Bruins in the NFL: Week 9 performances

UCLA plays Saturdays, but the school has some former players who take the field on Sundays. Here’s a weekly blog featuring former Bruins and what they did in their NFL games:

Akeem Ayers, fourth-year linebacker for the New England Patriots: Ayers has had an interesting year. He started the year with the Tennessee Titans, but was inactive for all but two games. He was traded to the New England Patriots two weeks ago. On Sunday, he started for one of the best teams in the league. Ayers finished with four tackles and a sack in the Patriots’ 43-21 win over the Denver Broncos.

Anthony Barr, rookie linebacker for the Minnesota Vikings: Barr is quietly having one of the best defensive rookie seasons in the NFL. Barr, who is second on the Vikings in tackles, recorded four tackles and a sack in the Vikings’ 29-26 win over Washington.

Nate Chandler, third-year offensive tackle for the Carolina Panthers: The Panthers were stomped by the New Orleans Saints on Thursday night, 28-10. Chandler, who started at right tackle, was called for holding.

Derrick Coleman, third-year fullback for the Seattle Seahawks: Coleman was placed on injured reserve last week for an undisclosed foot injury. The move ended his season.

Joseph Fauria, second-year tight end for the Detroit Lions: The Lions had a bye this week.

Kai Forbath, third-year kicker for Washington: Forbath converted both his field-goal attempts and both his PAT attempts in Washington’s 29-26 loss to the Vikings.

Cory Harkey, third-year tight end for the St. Louis Rams: Harkey didn’t record any stats in the Rams’ 13-10 win over the San Francisco 49ers.

Mike Harris, third-year offensive tackle for the Minnesota Vikings: Playing in mostly jumbo packages, Harris saw some playing time in the Vikings’ 29-26 win over Washington.

Datone Jones, second-year defensive end for the Green Bay Packers: The Packers had a bye this week, giving Jones a chance to rest his injured ankle.

Maurice Jones-Drew, ninth-year running back for the Oakland Raiders: His season just keeps getting worse. The Raiders lost to the Seahawks, 30-24, and Jones-Drew had two carries for negative-two yards and one reception for 11 yards.

Marcedes Lewis, ninth-year tight end for the Jacksonville Jaguars: Lewis was placed on the Jaguars’ injured reserve/designated to return list six weeks ago with an ankle injury, so he didn’t play in Jacksonville’s 33-23 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals.

Jeff Locke, second-year punter for the Minnesota Vikings: Locke averaged 40 yards on his six punts in the Vikings’ 29-26 win over Washington.

Cassius Marsh, rookie defensive end for the Seattle Seahawks: Marsh was placed on injured reserve in mid-October after breaking his foot in practice. The move ended his season.

Kevin McDermott, second-year center/long-snapper for the Baltimore Ravens: McDermott was signed by the Baltimore Ravens after Week 7, and played his second game as a Raven against the Steelers on Sunday night. He didn’t seem to have any negative snaps in the Ravens’ 43-23 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Rahim Moore, fourth-year free safety for the Denver Broncos: Moore had eight tackles in the Broncos’ 43-21 loss to the Patriots.

Logan Paulsen, fifth-year tight end for Washington: Paulsen shouldn’t search his name on Twitter this week. He had a rough game and didn’t record any stats in Washington’s 29-26 loss to the Vikings.

Matthew Slater, seventh-year wide receiver for the New England Patriots: Slater, the Patriots’ special teams ace, didn’t record any stats in a 43-21 win over the Denver Broncos.

Xavier Su’a-Filo, rookie offensive guard for the Houston Texans: Su’a-Filo didn’t seem to play in the Texans’ 31-21 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles.

Alterraun Verner, fifth-year cornerback for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Verner had five tackles and a defended pass in the Buccaneers’ 22-17 loss to the Cleveland Browns.

Christian Yount, fourth-year center/long-snapper for the Cleveland Browns: Yount didn’t have any negative snaps in the Browns’ 22-17 win over the Buccaneers.

Two former Bruins have been placed on injured reserve and will not be playing this season. Those players are rookie linebacker Jordan Zumwalt (Steelers) and rookie wide receiver Shaquelle Evans (New York Jets).

For more Bruin observations, follow Everett Cook on Twitter @everettcook