2026 Minnesota Golden Gophers In The Nfl: Week 8

Week 8 was a quiet one for the former Gophers. Lots of players were on bye, and we lost Eric Muray to a season ending injury. But not all was bad news. Antoine Winfield Jr returned to action after missing several games with an injury, Terell Smith made his 2026 debut, and Brevyn Span-Ford appears to be the new TE1 in Dallas. Here is a full recap of all the Week 8 action.

Arizona Cardinals

Week 8 @ Dallas Cowboys

Week 9 @ Seattle Seahawks

Jack Gibbons-LB

Gibbons played 57 defensive snaps and five on special teams in the Cardinals overtime win over Dallas. He led Arizona with eleven tackles, three of them solo. In the passing game he was targeted four times and allowed catches on three for just 12 yards.

Baltimore Ravens

Week 8 @ Buffalo Bills

Week 9 vs Jacksonville Jaguars—Thursday

Rashod Bateman-WR

Bateman played 39 snaps in the Ravens loss to Buffalo with now QB3 in the lineup. He was target three times and made one catch for 22 yards.

Cincinnati Bengals

Week 8 vs Tennessee Titans

Week 9 vs Atlanta Falcons—Madrid

Boye Mafe—DE

Mafe played 60 defensive snaps in the OT win over Tennessee. He had four solo tackles including a sack of Cam Ward added a second QB hit and forced a fumble.

Dallas Cowboys

Week 8 vs Arizona Cardinals

Week 9 @ Indianapolis Colts

Brevin Span-Ford—TE

Span-Ford played 65 snaps on offense and another 14 on special teams taking over the Cowboys TE1 spot in the OT loss to Arizona. He was targeted five times and made four catches for 31 yards, and added a special team tackle.

Green Bay Packers

Week 8 vs Carolina Panthers—Thursday Night

Week 9 @ New England Patriots

Benjamin St. Juste—CB

St. Juste returned to action for the first time in four weeks and played nine special teams snaps in the win over Carolina. He did not record a stat.

Houston Texans

Week 8 BYE

Week 9 @ Los Angeles Chargers

Aireontae Ersery—OT

The Texans were on their bye.

Indianapolis Colts

Week 8 @ Jacksonville Jaguars

Week 9 vs Dallas Cowboys

Justin Walley—CB

Walley missed the game against the Jaguars with a knee injury he suffered against the Vikings in Week 7.

Jacksonville Jaguars

Week 8 vs Indianapolis Colts

Week 9 @ Baltimore Ravens—Thursday

Eric Murray—S

Murray suffered an elbow injury on the opening kickoff and was placed on Injured Reserve this week ending his season.

Daniel Faalele—OG

Faalele played ten offensive snap and six on special teams in the blowout win over the Colts.

Danny Striggow—DE

Striggow played 26 defensive snaps and six on special teams in the win over Indy. He recorded one solo tackle for a loss.

Las Vegas Raiders

Week 8 @ New York Jets

Week 9 @ San Francisco 49ers

Cody Lindenberg—LB

Lindenberg played 18 special teams snaps in the win over the Jets. He did not record a stat.

Minnesota Vikings

Week 8 @ Detroit Lions

Week 9 vs Buffalo Bills—Monday Night

Max Brosmer—QB

Brosmer was the third QB and did not see action.

Blake Cashman—LB

Cashman played 71 snaps in the Vikings first loss to the Bills and had his worst game of the season. He made ten tackles, five of them solo and one for a loss while giving up a pair of receptions for 18 yards and being credited with one missed tackle. That miss came on a huge run for Jahmyr Gibbs late to seal the game for Detroit.

New Orleans Saints

Week 8 BYE

Week 9 vs Cleveland Browns

Jordan Howden—S

The Saints were on a bye.

New York Giants

Week 8 BYE

Week 9 @ Philadelphia Eagles

John-Michael Schmitz—C

The Giants were on a bye.

Tyler Nubin—S

The Giants were on a bye.

Pittsburgh Steelers

Week 8 vs Cleveland Browns

Week 9 BYE

Terell Smith—CB

Smith made his Steeler debut and played 12 special teams snaps. He had one tackle.

Kyler Baugh-DT—Practice Squad

Esezi Otomewo—DT—Practice Squad

Neither player was called up in Week 7.

Seattle Seahawks

Week 8 vs Chicago Bears—Monday Night

Week 9 vs Arizona Cardinals

Deven Eastern—DT—Practice Squad

Eastern remained on the practice squad and did not play.

Nick Kallerup—TE

Kallerup played four offensive snaps and seven special teams snaps in the loss to the Bears. He did not record a stat.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Week 8 vs Atlanta Falcons

Week 9 @ Chicago Bears—Sunday Night

Ko Kieft-TE

Kieft played ten special teams snaps in the win. He did not record a stat.

Antoine Winfield, JR—S

Winfield returned to action from his rib injury. He played 51 defensive snaps and one on special teams. He recorded seven tackles, five of them solo. He was targeted three times and gave up two catches for just 7 yards.