Pro Hogs

NFL report: Rams give Hocker second chance

New Orleans Saints kicker Zach Hocker (2) during an NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals, Sunday, Sept. 13, 2015, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)

One former Arkansas player got a second chance Sunday, while another could be getting his first opportunity in the near future.

Zach Hocker – who was cut by the Saints after six games earlier this year – was signed by the St. Louis Rams and made an extra point in his only attempt in their 31-7 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals.

The Rams signed Hocker because their starting kicker, Greg Zuerlein, was questionable for the game because of a groin injury. With Zuerlein on the sidelines, Hocker was 1 of 1 on extra points and had two touchbacks on kickoffs.

With the Saints, he was 9 of 13 on field goals and 11 of 12 on extra points, but was released after missing a pair of field goals against the Falcons in Week 6. His longest field goal was a 51-yarder against the Cowboys.

While Hocker has experienced success and failure in the NFL, former Arkansas defensive lineman Robert Thomas hasn’t had a chance to do either.

After spending most of the 2014 season on the Redskins’ practice squad, Thomas was released before the season and had a short stint on the Seahawks’ practice squad before ending up with the Patriots.

However, the Miami Herald is reporting that the Dolphins will sign him off the Patriots’ practice squad because of several injuries to their defensive tackles.

Here is a look at how the other 11 former Razorbacks on NFL 53-man rosters performed in Week 12.

Alvin Bailey – Seattle Seahawks

Week 13: noon Sunday, at Vikings

Bailey played four special teams snaps in the Seahawks’ 39-30 win over the Steelers.

Season: 10 games, 1 start

Knile Davis – Kansas City Chiefs

Week 13: 3:05 p.m. Sunday, at Raiders

Three different Chiefs players have rushed for 100 yards in a game this season, but none of them have been Davis, who began the season as Kansas City’s No. 2 running back.

While Spencer Ware – who was on the practice squad at the beginning of the year – ran for 114 yards, Davis was limited to only one yard on one carry in the Chiefs’ 30-22 win over the Bills. He did, however, return four kickoffs for 106 yards.

Season: 9 games, 0 starts, 22 carries, 52 yards (2.4 yards/carry), 1 touchdown, 2 receptions, 24 yards, 17 kickoff returns, 453 yards

Trey Flowers – New England Patriots

Week 13: 3:25 p.m. Sunday, vs. Eagles

Flowers was inactive for the 10th time this season as the Patriots lost to the Broncos 30-24 in overtime. He played only four snaps in his lone appearance.

Season: 1 game, 0 starts

Brett Goode – Green Bay Packers

Week 13: 7:25 p.m. Thursday, at Lions

The Packers kicked two field goals, one extra point and five punts in their 17-13 loss to the Bears on Thanksgiving. Goode was the snapper on all eight kicks.

He is scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent in March, unless the Packers decided to give him an extension for the third time since 2010.

Season: 11 games, 0 starts

Chris Gragg – Buffalo Bills

Week 13: noon Sunday, vs. Texans

Gragg played in the Bills’ 30-22 loss to the Chiefs, but didn’t record any statistics.

Season: 8 games, 0 starts, 8 receptions, 104 yards

Javontee Herndon – San Diego Chargers

Week 13: 3:05 p.m. Sunday, vs. Broncos

Herndon’s two punt returns for 33 yards in the Chargers’ 31-25 win over the Jaguars doesn’t sound impressive, but coming into the game, San Diego had only one punt return yard in 10 games. He also had a kickoff return for 13 yards.

Stats: 3 games, 0 starts, 6 receptions, 49 yards, 3 punt returns, 33 yards, 1 lost fumble, 3 kickoff returns, 55 yards

Darren McFadden – Dallas Cowboys

Week 13: 7:30 p.m. Monday, at Redskins

Four days after rushing for 129 yards against the Dolphins, McFadden turned in his worst performance since taking over the starting running back position with the Cowboys. He had only 11 yards on 10 carries in Dallas’ 33-14 loss to the Panthers on Thanksgiving.

Stats: 11 games, 5 starts, 169 carries, 634 yards (3.8 yards/carry), 2 touchdowns, 31 receptions, 257 yards, 1 kickoff return, 23 yards, 0 of 1 passing

Jason Peters – Philadelphia Eagles

Week 13: 3:25 p.m. Sunday, at Patriots

Much like the previous week, Peters started at left tackle for the Eagles, but had to leave the game early because of an injury. This time, he suffered an ankle injury just 10 snaps into the Eagles’ 45-14 loss to the Lions on Thanksgiving.

Season: 9 games, 9 starts

Chris Smith – Jacksonville Jaguars

Week 13: noon Sunday, at Titans

Smith had one solo tackle and a quarterback hit in the Jaguars’ 31-25 loss to the Chargers.

Season: 4 games, 0 starts, 8 tackles, 0.5 sacks, 1 pass deflection, 1 QB hit

Travis Swanson – Detroit Lions

Week 13: 7:25 p.m. Thursday, vs. Packers

Swanson followed the best game of his season by struggling in the Lions’ 45-14 win over the Eagles. He was Detroit’s only offensive lineman to have a negative Pro Football Focus grade, earning a negative-1.3.

He also missed practice Tuesday because of an ankle injury. It was his first missed practice of the year.

Season: 11 games, 11 starts

Jarius Wright – Minnesota Vikings

Week 13: noon Sunday, vs. Seahawks

Wright caught two passes for 13 yards in the Vikings’ 20-10 win over the Falcons.

Season: 11 games, 3 starts, 19 receptions, 257 yards, 1 carry, 29 yards