State NFL roundup: Jameis Winston lets it rip in return to New Orleans

Even though Cleveland Browns quarterback Jameis Winston threw for 395 yards against New Orleans on Sunday, Saints players lined up after the game to shake his hand and hug his neck.

Winston played for New Orleans for the previous four seasons, and despite a big stat day in his return to Caesars Superdome, the Saints posted a 35-14 victory over the Browns.

Winston completed 30-of-46 passes with two touchdowns and no interceptions, connected on a 2-point conversion pass and ran once for 8 yards.

The former Hueytown High School star's passing yardage is tied for the third-most in an NFL game this season and the eighth-most in a single game in Cleveland history.

The 395 yards are tied for the fifth-most on Winston's personal chart but are the most since he threw for 458 yards in the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' 38-17 victory over the Detroit Lions on Dec. 15, 2019.

Winston had the longest completion of his career with an 89-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Jerry Jeudy with 1:52 left in the first quarter.

Winston's other TD pass came on a 30-yard throw to wide receiver Elijah Moore with 8:49 left in the third quarter as Cleveland tied the score at 14-14.

Winston was among the 27 players from Alabama high schools and colleges (excluding Alabama and Auburn) who got on the field on the 11th Sunday of the NFL's 105th season.

Five other former state players were involved in the Cleveland-New Orleans game:

Mohamoud Diabate (Auburn High) started at linebacker for the Browns. Diabate made seven tackles and recorded one tackle for loss.

Browns safety Chris Edmonds (Samford) is on the practice squad and not eligible to play.

Browns wide receiver Kadarius Toney (Blount) had a rushing attempt that lost 7 yards in his 2024 debut. Cleveland elevated Toney from the practice squad to make him eligible to play.

Browns linebacker Nathaniel Watson (Maplesville) did not record any stats.

Browns defensive end Alex Wright (Elba, UAB) is on injured reserve and not eligible to play.

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In the other Sunday games:

Green Bay Packers 20, Chicago Bears 19

Bears tight end Gerald Everett (UAB/South Alabama) did not record any stats.

Bears cornerback Reddy Steward (Austin, Troy) is on the practice squad and not eligible to play.

Packers offensive tackle Kadeem Telfort (UAB) did not record any stats.

Detroit Lions 52, Jacksonville Jaguars 6

Jaguars defensive end DJ Coleman (Jacksonville State) is on the practice squad and not eligible to play.

Josh Hines-Allen (Abbeville) started at defensive end for the Jaguars. Hines-Ward made three tackles, recorded one tackle for loss and registered one quarterback hit.

Jaguars wide receiver Velus Jones Jr. (Saraland) dressed for the game but did not play. Jacksonville elevated Jones from the practice squad to make him eligible to play.

Lions defensive tackle Brodric Martin (Northridge, North Alabama) is on injured reserve and not eligible play.

Za'Darius Smith (Greenville) started at defensive end for the Lions. In his Detroit debut, Smith shared a sack. Smith joined the Lions in a trade with the Cleveland Browns.

Miami Dolphins 34, Las Vegas Raiders 19

Raiders running back Ameer Abdullah (Homewood) had three receptions for 16 yards and one touchdown and a rushing attempt that gained 1 yard. Abdullah scored on a 10-yard pass from quarterback Gardner Minshew as Las Vegas cut Miami's lead to 24-19 with 4:23 left to play. The TD reception was the first for Abdullah since Nov. 27, 2022.

Jakorian Bennett (McGill-Toolen) started at cornerback for the Raiders. Bennett did not record any stats before leaving with a shoulder injury.

Raiders quarterback Carter Bradley (South Alabama) is on the practice squad and not eligible to play.

Dolphins defensive tackle Shakel Brown (Troy) is on the practice squad and not eligible to play.

Dolphins wide receiver Grant DuBose (Park Crossing, Miles) is on injured reserve and not eligible to play.

Dolphins defensive tackle Neil Farrell Jr. (Murphy) did not record any stats.

Tyreek Hill (West Alabama) started at wide receiver for the Dolphins. Hill had seven receptions for 61 yards and one touchdown. Hill scored on an 8-yard pass from quarterback Tua Tagovailoa as Miami took a 17-6 lead with 4:13 left in the third quarter.

Dolphins cornerback Siran Neal (Eufaula, Jacksonville State) made one tackle on special teams.

Los Angeles Rams 28, New England Patriots 22

Patriots center Jake Andrews (Stanhope Elmore, Troy) is on injured reserve and not eligible to play.

