Alabama NFL roundup: Eddie Jackson's historic performance leads 7-TD Sunday for Tide alumni

Sunday was the one-year anniversary of the end of Eddie Jackson's college football career at Alabama. He suffered a broken leg returning a punt during the Crimson Tide's 33-14 victory over Texas A&M on Oct. 22, 2016.

Now a safety for the Chicago Bears, Jackson marked the anniversary by making history on Sunday in his seventh NFL game.

"I didn't even know that, to be honest," Jackson said when asked about the broken-leg anniversary. "That's crazy. For real? Aww, man, that's crazy. I really didn't know that."

In the Bears' 17-3 victory over the Carolina Panthers, Jackson became the first player in NFL history with more than one 75-yard defensive touchdown in the same game, and he also became the first rookie in league history with more than one 75-yard defensive touchdown in one season - and Jackson did it in the first half.

In the first quarter, Jackson scooped up the loose football after a fumbled pitchout and ran 75 yards for the first touchdown of the game.

In the second quarter, Jackson caught a deflected pass on the run and raced 76 yards for the second touchdown of the game, getting past the tackle attempt of Carolina quarterback Cam Newton on the way to the end zone.

"It's like if you're a punt-return guy, they always say, 'Don't get tackled by the punter,'" Jackson said. "When you're a DB and you make an interception, don't get tackled by the quarterback."

Jackson also had four tackles in the game.

Jackson scored two of the seven touchdowns scored by Alabama alumni on Sunday.

Jackson was among the 30 former Alabama players who got on the field during the seventh Sunday of the NFL's 2017 season.

Other former Alabama players who started on Sunday included:

      • Left defensive tackle Jarran Reed of the Seahawks made a career-high seven tackles, including one sack and another tackle behind the line of scrimmage, against the Giants. On his sack, Reed caused New York quarterback Eli Manning to fumble, and Seattle recovered at the Giants 38-yard line. The Seahawks turned the turnover into a touchdown to take a 17-7 lead with 9:34 left in the game.
      • Tight end O.J. Howard (Autauga Academy) of the Buccaneers caught six passes for 98 yards and two touchdowns against the Bills. Howard entered the game with five receptions for 107 yards and one TD in his first five NFL games. Against Buffalo, Howard caught touchdown passes of 7 and 33 yards.

      Other former Alabama players seeing action on Sunday included:

      • Falcons defensive tackle Courtney Upshaw (Eufaula) returned to the field after missing three games with an ankle injury.
      • Ravens cornerback Marlon Humphrey (Hoover) had one tackle against the Vikings.
      • Bengals offensive tackle Andre Smith (Huffman).
      • Packers defensive tackle Quinton Dial (Clay-Chalkville) made four tackles against the Saints.
      • Jaguars running back T.J. Yeldon (Daphne) ran for 122 yards and a touchdown on nine carries and caught two passes for 15 yards against the Colts. Yeldon's third 100-yard game came in his first action of the 2017 season. He set a career single-game high for rushing yards, surpassing the 115 he had against the Buffalo Bills on Oct. 25, 2017. Sunday's effort included a 58-yard touchdown in the third quarter that is the longest run of his NFL career.
      • Dolphins running back Kenyan Drake returned a kickoff for 26 yards in a 31-28 victory over the Jets.
      • Jets wide receiver ArDarius Stewart (Fultondale) returned two kickoffs for 30 yards against the Dolphins.
      • Seahawks running back Eddie Lacy ran for 34 yards on nine carries and caught a 9-yard pass against the Giants.
      • Tennessee Titans fullback Jalston Fowler (Vigor) and running back Derrick Henry. After running for a career-high 131 yards on Monday night, Henry was held to 13 yards on 13 carries in a 12-9 overtime victory against the Cleveland Browns. Henry also caught two passes for 11 yards.

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      Bengals quarterback AJ McCarron (St. Paul's) was active for Sunday's game, but did not play against the Steelers.

      Ravens outside linebacker Tim Williams was designated as inactive on Sunday.

      On Thursday night, Oakland Raiders wide receiver Amari Cooper caught 11 passes for 210 yards and two touchdowns in a 31-30 victory over the Kansas City Chiefs.

      On Monday night, the Washington Redskins will visit the Philadelphia Eagles at 7:30 CDT. ESPN will televise the game.

      Mark Inabinett is a sports reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter @AMarkG1.

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