Sun Devils in the NFL: Osweiler struggles against Patriots, Burfict returning to Bengals

Osweiler, Texans shutout by Patriots

Through two weeks of the season, Brock Osweiler was able to overcome early turnovers and lead the Houston Texans to a victory.

On Thursday night against Jacoby Brissett, Bill Belichick, and the New England Patriots, Osweiler couldn’t bounce back from his inevitable early interception in the second quarter, and the Texans never got going offensively.

Osweiler averaged just 4.8 yards per attempt, finishing the game 24-41 for 196 yards and the interception. His 60.6 passer rating was the lowest of his 10 career starts. Osweiler has four interceptions in three games, and for the third time this season, the interception came when he was targeting his favorite target DeAndre Hopkins.

Osweiler hooked up with fellow Arizona State alum Jaelen Strong once for 15 yards late in the third quarter, although it didn’t help as the Texans were shutout 29-0.

Join us in watching #SunDevils4Life @bosweiler17 & @JaelenStrong on #TNF right here on Twitter! https://t.co/Y4MKvTgsJz

— Sun Devil Athletics (@TheSunDevils) September 22, 2016

Randall Strips Game from Lions

Damarious Randall really needed to redeem himself after having a disappointing week.

A week after getting burned by Stefon Diggs in Minnesota, the Green Bay Packers corner was having more troubles. Detroit Lions receiver Marvin Jones beat Randall down the right sideline for 38 yards. Not the way Randall envisioned bouncing back Sunday.

He could’ve sulked. Especially when tight end Eric Ebron appeared to have a reception two plays later.

How would you name this big play by @RandallTime?

Let us know by using #NTPRandall! https://t.co/4DEzhc2p7a

— NFL (@NFL) September 26, 2016

Instead, Randall made an adjustment, ripping the football from Ebron and returning his first interception of the season for 44 yards.

Rookies

Other Alumni on Active Rosters

Notes

Cincinnati Bengals linebacker Vontaze Burfict rejoined the team on Monday after serving a league-mandated three-game suspension for repeated violations of safety-related playing rules.

Burfict is eligible to play in Thursday night’s game against the Miami Dolphins. The Bengals have a roster exemption for Burfict but do not have to make a decision on his playing status until game day.

He has drawn 16 personal fouls during his five NFL seasons and was suspended in the wake of his actions in last season's playoff game against bitter rival Pittsburgh. The most egregious violation was a hit to the helmet of Steelers wide receiver Antonio Brown.

In 2015, Burfict was fined $50,000 for a hard hit on Baltimore Ravens tight end Max Williams and $70,000 for three incidents in a regular-season contest with the Steelers.

Burfict dealt with similar problems during his time as a Sun Devil. He was benched by Arizona State head coach Dennis Erickson in 2010 for his unusually high number of personal fouls.