Marcus Jones (Enterprise, Troy) started at cornerback for the Rams. Jones made a team-high nine tackles and gained 5 yards on his first NFL rushing attempt.

Patriots safety Dell Pettus (Sparkman, Troy) made one tackle on defense and one tackle on special teams.

Darious Williams (UAB) started at cornerback for the Rams. Williams made five tackles.

Indianapolis Colts 28, New York Jets 27

Quincy Williams (Wenonah) started at linebacker for the Jets. Williams made six tackles.

Pittsburgh Steelers 18, Baltimore Ravens 16

Ravens wide receiver Malik Cunningham (Park Crossing) is on the practice squad and not eligible to play.

Steelers cornerback Zyon Gilbert (Jeff Davis) is on the practice squad and not eligible to play.

Steelers outside linebacker Jeremiah Moon (Hoover) did not record any stats.

George Pickens (Hoover) started at wide receiver for the Steelers. Pickens had eight receptions for 89 yards, including one for a 37-yard gain.

Ravens nose tackle Michael Pierce (Daphne, Samford) is on injured reserve and not eligible to play.

Steelers punter Corliss Waitman (South Alabama) averaged 56.5 yards on four punts, with a net of 49.3 yards. Waitman had a 51-yard punt downed at the Baltimore 25-yard line, a 52-yarder returned 13 yards to the Baltimore 31 (but moved back to the Ravens 17 because of a penalty on the return), a 71-yarder for a touchback and a 52-yarder that went out of bounds at the Baltimore 9.

Steelers wide receiver Quez Watkins (Athens) is on the practice squad and not eligible to play.

Minnesota Vikings 23, Tennessee Titans 13

Vikings defensive tackle Travis Bell (Jeff Davis) is on the practice squad and not eligible to play.

Titans offensive tackle Chandler Brewer (Florence) is on the practice squad and not eligible to play.

Vikings defensive back Bobby McCain (Oxford) is on the practice squad and not eligible to play.

Vikings quarterback Nick Mullens (Spain Park) dressed for the game but did not play.

Denver Broncos 38, Atlanta Falcons 6

Broncos cornerback Kris Abrams-Draine (Spanish Fort) was designated as a game-day inactive.

Broncos linebacker Kwon Alexander (Oxford) is on the practice squad and not eligible to play.

Broncos linebacker Zach Cunningham (Pinson Valley) made three tackles in his 2024 debut. Denver elevated Cunningham from the practice squad to make him eligible to play.

Darnell Mooney (Gadsden City) started at wide receiver for the Falcons. Mooney had two receptions for 27 yards.

Broncos cornerback Tremon Smith (Saks) did not record any stats.

Seattle Seahawks 20, San Francisco 49ers 17

Forty-Niners cornerback Darrell Luter Jr. (South Alabama) is on injured reserve and not eligible to play.

Seahawks outside linebacker Jamie Sheriff (South Alabama) is on the practice squad and not eligible to play.

Buffalo Bills 30, Kansas City Chiefs 21

Bills defensive tackle Tylan Grable (Jacksonville State) is on injured reserve and not eligible to play.

Bills linebacker Nicholas Morrow (Huntsville) did not record any stats.

Chiefs quarterback Chris Oladokun (Samford) is on the practice squad and not eligible to play.

Chiefs wide receiver Justyn Ross (Central-Phenix City) is on the practice squad and not eligible to play.

Bills defensive end Javon Solomon (Troy) did not record any stats.

Chiefs wide receiver Montrell Washington (Samford) is on the practice squad and not eligible to play.

Los Angeles Chargers 34, Cincinnati Bengals 27

Chargers safety A.J. Finley (St. Paul's Episcopal) did not record any stats.

Bengals defensive end Cedric Johnson (Davidson) dressed for the game but did not play.

Bengals kicker Evan McPherson (Fort Payne) made all three of his extra points and connected on field goals of 26 and 27 yards. But McPherson was wide left on field-goal attempts from 48 yards with 7:31 to play and 51 yards with 1:48 to play with the score tied at 27-27.

Cam Taylor-Britt (Park Crossing) started at cornerback for the Bengals. Taylor-Britt made one tackle and shared a sack, the first of his career.

Chargers running back Kimani Vidal (Troy) was designated as a game-day inactive.

Week 11 started on Thursday night, when the Philadelphia Eagles defeated the Washington Commanders 26-18.

Week 11 concludes on Monday, when the Houston Texans and Dallas Cowboys square off at 7:15 p.m. CDT at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. ABC and ESPN will televise the game.

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