How Did Recently Traded Players Perform With Their New Teams?

Sunday was a new beginning of sorts for players who changed teams at the NFL’s trade deadline. Who fit in right away and who may need an adjustment period?

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It was a busy week of trades in the NFL and several of those players saw action just a few days after arriving to their new teams. Here’s how the traded players fared on Sunday.

Demaryius Thomas to Houston: Thomas had three catches for 61 yards in his Texans debut. His first reception was a catch and run for 31 yards on Houston’s opening drive which ended in a touchdown.

Thomas started off looking like he’d been part of Houston’s offense all season. It wasn’t until the fourth quarter that his unfamiliarity with the offense began to show, causing Houston to take a timeout when Thomas was visibly confused as to his assignment. 

Houston escaped with the win when Denver missed a last-second field goal, and instead of lingering to celebrate or shake hands with Denver teammates, Thomas sprinted off the field as soon as the ball sailed wide right. He said he wanted to get off the field because it had been such an emotional week.

Ha Ha Clinton-Dix to Washington: Clinton-Dix started the game and had seven total tackles in his debut with Washington, which was good enough to tie as the team’s leading tackler for the day. However Clinton-Dix could not stop Falcons receiver Julio Jones from finally scoring his first touchdown of the season. Jones shook off Clinton-Dix’s tackle in the red zone and made it look easy.

Ty Montgomery to Baltimore: Montgomery was inactive against the Steelers, which was somewhat surprising considering head coach John Harbaugh said earlier this week that Montgomery had a good understanding of the plays because Green Bay and Baltimore’s offense share similar roots.

Dante Fowler to L.A. Rams: Fowler Jr. did see some playing time, mostly in passing situations, and finished with one tackle and one pass defended. The Saints impressive offensive line didn’t allow any sacks to the Rams defense. Saints RB Mark Ingram had the block of the game when he hit Fowler Jr. low and flipped him up and over his back.

Amari Cooper will make his debut with the Cowboys tonight on Monday Night Football, and Golden Tate will be on the field with the Eagles next week when the team returns from its bye.

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HOT READS

NOW ON THE MMQB: Gary Gramling wraps up Sunday’s action. ... Conor Orr explains why you should love Michael Thomas’s flip phone celebration. ... Jonathan Jones on Julio Jones breaking his unfortunate streak. ... Andy Benoit previews Monday Night Football... 

WHAT YOU MAY HAVE MISSED: Ben Baskin’s oral history of the record-breaking game in 2016 between Oklahoma and Texas Tech, quarterbacked by Baker Mayfield and Patrick Mahomes. ... Remembering Dr. Z, the longtime Sports Illustrated NFL writer who passed last Thursday.

PRESS COVERAGE

1. ESPN's Diana Russini askedMike Tomlin if the team still needed Le'Veon Bell and the coach had a strong quote: “We need volunteers, not hostages.”

2. Is it just me, or did the GOAT vs. GOAT thing get way out of hand last night? 

3. The Raiders purge continues with veteran DE Bruce Irvin, while Derek Carr assures us that he is in it for the long haul.

4. This was just a really good tweet.

5. Best celebration of the season. So clean. 

THE KICKER

Peyton Manning’s kids were very excited to see Demaryius Thomas.

Question? Comment? Story idea? Let the team know at talkback@themmqb.com