#STATEtoSundays: Week 1 Update
September 15, 2026 | Football
It should be no surprise that alums from Mississippi State's famed D-Line U moniker made an instant impact in Week 1 of the NFL schedule.
Montez Sweat recorded a sack in a win for the Chicago Bears while Chris Jones recovered a fumble in the Kansas City Chiefs victory on Monday Night Football. Sweat finished with a pair of stops and according to Pro Football Focus (PFF), tied for the third-highest tackle grade on the Bears at 71.4.
Jeffery Simmons recorded four tackles and had the third-best pressure grade on the Tennessee Titans in the opener.
On the offensive side of the ball, Dak Prescott connected on 22 of 34 passes for 175 yards and tossed two touchdowns for Dallas. Prescott's 79.7 overall offensive grade was the highest on the Cowboys.
Jo'Quavious "Woody" Marks totaled 120 yards for Houston. Marks returned three kickoffs for 78 yards and added 42 more yards on the ground on nine carries. He led the Texans with a 74.7 offensive grade and finished fifth among all NFL running backs with a 78.1 rushing grade.
Elgton Jenkins and Charles Cross continue to be stalwarts in the trenches, playing every offensive snap for their respective teams. Jenkins made his Cleveland debut playing center and played all 51 reps while posting the best pass-blocking grade on the team at 84.6. That rating was also the second highest at his position in the league. Cross played all 50 offensive snaps at left tackle for Seattle.
Logan Cooke only punted twice for Jacksonville but certainly made the most of his opportunities. Cooke averaged 54 yards per punt with a long of 58 yards and pinned one of those at the 11-yard line.
Rookies Brenen Thompson and Seydou Traore made their NFL debuts for the Los Angeles Chargers and Miami Dolphins, respectively. Cornerbacks Martin Emerson and Decamerion Richardson also made their first appearances for the New Orleans Saints after being acquired during the offseason.
Nathaniel "Bookie" Watson was activated from the Browns' practice squad and saw action on special teams in the opener. The Texans signed Jaden Crumedy off Green Bay's practice squad on Sept. 11 but kept Crumedy inactive during Week 1.
DAVON BOOTH | RB | INDIANAPOLIS COLTS | AT MSU: 2024-25
Last Week: Booth was on the practice squad for a 41-23 loss to the Ravens.
Season: n/a
LOGAN COOKE | P | JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS | AT MSU: 2014-17
Last Week: Cooke punted twice for 108 yards (54 avg.) with a long of 58 yards
Season: two punts for 108 yards (54 avg.), long 58
CHARLES CROSS | OT | SEATTLE SEAHAWKS | AT MSU: 2019-21
Last Week: Cross started at left tackle and played all 50 offensive snaps and three special teams reps in a 13-10 win over the Patriots.
Season: one game played, one start
JADEN CRUMEDY | DT | HOUSTON TEXANS | AT MSU: 2018-23
Last Week: Crumedy signed with the Texans on Sept. 11 but was not active in a 36-31 loss to the Bills.
Season: n/a
MARTIN EMERSON | CB | NEW ORLEANS SAINTS | AT MSU: 2019-21
Last Week: Emerson made two tackles (one solo, one assist) in a 31-30 overtime loss at the Lions.
Season: Two tackles (one solo, one assist)
EMMANUEL FORBES | CB | LOS ANGELES RAMS | AT MSU: 2020-22
Last Week: Forbes received two special teams reps in a 27-7 loss to the 49ers.
Season: One game played
WILLIE GAY JR. | LB | MIAMI DOLPHINS | AT MSU: 2017-19
Last Week: Gay started at inside linebacker and made one assisted tackle in a 27-13 loss at the Raiders.
Season: One assisted tackle
ELGTON JENKINS | G/C | CLEVELAND BROWNS | AT MSU: 2014-18
Last Week: Jenkins started at center and played all 51 offensive snaps. He also made one solo tackle in a 34-10 loss at the Jaguars.
Season: One game played, one start Misc. – one solo tackle
CHRIS JONES | DE | KANSAS CITY CHIEFS | AT MSU: 2013-15
Last Week: Jones started and made one assisted tackle and recovered a fumble in a 31-10 win over the Broncos.
Season: One assisted tackle, one fumble recovery
JO'QUAVIOUS "WOODY" MARKS | RB | HOUSTON TEXANS | AT MSU: 2020-23
Last Week: Marks carried nine times for 42 yards and caught one pass for a loss of 2 yards. He also returned three kickoffs for 78 yards in a 36-31 loss to the Bills.
Season: Rushing – Nine carries, 42 yards Receiving – one catch, minus-2 yards Kickoff return – three returns, 78 yards
DAK PRESCOTT | QB | DALLAS COWBOYS | AT MSU: 2011-15
Last Week: Prescott started and completed 22 of 34 passes for 175 yards, two touchdowns and one interception. He also rushed twice for 14 yards in a 28-20 loss at the Giants.
Season: Passing - 22 of 34, 175 yards, two touchdowns, one interception Rushing – two carries, 14 yards
ALBERT REESE IV | OT | CAROLINA PANTHERS | AT MSU: 2021-25
Last Week: Reese was inactive for a 59-37 loss to the Bears.
Season: n/a
DECAMERION RICHARDSON | CB | NEW ORLEANS SAINTS | AT MSU: 2020-23
Last Week: Richardson made one assisted special teams tackle in a 31-30 overtime loss at the Lions.
Season: One assisted tackle
JEFFERY SIMMONS | DT | TENNESSEE TITANS | AT MSU: 2016-18
Last Week: Simmons started and made four tackles (two solo, two assists) in a 23-10 loss to the Jets.
Season: Four tackles (two solo, two assists)
MONTEZ SWEAT | DE | CHICAGO BEARS | AT MSU: 2017-18
Last Week: Sweat started and made two tackles (one solo, one assist), one tackle for loss, one sack and one quarterback hurry in a 59-37 win at the Panthers.
Season: Two tackles (one solo, one assist), one tackle for loss, one sack, one quarterback hurry
BRENEN THOMPSON | WR | LOS ANGELES CHARGERS | AT MSU: 2025
Last Week: Thompson received 10 offensive reps in his NFL debut in a 26-14 loss to the Cardinals.
Season: One game played
SEYDOU TRAORE | TE | MIAMI DOLPHINS | AT MSU: 2023-25
Last Week: Traore played 15 reps on special teams in his NFL debut in a 28-13 loss at the Raiders.
Season: One game played
NATHANIEL WATSON | LB | CLEVELAND BROWNS | AT MSU: 2018-23
Last Week: Watson was activated from the practice squad and played 15 special teams reps in a 34-10 loss at the Jaguars.
Season: One game played
TYRUS WHEAT | LB | DALLAS COWBOYS | AT MSU: 2020-22
Last Week: Wheat was inactive for a 28-20 loss at the Giants.
Season: n/a
