#STATEtoSundays: Week 3 Preview
September 18, 2025 | Football
There will be plenty of opportunities this week to catch some of your favorite Mississippi State alumni at the next level with 24 Bulldogs currently on NFL rosters, coaching staffs and more.
Among the Bulldogs that have made the move #FromStateToSundays are Pro Bowlers Darius Slay (6x), Chris Jones (6x), Dak Prescott (3x), Jeffery Simmons (3x), Elgton Jenkins (2x), Logan Cooke, J.T. Gray and Montez Sweat.
MSU also has four first-round draft picks in the league in Simmons, Sweat, Charles Cross and Emmanuel Forbes as well as Super Bowl Champions in Jones (3x), Slay and Willie Gay Jr. The Bulldogs also boast the 2016 NFC Offensive Rookie of the Year and 2022 Walter Payton Man of the Year in Prescott.
This week, linebacker Preston Smith re-signed with Washington – the franchise that drafted him in the second round in 2015. Offensive lineman Tyre Phillips also agreed to terms with Cleveland as a member of its practice squad.
Gray is also a practice squad member with the Ravens. Martin Emerson and Nathaniel Watson are on injured reserve for the Browns and will miss the 2025 season while Denico Autry of the Houston Texans is currently on the physically unable to perform list.
Several other State alums are making an impact on the sidelines and beyond throughout the NFL. Stephen Adegoke is the safeties coach for the Houston Texans and Fred Walker is working as an offensive assistant for the Jacksonville Jaguars. Former Pro Bowler and Super Bowl champ K.J. Wright is in his second year as the defensive quality control coach for the San Francisco 49ers while fellow linebacker DeAndre Ward serves as the assistant strength and conditioning coach for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Dr. Allen Sills also holds the distinction of being the NFL's chief medical officer.
Miami Dolphins (0-2) at Buffalo Bills (2-0) | 7:15 p.m. Prime Video
LB Willie Gay Jr. (MIA)
Atlanta Falcons (1-1) at Carolina Panthers (0-2) | 12 p.m. FOX
DT Jaden Crumedy (CAR)
Green Bay Packers (2-0) at Cleveland Browns (0-2) | 12 p.m. FOX
C Elgton Jenkins (GB)
Houston Texans (0-2) at Jacksonville Jaguars (1-1) | 12 p.m. CBS
P Logan Cooke (JAX)
Pittsburgh Steelers (1-1) at New England Patriots (1-1) | 12 p.m. CBS
CB Darius Slay (PIT)
Los Angeles Rams (2-0) at Philadelphia Eagles (2-0) | 12 p.m. FOX
CB Emmanuel Forbes (LAR)
Indianapolis Colts (2-0) at Tennessee Titans (0-2) | 12 p.m. CBS
DT Jeffery Simmons (TEN)
Las Vegas Raiders (1-1) at Washington Commanders (1-1) | 12 p.m. FOX
CB Decamerion Richardson (LV)
LB Preston Smith (WAS)
New Orleans Saints (0-2) at Seattle Seahawks (1-1) | 3:05 p.m. CBS
OT Charles Cross (SEA)
Dallas Cowboys (1-1) at Chicago Bears (0-2) | 3:25 p.m. FOX
QB Dak Prescott (DAL)
DE Montez Sweat (DE)
Kansas City Chiefs (0-2) at New York Giants (0-2) | 7:25 p.m. NBC
DT Chris Jones