Sooners in the NFL: Week 4

Murray Joins Elite Company

Four games into the season and DeMarco Murray has tallied at least 100 yards rushing in each contest, including his latest effort against the New Orleans Saints in which he ran for 149 yards and two touchdowns on 24 carries.

With Sunday's effort, Murray joined Emmitt Smith, O.J. Simpson and Jim Brown as the only players in league history to start an NFL season with four straight 100-yard games with a touchdown. Smith and Tony Dorsett are the only players in Cowboys history to have a four-game streak of any kind in franchise history.

Sunday's performance, which came in a 38-17 win over the Saints, was the 11th time in Murray's career that he passed the century mark and sixth time in the past nine games.

After rushing for 118 yards in the season opener, 167 yards in Week Two and 100 yards in Week Three, Murray currently leads the NFL in rushing yards (534), attempts (99), rushing yards per game (133.5), rushing touchdowns (5), rushes for first down (30) and runs of 20+ yards (5).

Also in the contest, tight end James Hanna saw playing time for the Cowboys.

On the other side of the ball, linebacker Curtis Lofton had a game and season-high 11 tackles for the Saints, while wide receiver Kenny Stills had two catches for 62 yards, including a 46-yard gain.

Saunders, Walker Find New Homes

Two former Sooners were on the move this past week as wide receiver Jalen Saunders and defensive tackle Casey Walker each joined new clubs.

Saunders, drafted in the fourth round, was released by the New York Jets on Monday. In three games (he was made inactive for week four's loss to Detroit) he had returned six punts for 26 yards prior to his release. Wednesday, however, Saunders was signed by the Arizona Cardinals to the team's practice squad where he will be reunited with former OU teammate Tony Jefferson.

Walker, meanwhile, went from the Carolina Panthers' squad to the New England Patriots' active roster Saturday. Walker was then made inactive for Monday's loss at Kansas City.

Colvin Gets Clearance to Play in 2014

Aaron Colvin was chosen in the fourth round of the 2014 NFL Draft by the Jacksonville Jaguars, but an ACL injury suffered at the Senior Bowl in January hindered his progress. Colvin missed all of the preseason while rehabbing and was added to the reserve/non-football injury list in August.

However, it is now expected that Colvin will still be able to make his NFL debut at some point this season, according to Mark Long of the Associated Press.

Notable Performances

Trent Williams started at left tackle and opened the hole on this 20-yard touchdown run, Chris Chester started at right guard and Tress Way averaged 55.5 yards on four punts, but Washington was defeated on Thursday by the New York Giants, 45-14 … running back Damien Williams ran for a career-high 23 yards on six carries and returned one kick for 26 yards in Miami's 38-14 trouncing of Oakland … active for the first time this season, wide receiver Ryan Broyles caught one pass for 21 yards in Detroit's 24-17 win over the New York Jets … after missing last week with a broken hand, defensive tackle Gerald McCoy returned to post two tackles, including a sack, as Tampa Bay rallied to stun Pittsburgh, 27-24 … wide receiver Justin Brown caught one pass for five yards in the Steelers' loss … Demontre Hurst made one tackle on special teams in Chicago's 38-17 loss to Green Bay … Phil Loadholt started at right tackle as Minnesota bested Atlanta, 41-28

This and That

The following players saw action but did not record any stats: defensive tackle Stacy McGee (Oakland) … Jamell Fleming (Kansas City) did not play … quarterback Landry Jones (Pittsburgh) and linebacker Travis Lewis (Detroit) were made inactive … Safety Quinton Carter (Denver), tight end Jermaine Gresham (Cincinnati), safety Tony Jefferson (Arizona), offensive lineman Davin Joseph (St. Louis) and linebacker Corey Nelson (Denver) were all on a bye in week four