Dec. 24—In a rare NFL matchup between former Washington State quarterbacks, rookie Cam Ward defeated a group of former Cougars that included Kansas City quarterback Gardner Minshew in NFL Week 16.
Minshew, who finally took the field as the starting quarterback for the first time in more than a year, threw just eight passes before injuring his knee in the Chiefs’ 26-9 loss to the Titans on Sunday.
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Ward played two years at WSU and then his senior year at Miami, where he had his best game of the season.
The No. 1 overall pick completed 21 of 28 passes for two touchdowns and no interceptions, helping Tennessee to its third win of the season.
Former Cougars losing? Minshew, DBs Jaden Hicks and Jaylen Watson and OT Esa Pole.
It’s a heartbreaking end to the season for Minshew, who replaces superstar Patrick Mahomes, who injured his knee last week. Unlike Mahomes, Minshew did not have a torn ACL and did not require surgery, but the injury still placed the seven-year veteran on injured reserve.
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Here’s how all the former Cougars, Idaho Breakers and one Moscow Bear performed in NFL Week 16.
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LB, Kaden Elliss, Atlanta Falcons: The veteran linebacker had four tackles (one solo) in a 26-19 win over the Cardinals.
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LB, Christian Ellis, New England Patriots: The former undrafted free agent had five tackles (three solo) in a 28-24 win over the Ravens on Sunday Night Football.
LS, Hogan Hatten, Detroit Lions: Hatten had 1 field goal (1-for-1), 3 extra points (3-for-3) and 3 punts (53.0 average) in a 29-24 loss to the Steelers.
CB, Marcus Harris (Calif.), Tennessee Titans: The rookie had one tackle in a 26-9 win over the Chiefs.
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Washington State University
S, Jaden Hicks, Kansas City Chiefs: The second-year safety had four solo tackles in the team’s 26-9 loss to the Titans.
CB, Jaylen Watson, Kansas City Chiefs: The veteran defensive back had seven tackles (three solo) in a 26-9 loss to the Titans.
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Quarterback, Gardner Minshew, Kansas City Chiefs: Minshew started for the Chiefs, catching 8 passes for 15 yards and rushing for 8 yards, but suffered a knee injury in the loss to the Titans. The knee injury was determined not to be a torn ACL and did not require surgery, but it still placed him on injured reserve — disappointing for a quarterback who was supposed to fill in for the injured Patrick Mahomes for the remainder of the season. The Chiefs’ starting quarterback is now Chris Oladokun, a practice squad call-up.
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OL, Essa Ball, Kansas City Chiefs: The undrafted rookie and former practice squad member started at left tackle in a loss to the Titans.
N, Zhou Smith-Wade, Carolina Panthers: Smith-Wade accumulated 5 tackles (including 3 solo), helping the team beat the Buccaneers 23-20.
DT, Daniel Ekuale, Pittsburgh Steelers: He did not play in the 29-24 win over the Lions after being placed on the reserve/suspended list for violating the NFL’s performance-enhancing substance policy.
LB, Frankie Luvu, Washington CM: Luvu recorded eight tackles (five solo) in a 29-18 loss to the Eagles.
LB, Brennan Jackson, Las Vegas Raiders: On injured reserve, he did not play in the 23-21 loss to the Texans.
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S, Jalen Thompson, Arizona Cardinals: Thompson missed a second straight week with a hamstring injury and was sidelined in the team’s 26-19 loss to the Falcons.
LB, Daiyan Henley, Los Angeles Chargers: The captain made six tackles (four solo) in a 34-17 win over the Cowboys.
OL, Abraham Lucas, Seattle Seahawks: The starting offensive tackle had 415 yards of total offense in a thrilling 38-37 overtime victory over the Rams on Thursday Night Football.
WR, Kyle Williams, New England Patriots: The rookie had two catches for 46 yards and a touchdown and returned three kickoffs for 89 yards (29.7 average) in a 28-24 victory over the Ravens on Sunday Night Football.
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CB, Cam Lumpkin, Los Angeles Rams: On the practice squad, he did not play in the 38-37 overtime loss to the Seahawks.
Quarterback, Cam Ward (Miami), Tennessee Titans: Ward threw 21 touchdowns on 28 passes with no interceptions in a 26-9 victory over the Chiefs.
moscow high school
LB, Jonah Ellis, Denver Broncos: The youngest Ellis brother totaled four tackles (two of them solo) in a 34-20 loss to the Jaguars.
Wiebe can be reached at (208) 848-2277, swiebe@lmtribune.com or on Twitter @StephanSports.