Gamecocks in the NFL: Week 1

The NFL is back, and so are 25 (!) former Gamecocks. Here’s a quick rundown of what you may have missed as football has blessedly returned to our lives.

Jadeveon Clowney (Titans): After a bit of a wild free agency period in which it seemed all but certain he was heading to the Saints, Clowney ended up in Tennessee. He immediately set about doing this:

Ultimately, the play wasn’t counted as a sack because of the bobbled snap (booo), so Clowney finished with three tackles (two solo) and a quarterback hit in the Titans’ 16-14 win over the Broncos.

Stephon Gilmore (Patriots): One of the league’s premier cornerbacks, Gilmore got back to work with five tackles, four solo, and a pass defensed in the Pats’ 21-11 win against Miami.

Jonathan Joseph (Titans): Clowney’s teammate once again, Joseph logged a pair of tackles.

Jared Cook (Saints): The reliable veteran led New Orleans in receiving with five catches for 80 yards on seven targets in the Saints’ 34-23 win over Tampa Bay.

D.J. Swearinger (Saints): Another Gamecock on a new team this year, Swearinger posted four tackles, three solo.

Melvin Ingram (Chargers): Ingram notched two tackles with a pass defensed in L.A.’s 16-13 win over the Bengals.

Keisean Nixon (Raiders): Nixon had two tackles, one solo, in Las Vegas’ 34-30 win against the Panthers.

Bryan Edwards (Raiders): Fellow Raider and rookie Edwards got the start in his first NFL game, but had a quiet afternoon with just one catch for nine yards.

Rashad Fenton (Chiefs): Fenton grabbed a couple tackles for the defending Super Bowl champions in their 34-20 win over Houston.

Hayden Hurst (Falcons): Formerly a Raven, Hurst notched three receptions for 38 yards in his first game with Atlanta, though the Falcons lost 38-25 to Seattle.

Taylor Stallworth (Colts): Stallworth logged a tackle for Indianapolis in its 27-20 loss to Jacksonville.

Javon Kinlaw (49ers): The rookie notched a tackle for San Francisco in its 24-20 loss to Arizona.

Pharoh Cooper (Panthers): Cooper had a productive day in his first action for Carolina, returning four kickoffs for 109 yards (long of 38) and two punts for for 29 yards (long of 19).

Joseph Charlton (Panthers): Speaking of punts, the rookie booted two punts for 120 yards with a lof 60.

Ryan Succop (Buccaneers): Succop went 1-for-2 on field goals and made both extra point attempts.

Damiere Byrd (Patriots): In his first game with the Patriots, Byrd fielded a punt, but unfortunately fumbled.