After missing the majority of 2013 with a fractured foot, Julio Jones is back to terrorizing defenses in 2014. He leads the NFL with 365 receiving yards and is tied for third with 23 catches and 3 receiving TDs. On Thursday, he helped the Atlanta Falcons light up the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, hauling in 9 catches for 161 yards and 2 TDs as the Falcons rolled to a 56-14 win. With more than 30 players on NFL rosters to start the season, Crimson Tide alumni made their impact felt around the league this past week. Here are some of the other standout performances.

  • Courtney Upshaw, Baltimore Ravens: Upshaw had 5 tackles in the Ravens 23-21 win over Cleveland, posting 2 tackles-for-loss and 1 sack.
  • C.J. Mosley, Baltimore Ravens: Mosley tied for the team lead with 6 tackles and knocked down a pass against the Cleveland Browns.
  • Ha Ha Clinton-Dix: The Green Bay Packers rookie got his hands on his first career interception, although his team fell to the Detroit Lions, 19-7.
  • Trent Richardson, Indianapolis Colts: Richardson led the Colts in carries and picked up 57 yards on the ground in a Colts blowout win over Jacksonville.
  • Dont’a Hightower, New England Patriots: Hightower was all over the field for the Patriots, racking up 7 tackles and 1 TFL.
  • Rashad Johnson, Arizona Cardinals: The free safety was a tackling machine, with 8 solo tackles in an upset of the San Francisco 49ers.
  • Notable starting offensive linemen: D.J. Fluker, San Diego Chargers; Chance Warmack, Tennessee Titans; James Carpenter, Seattle Seahawks