Every year there’s more former Minnesota Gophers on NFL rosters, up to 16 this past year. Here's a look at how each former Minnesota player fared in the 2022 regular season.
Rashod Bateman, WR, Baltimore Ravens
A Lisfranc injury suffered in Week 8 knocked Bateman out for the season. He ended up playing six games, with five starts, recording 15 catches for 285 yards and two touchdowns, although the latter established a career high.
De’Vondre Campbell, LB, Green Bay Packers
A year after his breakout All-Pro season, Campbell was sidelined for four games because of a knee injury. In his 13 games, all starts, Campbell recorded 96 tackles, six tackles for loss, two interceptions (one returned for a touchdown, the first of his career).
Blake Cashman, LB, Houston Texans
After playing in just 14 games with the New York Jets over his first three years due to injuries, Cashman appeared in all but one contest in 2022 in his first year with Houston, which acquired him for a 2023 sixth-round draft pick. Cashman played mostly on special teams – 320 snaps – but did make one start on defense, where he racked up 149 snaps. He recorded 26 tackles, five quarterback hits, four tackles for loss, three sacks (including one of Patrick Mahomes) and two passes defensed.
Carter Coughlin, LB, New York Giants
Coughlin played in all 17 games but mainly on special teams, where he has 398 snaps (85%). He played only six snaps on defense. Coughlin had nine tackles, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery.
Daniel Faalele, OL, Baltimore Ravens
Baltimore’s fourth-round pick played in 16 games and started in Week 4 vs. Buffalo. He played 170 snaps on offense – mostly at left tackle – and allowed four sacks. Faalele also appeared on 71 special teams snaps.
Jack Gibbens, LB, Tennessee Titans
An undrafted free agent, Gibbens spent most of the season on Tennessee’s practice squad before being signed to the active roster Dec. 10. He appeared in five games – starting two – and recorded 28 tackles with an interception. Gibbens played every snap in Week 17 vs. Dallas, recording 10 tackles, and in 96% of the defensive snaps in Week 18 at Jacksonville.
Tyler Johnson, WR, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Waived by Tampa Bay in August, Johnson was claimed by Houston and played in two games for the Texans – appearing in 29 offensive plays without being targeted – before being waived Oct. 25. The Buccaneers re-signed Johnson to their practice squad.
Ko Kieft, TE, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
A sixth-round pick, Kieft played in every game with 12 starts, acting mostly as a blocking tight end. He appeared in 264 offensive snaps (22%) and 278 on special teams. Kieft had 10 catches on 12 targets for 80 yards and notched his first pro touchdown in Week 12 against Cleveland.
Boye Mafe, OLB, Seattle Seahawks
Seattle’s second-round selection (No. 40 overall) carved out a role on the Seahawks’ defense. Mafe played in every games with three starts, getting in on 424 defensive snaps (37%). He recorded 41 tackles, four quarterback hits, three sacks and three tackles for loss.
Eric Murray, S, Houston Texans
A starter for Houston the past two seasons, Murray was in a reserve role in 2022, appearing in every game but with just 119 defensive snaps (10%). He also played in a career-high 403 (87%) snaps on special teams. Murray had 27 tackles.
Esezi Otomewo, DE, Minnesota Vikings
The Vikings’ fifth-round pick didn’t get into a game until Week 14, getting between 10-18 snaps in four contests and 31 in the regular-season finale. In his five games, Otomewo recorded five tackles with one for a loss.
Sam Schlueter, OL, New York Jets
Signed as an undrafted free agent by San Francisco but subsequently released. The Jets signed him to their practice squad Dec. 7, however he was not among the first wave of players New York signed to Reserve/Future contracts.
Benjamin St-Juste, CB, Washington Football Team
St. Juste played in Washington’s first 11 games before an ankle injury and concussions sidelined him until Week 16. However, he did not play in the Commanders’ final two games. In his 12 games, all starts, St. Juste posted 42 tackles, seven passes defensed and a forced fumble. According to pro-football-reference, when targeted in coverage opposing quarterbacks had just a 47.7% completion rate with an 87.1 passer rating.
Maxx Williams, TE, Arizona Cardinals
Williams spent the entire season with Arizona, although he was released Oct. 7, re-signed to the practice squad, elevated twice to the active roster then signed back to the 53 on Dec. 14. In all he played 11 games with one start, seeing 169 snaps on offense. Williams was targeted just three times, catching them all for 18 yards – two of those coming in Week 15 at Denver.
Damien Wilson, LB, Carolina Panthers
Playing on his third team in three years (and fourth overall in his career), Wilson was mainly a backup while playing in all 17 games. He did start five times but played just 204 defensive snaps (18%), this after starting every game he appeared in the past three years. Wilson recorded 38 tackles, four TFL, two sacks and forced fumble.
Antoine Winfield Jr., S, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Injuries (ankle, concussion) limited Winfield to 13 games, of which he started them all. While he had a career low 80 tackles, Winfield did set personal marks in tackles for loss (7), QB hits (6) and sacks (4) while also producing three passes defensed, an interception and forced fumble. Winfield recorded a career-high 13 tackles in Tampa Bay’s season finale. Winfield had the ninth-highest grade for safeties given out by Pro Football Focus.
