Andrew Sendejo moved into a tie for 10th among Rice Owls in terms of games played in the NFL, while three Owls hope to finally bring Week 12 of the NFL season to a close with an midweek afternoon tilt to highlight action or former Rice football players in the NFL. THIS WEEK IN NFL BIRTHDAYS
Vince Courville (12/5).
This week's trivia question: Larry Izzo holds the record for the most games played by an Owl in the NFL (200), but can you name the Owl who has the most career starts? Hint: He's also the first former Owl to be a trivia question answer for the second time this year….
Calvin Anderson— Anderson played in his 11th game of the season, seeing action on special teams for Denver in a 31-3 loss to New Orleans. After taking 34 snaps on special teams over the first eight games, Anderson made his starting debut for Denver on the road at Las Vegas in Week 10 and played all 71 offensive snaps. The first Owl offensive lineman to appear in the league since Courtney Hall from 1989-96 Andersen made his debut vs. Tennessee in the opener after spending the 2019 season on Denver's active roster without appearing in a game. The Broncos travel to Kansas City to face the Super Bowl champs on Sunday Night football at 7:25. (NBC)
Chris Boswell—After seeing their game twice delayed because of COVID-19 issues with the Ravens, Boswell and Steelers are now scheduled to face Baltimore on Wednesday afternoon at 2:45 p.m. (NBC) and then come back to host Washington at 4 p.m. on Monday. (FOX)
Bryce Callahan- Callahan returned to action for Denver against New Orleans and was credited with a pair of tackles before departing with an injury that likely will hold him out when the Broncos travel to Kansas City to face the Super Bowl champs on Sunday Night football at 7:25. (NBC)
Christian Covington—Covington started for the eighth consecutive game and ninth of the season and was credited with four tackles in the Bengals loss to the Giants. He has matched his career-high with 28 tackles this season, reaching the total in 78 fewer snaps than it took him to reach 28 tackles last season with the Cowboys. Cincinnati travels to Miami to take on the Dolphins on Sunday at noon. (CBS)
Jack Fox—Fox continues to lead the NFL in punting (50.3) and net punting (45.8) and was named to the Pro Football Focus Midseason All-Pro team. He and his Lions teammates will travel to Chicago to take on the Bears at noon on Sunday. (FOX)
Phillip Gaines— Gaines saw action on special teams as the Texans routed Detroit on Thanksgiving Day. Houston hosts Indianapolis on Sunday at noon. (CBS)
Vance McDonald— McDonald has been activated off the IR/COVID-19 list. He is two yards shy of reaching 2,000 receiving yards in his career (1,998). The Steelers are now scheduled to face Baltimore on Wednesday afternoon at 2:45 p.m. (NBC) and then come back to host Washington at 4 p.m. on Monday. (FOX)
Andrew Sendejo— Moved into a tie with Michael Downs for 10th in the Rice career NFL games list with his 121st contest. He was credited with one tackle in the win over the Jaguars to give him 54 this season (most since he had 80 in 2017). Cleveland (8-3) travels to Nashville to take on the 8-3 Titans at noon (CBS).
Austin Walter— Walter saw action on special teams in San Francisco's walk-off win over the Rams. Due to new COVID-19 restrictions in Santa Clara County, the 49ers have shifted their base of operations to Phoenix, where they will host Buffalo on Monday Night Football at 7:15. (ESPN)
Luke Willson— Willson is currently on the Ravens practice squad, but with games on Wednesday afternoon against the Steelers and Tuesday night against the Cowboys, he could find himself back on the field.
With Walter's 2020 debut, Rice has had 10 players see action in 2020, the most Owls to play in an NFL season in school history. Nine Owls saw action in 2015 to set a school record, but only eight were active for the opening weekend. Rice also had nine former players active in professional football between the NFL and AFL in 1961 and nine between the NFL and the All American Football Conference in 1948.
Answer—Bill Howton started 133 games in his career for the Packers, Browns and Cowboys, one of six Owls to earn at least 100 starts in the league (Courtney Hall 118; Michael Downs and Tobin Rote 116; Tommy Kramer 110 and Darryl Grant 109).
