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Local NFL roundup: Kendrick Bourne and 49ers defeat Rams and Cooper Kupp

Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Cooper Kupp, left, cannot catch a pass in the end zone in front of San Francisco 49ers cornerback Emmanuel Moseley during the second half of an NFL football game in Santa Clara, Calif., Sunday, Oct. 18, 2020. (AP Photo/Tony Avelar) ORG XMIT: FXN128 (Tony Avelar)
By Ryan Collingwood ryanc@spokesman.com(509) 459-5473

Four former Eastern Washington standouts appeared in the latest edition of Sunday Night Football.

Three touched the football.

The San Francisco 49ers downed the Los Angeles Rams 24-16 on Sunday night at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California, in an NFC West game between the two most recent losers of the Super Bowl.

Ex-EWU receiver Kendrick Bourne hauled in two passes for 44 yards – both during a scoring drive that gave his team a 21-6 lead in the second quarter – boosting the 49ers (3-3).

Bourne’s college teammate, Rams receiver Cooper Kupp, had one of the lowest outputs of his young and successful career.

Kupp was held to three catches for 11 yards, a game in which he and quarterback Jared Goff connected once in their first seven tries.

“Those guys don’t miss like that,” NBC commentator Cris Collinsworth said.

Kupp and Bourne each dropped passes Sunday night.

Nsimba Webster, a 2018 Eastern Washington graduate, was versatile on special teams for the Rams, returning three kicks for 69 yards, as well as two punts for 24 yards. Webster also had a pad-popping tackle in kickoff coverage.

Rams (4-2) outside linebacker Samson Ebukam – teammates with Bourne, Kupp and Webster in Cheney – registered one tackle.

Gardner Minshew (WSU), Jacksonville Jaguars: Minshew completed 25 of 44 passes for 243 yards, a touchdown and an interceptions in a 36-18 home loss to the Detroit Lions.

Joe Dahl (WSU), Detroit Lions: The former University High standout offensive lineman helped the Lions total 403 yards of offense – including 180 yards on the ground – in a 36-18 road victory over the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Jesse Davis (Idaho), Miami Dolphins: Davis, a versatile offensive lineman and Asotin High School graduate, aided the Dolphins’ 24-0 shutout of the New York Jets.

Jake Rodgers (EWU), Denver Broncos: Rodgers, a Shadle Park grad recently promoted to the 53-man roster, was a backup on an offensive line that helped the Broncos clip the New England Patriots 18-12 in Foxborough, Massachusetts.

Notes: Jets linebacker Frankie Luvu (WSU) was out with a groin injury. Defensive lineman Hercules Mata’afa (WSU) was cut by the Minnesota Vikings last week before being re-signed to the team’s practice squads.