out the final 1:24 of the game after starter Trevor Lawrence threw five touchdown passes.Jets wide receiver Jamaal Pritchett (Jackson, South Alabama) is on the practice squad and not eligible to play.Jaguars defensive back Caleb Ransaw (Sparkman, Troy) is on injured reserve and not eligible to play.Jaguars safety Cam’Ron Silmon-Craig (Fultondale) is on the practice squad and not eligible to play.Quincy Williams (Wenonah) started at linebacker for the Jets. Williams made four tackles and recorded one tackle for loss. 

Los Angeles Chargers 16, Kansas City Chiefs 13

Chiefs quarterback Chris Oladokun (Samford) is on the practice squad and not eligible to play.Chargers cornerback Jordan Oladokun (Samford) is on injured reserve and not eligible to play.Kimani Vidal (Troy) started at running back for the Chargers. Vidal ran for 33 yards on 12 carries and caught a 15-yard pass.

Buffalo Bills 35, New England Patriots 31

Bills offensive tackle Tylan Grable (Jacksonville State) was designated as a game-day inactive.Patriots cornerback Marcus Jones (Enterprise, Troy) made 10 tackles and returned two punts for 5 yards.  Patriots safety Dell Pettus (Sparkman, Troy) made one tackle on special teams. Bills defensive end Javon Solomon (Troy) made two tackles on special teams.Patriots wide receiver Jeremiah Webb (South Alabama) is on the practice squad and not eligible to play.

Washington Commanders 29, New York Giants 21

Commanders running back Jacory “Bill” Croskey-Merritt (Sidney Lanier, Alabama State) ran for 96 yards and one touchdown on 18 carries. Croskey-Merritt burst through the New York defense on a 16-yard touchdown run as Washington took a 10-0 lead with 13:38 left in the first half.Cor’Dale Flott (Saraland) started at cornerback for the Giants. Flott made one tackle and broke up one pass.Giants defensive tackle Rakeem Nunez-Roches (Central-Phenix City) was designated as a game-day inactive. An ankle injury kept Nunez-Roches out of the lineup.Commanders safety Jeremy Reaves (South Alabama) made three tackles on defense, recorded one tackle for loss and had one tackle on special teams.Commanders offensive tackle Trent Scott (Lee-Huntsville) was designated as a game-day inactive.Giants quarterback Jameis Winston (Hueytown) had an incomplete pass while taking two fourth-quarter snaps when starter Jaxson Dart was forced from the game briefly.

Philadelphia Eagles 31, Las Vegas Raiders 0

Eagles cornerback Jakorian Bennett (McGill-Toolen) did not record any stats. Reed Blankenship (West Limestone) started at safety for the Eagles. Blankenship made three tackles.Eagles cornerback Mac McWilliams (UAB) was designated as a game-day inactive.Eagles wide receiver Quez Watkins (Athens) is on the practice squad and not eligible to play.

Denver Broncos 34, Green Bay Packers 26

Broncos cornerback Kris Abrams-Draine (Spanish Fort) made two tackles on special teams.

Los Angeles Rams 41, Detroit Lions 34

Lions wide receiver Malik Cunningham (Park Crossing) is on the practice squad and not eligible to play.Lions linebacker Zach Cunningham (Pinson Valley) is on the injured reserve and not eligible to play.Lions offensive lineman Chris Hubbard (UAB) is on the practice squad and not eligible to play.Rams cornerback Darious Williams (UAB) did not record any stats.

New Orleans Saints 20, Carolina Panthers 17

Mike Jackson (Spain Park) started at cornerback for the Panthers. Jackson made six tackles, recorded one tackle for loss, broke up one pass and forced one fumble, which New Orleans recovered.Panthers linebacker Jeremiah Moon (Hoover) is on the practice squad and not eligible to play.

Seattle Seahawks 18, Indianapolis Colts 16

Colts running back Ameer Abdullah (Homewood) ran for 15 yards on four carries, caught five passes for 32 yards and returned two kickoffs for 71 yards, including a 44-yarder. Seahawks safety A.J. Finley (St. Paul’s Episcopal) is on injured reserve and not eligible to play.Seahawks running back Velus Jones (Saraland) did not record any stats. Seattle elevated Jones from its practice squad to make him eligible to play.Colts quarterback Riley Leonard (Fairhope) dressed for the game but did not play.Philip Rivers (Athens) started at quarterback for the Colts. Rivers completed 18-of-27 passes for 120 yards with one touchdown and one interception. Playing in his first NFL game since Jan. 9, 2021, Rivers threw an 8-yard touchdown pass to Josh Downs as Indianapolis took a 13-3 lead with 1:33 left in the first half.

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Seahawks linebacker Jamie Sheriff (South Alabama) is on the practice squad and not eligible to play. Seahawks nose tackle Bubba Thomas (South Alabama) is on the practice squad and not eligible to play.Colts safety Trey Washington (Hewitt-Trussville) is on the practice squad and not eligible to play.

San Francisco 49ers 37, Tennessee Titans 24

Titans offensive tackle Chandler Brewer (Florence) is on the practice squad and not eligible to play.Bryce Huff (St. Paul’s Episcopal) started at defensive end for the 49ers. Huff made two tackles.Forty-Niners cornerback Darrell Luter Jr. (South Alabama) did not record any stats.Forty-Niners defensive back Siran Neal (Eufaula, Jacksonville State) did not record any stats.Titans guard Clay Webb (Oxford, Jacksonville State) is on the practice squad and not eligible to play.

Minnesota Vikings 34, Dallas Cowboys 26

Cowboys cornerback Trikweze Bridges (Lanett) did not record any stats.Cowboys linebacker Shemar James (Faith Academy) made two tackles on special teams. George Pickens (Hoover) started at wide receiver for the Cowboys. Pickens had three receptions for 33 yards. Cowboys defensive back Reddy Steward (Austin, Troy) made one tackle. Cowboys wide receiver Jalen Tolbert (McGill-Toolen, South Alabama) was designated as a game-day inactive.Cowboys defensive end Sam Williams (Lee-Montgomery) made one tackle for loss.  

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Week 15 started on Thursday night, when the Atlanta Falcons defeated the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 29-28.

Week 15 concludes on Monday, when the Miami Dolphins and Pittsburgh Steelers square off at 7:15 p.m. CDT at Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh. ESPN will televise the game.