Two former Syracuse football players are getting attention in the NFL for two very different reasons this week.
Former SU defensive end Chandler Jones is facing criticism in Las Vegas after recording just one tackle in the Raiders’ 24-22 loss to the Tennessee Titans on Sunday. The Raiders are now 0-3 and Jones has zero sacks this season, three years after nearly breaking Michael Strahan’s single-season record with 19 sacks in 2019 and less than one year after breaking the Arizona Cardinals all-time sack record.
Jones, 32, signed a 3-year contract for $34 million with Las Vegas and was expected to help Maxx Crosby “consistently terrorize opposing quarterbacks,” according to the Las Vegas Sun. But Jones also only played just 40 snaps on Sunday as the Raiders emphasized the run defense and was very rarely in 1-on-1 matchups, limiting his potential to make an impact.
Meanwhile, fellow Orange alumnus Zaire Franklin has emerged as a defensive leader with the Indianapolis Colts this season. The 26-year-old linebacker, who is a team captain for the second year in a row, led Indy with 12 tackles in a 20-17 win over the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday; he also played 100% of the team’s snaps on defense.
Franklin leads the Colts this season with 30 total tackles, including 22 solo tackles and two tackles for a loss, and added a pass deflection on Sunday.
Here’s how other football players with Syracuse and Central New York ties did during Week 3:
Chandler Jones, LB, Las Vegas Raiders
Jones, a Rochester native who played three seasons as a defensive end at Syracuse University, had just one tackle Sunday and has zero sacks so far this season.
Last game: Titans 24, Raiders 22
Next game: Broncos at Raiders, Sunday at 4:25 p.m.
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Zaire Franklin, LB, Indianapolis Colts
Former Syracuse linebacker Zaire Franklin, a team captain for Indy, led the Colts’ defense again with 12 tackles including 8 solo and a tackle for a loss, plus a pass deflection.
Last game: Colts 20, Chiefs 17
Next game: Titans at Colts, Sunday at 1 p.m.
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Riley Dixon, P, Los Angeles Rams
Syracuse University and Christian Brothers Academy alum Riley Dixon kicked three punts for an average of 45 yards.
Last game: Rams 20, Cardinals 12
Next game: Rams at 49ers, Monday at 8:15 p.m.
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Latavius Murray, RB, New Orleans Saints
The former Onondaga Central High School football star returned to the Saints last week, signing to the practice squad. Murray, 32, played two seasons with the Saints before joining the Baltimore Ravens last year; he was a free agent this summer and continued to work out to prove the “tank’s not empty” yet.
Last game: Panthers 22, Saints 14
Next game: Vikings vs. Saints (in London), Sunday at 9:30 a.m.
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Justin Pugh, LG, Arizona Cardinals
Former Orange offensive lineman Justin Pugh left Sunday’s game with an elbow injury, but returned to finish the game and should be ready to play this weekend.
Last game: Rams 20, Cardinals 12
Next game: Cardinals at Panthers, Sunday at 4:05 p.m.
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Alton Robinson, DE, Seattle Seahawks
The former Syracuse defensive end, who mixed it up on defense and special teams in his second NFL season last year, was placed on injured reserve and is expected to miss a minimum of four games due to a preseason knee sprain.
Last game: Falcons 27, Seahawks 23
Next game: Seahawks at Lions, Sunday at 1 p.m.
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Ifeatu Melifonwu, S, Detroit Lions
The former SU cornerback, who moved to the safety position for his second NFL season, was inactive but is getting closer to a return after missing a month with a hamstring injury.
Last game: Vikings 28, Lions 24
Next game: Seahawks at Lions, Sunday at 1 p.m.
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Andre Cisco, S, Jacksonville Jaguars
Ex-Orange football star Andre Cisco recorded five tackles, including three solo this week.
Last game: Jaguars 38, Chargers 10
Next game: Jaguars at Eagles, Sunday at 1 p.m.
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Kingsley Jonathan, DE, Chicago Bears
Jonathan, a rookie defensive lineman out of Syracuse University, played just three snaps in his second NFL game.
Last game: Bears 23, Texans 20
Next game: Bears at Giants, Sunday at 1 p.m.
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Syracuse University alumni on the sidelines include Denver Broncos head coach Nathaniel Hackett, Broncos offensive coach Justin Outten, New England Patriots offensive line coach Matt Patricia, Pittsburgh Steelers defensive coach Teryl Austin, Carolina Panthers defensive line coach Paul Pasqualoni, and New Orleans Saints offensive line coach Doug Marrone.
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