#STATEtoSundays: Week 3 Update
September 23, 2025 | Football
Montez Sweat proved he's a deserving member of Chicago's Monsters of the Midway.
Sweat made a pair of solo tackles – one of which was a sack – in the Bears' 31-14 beatdown of the Dallas Cowboys. The former Mississippi State first-round draft pick now has 48 career sacks and according to Pro Football Focus (PFF), holds Chicago's top defensive grade this season at 76.1.
Chris Jones also added a sack in helping Kansas City earn its first victory of the season. Jones now has 81 ½ sacks over his illustrious career. The six-time Pro Bowler and three-time Super Bowl champion holds the top pressure grade for the Chiefs this season at 79.4.
Six-time Pro Bowl cornerback Darius Slay had a stellar game in the secondary for Pittsburgh. Slay recorded three solo stops, one pass defense and recovered a fumble all while earning the top coverage grade for the Steelers at 75.0 in a win at New England.
It was the sixth fumble recovery of Slay's 13-year career.
Jaden Crumedy made his first two tackles of the season for Carolina this past Sunday and has the No. 4 pressure grade on the Panthers defense this year. Fellow defensive lineman Tyrus Wheat also made his season debut with Detroit during Week 3.
Dak Prescott completed 31 of 40 passes for 251 yards and a touchdown for Dallas, the 216th TD toss of his career. Prescott possesses the No. 2 offensive grade among all NFL quarterbacks for the 2025 season at 90.2.
Despite switching to center this season, Elgton Jenkins continues to be a workhorse for Green Bay. The two-time Pro Bowler logged all 65 offensive snaps for the Packers this past week and has played all 181 offensive plays so far in 2025.
Charles Cross started at left tackle for Seattle and earned the top pass blocking grade at 78.1 in a win against New Orleans. Cross tops the Seahawks in both pass (81.7) and run (75.6) blocking this year. He also ranks eighth overall in offensive grade among all NFL offensive linemen at 81.1, which is sixth among tackles.
Jacksonville's Logan Cooke matched his season long this past Sunday with a 60-yard punt in a 17-10 win over Houston. Cooke is averaging 49.9 yards per punt this season and his career net punting average of 43.9 yards is the best in NFL history.
DENICO AUTRYÂ | DE | HOUSTON TEXANSÂ |Â AT MSU: 2012-13
Last Week:Â Autry was on the physically unable to perform list for a 17-10 loss at the Jaguars.
Season:Â N/A
LOGAN COOKEÂ | P | JACKSONVILLE JAGUARSÂ |Â AT MSU: 2014-17
Last Week:Â Cooke punted six times for 293 yards (48.8 avg.) with a long of 60 yards in a 17-10 win over the Texans.
Season:Â Punting -Â 10 punts for 499 yards (49.9 avg.), long 60
CHARLES CROSSÂ | OT | SEATTLE SEAHAWKSÂ |Â AT MSU: 2019-21
Last Week:Â Cross started at left tackle and played 48 snaps (39 offense, nine special teams) in a 44-13 win over the Saints.
Season:Â three games played, three starts
JADEN CRUMEDYÂ | DT | CAROLINA PANTHERS |Â AT MSU: 2018-23
Last Week:Â Crumedy made two assisted tackles in a 30-0 win over the Falcons.
Season:Â two assisted tackles
MARTIN EMERSONÂ | CB | CLEVELAND BROWNSÂ |Â AT MSU: 2019-21
Last Week:Â Emerson was on injured reserve for a 13-10 win over the Packers.
Season:Â Out for the season (torn Achilles)
EMMANUEL FORBESÂ | CB | LOS ANGELES RAMSÂ |Â AT MSU: 2020-22
Last Week:Â Forbes started and made three tackles (one solo, two assists) and one pass defense in a 33-26 loss at the Eagles.
Season:Â nine tackles (six solo, three assists), two pass defenses
WILLIE GAY JR. | LB | MIAMI DOLPHINS | AT MSU: 2017-19
Last Week:Â Gay saw action and played 16 reps (eight defensive, six special teams) in a 31-21 loss at the Bills.
Season:Â three tackles (one solo, two assists), one tackle for loss
J.T. GRAYÂ | S | BALTIMORE RAVENSÂ |Â AT MSU: 2014-17
Last Week:Â Gray was on the practice squad for a 38-30 loss to the Lions.
Season:Â N/A
ELGTON JENKINSÂ | G/C | GREEN BAY PACKERS |Â AT MSU: 2014-18
Last Week:Â Jenkins started at center and played all 65 offensive snaps in a 13-10 loss at the Browns.
Season:Â three games played, three starts
CHRIS JONESÂ | DE | KANSAS CITY CHIEFS |Â AT MSU: 2013-15
Last Week:Â Jones started and made one solo tackle, one tackle for loss, one sack and two quarterback hurries in a 22-9 win at the Giants.
Season:Â five tackles (three solo, two assists), three tackles for loss, three quarterback hurries, one sack
TYRE PHILLIPSÂ | OG | CLEVELAND BROWNS |Â AT MSU: 2017-19
Last Week:Â Phillips was signed to the practice squad for a 13-10 win over the Packers.
Season:Â N/A
DAK PRESCOTTÂ | QB | DALLAS COWBOYS |Â AT MSU: 2011-15
Last Week:Â Prescott started and completed 31 of 40 passes for 251 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions in a 31-14 loss at the Bears.
Season: Passing - 90 of 126, 800 yards, three touchdowns, three interceptions Rushing – four carries, 20 yards Misc. – one solo tackle, one fumble recovery
DECAMERION RICHARDSONÂ | CB | LAS VEGAS RAIDERSÂ |Â AT MSU: 2020-23
Last Week:Â Richardson was not active for a 41-24 loss at the Commanders.
Season:Â two solo tackles
JEFFERY SIMMONSÂ | DT | TENNESSEE TITANS |Â AT MSU: 2016-18
Last Week:Â Simmons started and made three tackles (two solo, one assist) in a 41-20 loss to the Colts.
Season:Â nine tackles (six solo, three assists), one tackle for loss, one sack, six quarterback hurries, one forced fumble
DARIUS SLAYÂ | CB | PITTSBURGH STEELERS |Â AT MSU: 2011-12
Last Week:Â Slay started and made three solo tackles, one pass defense and recovered a fumble in a 21-14 win at the Patriots.
Season:Â 10 solo tackles, two pass defenses, one fumble recovery
PRESTON SMITH | LB | WASHINGTON COMMANDERSÂ | AT MSU: 2011-14
Last Week:Â Smith was signed as a free agent but was not active for a 41-24 win over the Raiders.
Season:Â N/A
MONTEZ SWEATÂ | DE | CHICAGO BEARSÂ |Â AT MSU: 2017-18
Last Week:Â Sweat started and made two solo tackles, one tackle for loss, one sack and two quarterback hurries in a 31-14 win over the Cowboys.
Season:Â eight tackles (seven solo, one assist), three tackles for loss, one pass defense, three quarterback hurries, one sack
NATHANIEL WATSONÂ | LB | CLEVELAND BROWNSÂ |Â AT MSU: 2018-23
Last Week:Â Watson was on injured reserve for a 13-10 win over the Packers.
Season:Â Out for the season (bicep)
TYRUS WHEATÂ | DE | DETROIT LIONSÂ |Â AT MSU: 2020-22
Last Week:Â Wheat saw action and played 18 reps (two defensive, 16 special teams) in a 38-30 win at the Ravens.
Season:Â one game played
