This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2014, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
Wrapping up how Utah's players on active NFL rosters performed in Week Two:
Minnesota running back Matt Asiata • With Adrian Peterson benched after being indicted on a child abuse charge, Asiata made his second career start in the Vikings' 30-7 home loss to the Patriots. He rushed 13 times for just 36 yards, but he took a Matt Cassel pass 25 yards to paydirt for the Vikings' only score and finished with 48 receiving yards on five catches. "It's not a one-man team," Asiata told The Providence Journal afterward.
Matt Asiata with his 1st career receiving TD on a 25-yard catch from Matt Cassel, his 96th career passing TD. pic.twitter.com/Qly8Zbhwlo
— Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) September 14, 2014Jacksonville offensive lineman Zane Beadles • Beadles' 66th consecutive game was his second consecutive tough one, as the Jaguars continued to struggle in a 41-10 loss to the Redskins — rushing for 25 yards on 10 attempts. Beadles told The Florida Times-Union that for the offensive line, "there will definitely be some discussions between all of us and who we want to be as a group."
Oakland guard Tony Bergstrom • Bergstrom was ruled inactive for the Raiders' 30-14 loss to the Texans.
Cleveland outside linebacker Paul Kruger • Through two games, Kruger is thriving under new defensive coordinator Jim O'Neill. He had a sack — his third of the year — a pass deflection, and three quarterback hits in a 26-24 win over the Saints. One of those hits set up an interception by Tashaun Gipson that was returned 62 yards for a touchdown, said the Cleveland Plain-Dealer, which quotes teammate Karlos Dansby as saying, "Paul is playing out of this world right now. I love every second of it."
Carolina defensive tackle Star Lotulelei • Lotulelei had just two tackles, but his impact was felt as the Panthers sacked Matthew Stafford four times and allowed just 70 yards on the ground in a 24-7 rout.
Pittsburgh cornerback Brice McCain • McCain was active but did not record any stats in a 26-6 Thursday night loss to Baltimore.
Oakland cornerback Keith McGill • McGill did not record any stats in the Raiders' loss.
Miami linebacker Koa Misi • Misi missed Miami's 29-10 loss to the Bills with an ankle injury sustained in Week One.
San Diego defensive tackle Tenny Palepoi • Palepoi did not record any stats in the Chargers' 30-21 win against the defending Super Bowl champion Seahawks.
New York Jets outside linebacker Trevor Reilly • Reilly recorded his first career tackle in the Jets 31-24 loss to the Packers.
Miami defensive end Derrick Shelby • After being limited with a knee injury in practice, Shelby made three tackles in Miami's loss.
New England defensive tackle Sealver Siliga • Limited in practice with a hand injury, Siliga recorded three tackles in the Patriots' blowout. The Boston Globe noted that Siliga, not Vince Wilfork, was at nose tackle. Teammate Chandler joins credited Siliga and Wilfork for getting penetration and allowing him to block a 48-yard field goal that he returned for a touchdown to end the half, he told The Providence Journal.
Kansas City cornerback Sean Smith • Smith made three tackles in the Chiefs' 24-17 loss to the rival Broncos at Mile High.
Kansas City quarterback Alex Smith • Smith certainly improved on his lackluster season debut, but 255 yards passing and 42 yards rushing wasn't enough to outduel Peyton Manning and the defending AFC champions. Smith's Chiefs had a chance to tie it on the final possession, but they were stuffed at the goal line on third down and then his fourth-down pass to Dwayne Bowe was incomplete.
Baltimore wideout Steve Smith Sr. • Smith now has 189 yards through two weeks after adding 71 more on six catches in a 26-6 win over the Steelers. As this ESPN mailbag points out, the fact that Carolina could sure use that type of production has crossed Smith's mind.
Atlanta defensive tackle Paul Soliai • Soliai had six tackles, and two for losses, in the Falcons' 24-10 loss to the Bengals.
San Diego safety Eric Weddle • Weddle had four tackles in San Diego's win, and he also made a strong statement about the NFL's reaction to Ray Rice's domestic violence incident.
As a husband, father and player I'm embarrassed to be associated with the NFL right now!
— Eric Weddle (@weddlesbeard) September 11, 2014— Matthew Piper
mpiper@sltrib.com
Twitter: @matthew_piper