WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Week 13 of the NFL season featured numerous former Purdue stars taking center stage in standalone Thanksgiving and Black Friday games. Seven former Boilermakers in total saw game action around the league, the most since Week 8.
Aidan O'Connell returned from injury to start for the Las Vegas Raiders after being sidelined since Oct. 20. In the only NFL game on Black Friday, he showed out with the most productive outing of his nearly two-year NFL career.
Reminiscent of his days as a Boilermaker field general, O'Connell threw for a career-high 340 yards and two touchdowns on 23-of-35 passing (65.7%), good for a passer rating of 116.4 in Kansas City.
Despite arguably his best game as a pro, it was O'Connell's former teammate, George Karlaftis, who enjoyed a win in the division rivalry.
The Chiefs star totaled two tackles and brought down O'Connell with a critical sack and 15-yard loss on 3rd-and-7 at the Kansas City 22-yard line in the third quarter. The play forced a 55-yard field goal attempt from the Raiders, which sailed wide left. The Chiefs went on to win, 19-17.
Tyrone Tracy Jr. starred on Thanksgiving Day in the Giants-Cowboys game, rushing a team-high nine times for 32 yards. He also found the end zone for the fourth touchdown of his rookie season.
Later that night, Raheem Mostert led the Dolphins with 19 rushing yards on five carries and caught two passes for 15 yards at Green Bay.
On Sunday, Payne Durham made his second start of the season for the Buccaneers, playing 31 offensive snaps in the 26-23 win at Carolina.
Jalen Graham was elevated from the 49ers' practice squad for a second consecutive week and made one tackle at Buffalo. Additionally, Sanoussi Kane played 11 special teams snaps in the Ravens' game in Philadelphia before exiting early with a hamstring injury.
Purdue alumni in the NFL are a combined 43-39 this season when active in a game.
BOILERMAKERS AROUND THE NFL
• Aidan O'Connell (Las Vegas) – Returned from injury and started at quarterback, completing 23-of-35 passes (65.7%) for a career-high 340 yards and two touchdowns at Kansas City
• Tyrone Tracy Jr. (N.Y. Giants) – Rushed a team-high nine times for 32 yards and one touchdown at Dallas
• George Karlaftis (Kansas City) – Totaled two tackles, including a sack of former teammate Aidan O'Connell vs. Las Vegas
• Raheem Mostert (Miami) – Led the Dolphins with 19 rushing yards on five carries and caught two passes for 15 yards at Green Bay
• Payne Durham (Tampa Bay) – Made his second start of the season and played 31 offensive snaps at Carolina
• Jalen Graham (San Francisco) – Elevated from the practice squad and recorded one tackle at Buffalo
• Sanoussi Kane (Baltimore) – Played 11 special teams snaps before exiting the game with a hamstring injury vs. Philadelphia
• Charlie Jones (Cincinnati) – Inactive with a groin injury
• Cory Trice Jr. (Pittsburgh) – Working back from injury after returning from the Injured Reserve
• Markus Bailey (Arizona) – Practice Squad
• Reese Taylor (Denver) – Practice Squad
• Derrick Barnes (Detroit) – Injured Reserve (out for season)
• Ja'Whaun Bentley (New England) – Injured Reserve (out for season)
• David Bell (Cleveland) – Injured Reserve (out for season)
• Anthony Brown (Carolina) – Injured Reserve (out for season)
• Rondale Moore (Atlanta) – Injured Reserve (out for season)
Aidan O'Connell returned from injury to start for the Las Vegas Raiders after being sidelined since Oct. 20. In the only NFL game on Black Friday, he showed out with the most productive outing of his nearly two-year NFL career.
Reminiscent of his days as a Boilermaker field general, O'Connell threw for a career-high 340 yards and two touchdowns on 23-of-35 passing (65.7%), good for a passer rating of 116.4 in Kansas City.
Despite arguably his best game as a pro, it was O'Connell's former teammate, George Karlaftis, who enjoyed a win in the division rivalry.
The Chiefs star totaled two tackles and brought down O'Connell with a critical sack and 15-yard loss on 3rd-and-7 at the Kansas City 22-yard line in the third quarter. The play forced a 55-yard field goal attempt from the Raiders, which sailed wide left. The Chiefs went on to win, 19-17.
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AFC West rivals, but Purdue Football family.#ProBoilers pic.twitter.com/WHbwObZ3pY
— Purdue Football (@BoilerFootball) November 29, 2024
Tyrone Tracy Jr. starred on Thanksgiving Day in the Giants-Cowboys game, rushing a team-high nine times for 32 yards. He also found the end zone for the fourth touchdown of his rookie season.
Tyrone
— Purdue Football (@BoilerFootball) November 28, 2024
Tracy
Thanksgiving
Touchdown@TyroneTracy | #ProBoilers
pic.twitter.com/6EPvAQDNIH
Later that night, Raheem Mostert led the Dolphins with 19 rushing yards on five carries and caught two passes for 15 yards at Green Bay.
On Sunday, Payne Durham made his second start of the season for the Buccaneers, playing 31 offensive snaps in the 26-23 win at Carolina.
Jalen Graham was elevated from the 49ers' practice squad for a second consecutive week and made one tackle at Buffalo. Additionally, Sanoussi Kane played 11 special teams snaps in the Ravens' game in Philadelphia before exiting early with a hamstring injury.
Purdue alumni in the NFL are a combined 43-39 this season when active in a game.
BOILERMAKERS AROUND THE NFL
• Aidan O'Connell (Las Vegas) – Returned from injury and started at quarterback, completing 23-of-35 passes (65.7%) for a career-high 340 yards and two touchdowns at Kansas City
• Tyrone Tracy Jr. (N.Y. Giants) – Rushed a team-high nine times for 32 yards and one touchdown at Dallas
• George Karlaftis (Kansas City) – Totaled two tackles, including a sack of former teammate Aidan O'Connell vs. Las Vegas
• Raheem Mostert (Miami) – Led the Dolphins with 19 rushing yards on five carries and caught two passes for 15 yards at Green Bay
• Payne Durham (Tampa Bay) – Made his second start of the season and played 31 offensive snaps at Carolina
• Jalen Graham (San Francisco) – Elevated from the practice squad and recorded one tackle at Buffalo
• Sanoussi Kane (Baltimore) – Played 11 special teams snaps before exiting the game with a hamstring injury vs. Philadelphia
• Charlie Jones (Cincinnati) – Inactive with a groin injury
• Cory Trice Jr. (Pittsburgh) – Working back from injury after returning from the Injured Reserve
• Markus Bailey (Arizona) – Practice Squad
• Reese Taylor (Denver) – Practice Squad
• Derrick Barnes (Detroit) – Injured Reserve (out for season)
• Ja'Whaun Bentley (New England) – Injured Reserve (out for season)
• David Bell (Cleveland) – Injured Reserve (out for season)
• Anthony Brown (Carolina) – Injured Reserve (out for season)
• Rondale Moore (Atlanta) – Injured Reserve (out for season)