Local NFL players roundup: quiet return to the Carolinas for Clowney, Joseph

It was a fairly quiet return to the Carolinas for Jadeveon Clowney on Sunday. He played the most he has this season – 63 percent of the available defensive snaps – but was held in check, as was the rest of the vaunted Houston defensive line, by the Carolina Panthers’ blockers.

Clowney finished the Houston Texans’ 24-17 loss with two solo tackles and two passes defended, including one blocked at the line of scrimmage. He started at right defensive end, his first start since a knee injury last season robbed him of most of his rookie season in Houston.

“The more that he’s in there, the more that it helps our team, and the better he’ll get,” said Houston coach Bill O’Brien, during a Monday press conference. “Basically, you’re looking at a guy still in his rookie year, from a playing standpoint. But he’s shown us the signs of what we expect out of him.”

Clowney’s fellow Rock Hill native and teammate, cornerback Johnathan Joseph, was much busier. He made five tackles – four solo – in the Texans’ defeat, and was beat by Carolina’s Corey Brown for a touchdown. Houston’s struggles to get pressure on Carolina QB Cam Newton made life much harder for Joseph and the rest of the visitors’ secondary.

Joseph, in his 10th year in the NFL, played 87 percent of the available defensive snaps.

Phillip Adams busy in Falcons’ win

Former Rock Hill High and South Carolina State standout Phillip Adams was very busy for the Atlanta Falcons during their 24-20 comeback win over the New York Giants.

Adams, who signed with the Falcons after spending last season with the New York Jets, made eight tackles, with five solo efforts, and has started both games for the NFC South club. The former seventh-round draft pick is in his seventh season in the NFL. He and the Falcons take on the Dallas Cowboys next week.

Stephon Gilmore and Buffalo struggle in loss to New England

Buffalo was unable to build on its positive season-opening win, losing a 40-32 shootout to New England. South Pointe’s Stephon Gilmore was part of a Buffalo secondary that surrendered 466 yards to the Patriots. Gilmore made five solo tackles, and three of the Bills’ defensive backs were in the team’s top-four tacklers, usually not a good sign for a defense.

Buffalo coach Rex Ryan tried to fire his team up earlier in the week with some tough talk for the Patriots, but Gilmore told ESPN that he felt his team, which drew 14 flags in Sunday’s game, was too fired up. The Bills out-scored New England 19-3 in the fourth quarter but couldn’t overturn an early deficit.

“We were just too rowdy,” Gilmore said. “If we would have just played, the whole game would have been different.”

The Bills face the Dolphins next week, eager to return to Week 1 form.

Vance Walker, Broncos 2-0

Former Fort Mill Yellow Jacket Vance Walker was part of a Denver defensive line that sacked Kansas City QB Alex Smith four times and pressured him a further 14 during the Broncos’ comeback 31-24 win last Thursday. Walker didn’t record any stats from his defensive tackle position, but has certainly helped Denver to a 2-0 start largely built around its defensive play.

Cordarrelle Patterson returning kicks

The former Northwestern Trojan and Tennessee standout Cordarrelle Patterson saw limited offensive action for the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday, but did return a pair of kickoffs for a combined 62 yards. The Vikings beat Detroit 26-16.

Benjamin Watson, Saints, come to Carolina still looking for first win

Benjamin Watson and the New Orleans Saints face the Carolina Panthers next week in Charlotte, and they do so hot after a win after falling to 0-2. Tampa Bay came into New Orleans Sunday and beat the Saints 26-19, and like Buffalo’s loss to New England, New Orleans didn’t show up until the fourth quarter when a furious rally fell short.

Watson - the former Northwestern Trojan and Virginia native - was targeted four times, making two catches for 12 yards, with a long of eight yards.

“Tampa came in and played better than we did. It’s very simple,” Watson told reporters afterward. “As veteran players we have to lead. I do take upon myself as a veteran to keep the guys focused through this week. The sun shines a lot brighter when you win and it’s a lot easier to go to work. But you have to persevere.”

This story was originally published September 22, 2015 at 6:22 PM with the headline "Local NFL players roundup: quiet return to the Carolinas for Clowney, Joseph."