Local NFL players roundup: Clowney sacks Tom Brady

South Pointe’s Jadeveon Clowney continues to pick up steam in his second season of NFL football. Clowney’s Houston Texans struggled in a 27-6 loss to New England on Sunday Nigth Football, but he finished the night with seven tackles (four solo), two sacks and two QB hits, dropping Tom Brady in the third quarter.

“Give him a lot of credit, he played hard,” said Houston coach Bill O’Brien. “He can play even better. There were plays out there that he’d be probably the first one to tell you that he missed, that he broke free in the backfield and didn’t make the play, but overall he played a good football game and we need him to play well, especially down the stretch here. He’s a big part of what we’re doing.”

Benjamin Watson, New Orleans- The Saints got back in the win column, thanks in part to Watson, the Northwestern grad. He caught seven of 11 balls thrown his way for 70 yards, with four of those going for first down yardage, according to Pro Football Focus.

Johnathan Joseph, Houston- Joseph made six tackles in Houston’s loss to New England, with three solo efforts and a pass defended.

Jonathan Meeks and Stephon Gilmore, Buffalo- Rock Hill High grad made a tackle during the Bills’ 23-20 loss to Philadelphia. South Pointe’s Stephon Gilmore was inactive for the game due to a shoulder injury suffered last week against Houston. Bills coach Rex Ryan told the Buffalo News he’s not ruling out the possibility of Gilmore’s season being over.

“I think that's something, you know, with that shoulder as a dislocation, could it be a possibility? I'm not ruling it out,” he said.

Cordarrelle Patterson, Minnesota- Patterson returned three kickoffs for a combined 93 yards, with a long of 41, but the Vikings fell to Arizona last Thursday, 23-20.

Phillip Adams, Atlanta- Adams returned after several weeks of injury-caused inactivity, but he was helpless to stop the Falcons from a 38-0 loss to Carolina. Adams, the former Rock Hill High Bearcat, made one tackle during the loss in Charlotte on Sunday.

This story was originally published December 15, 2015 at 2:15 PM with the headline "Local NFL players roundup: Clowney sacks Tom Brady."