#STATEtoSundays: Week 2 Preview
September 20, 2026 | Football
No matter which NFL game you tune into, there's a good chance you'll find a former Mississippi State standout on the field or roaming the sideline somewhere.
The Bulldogs currently have 24 alumni (19 players) on NFL rosters, coaching staffs and more. Among those players who have made the move #FromStateToSundays are Pro Bowlers Chris Jones (7x), Dak Prescott (4x), Jeffery Simmons (4x), Elgton Jenkins (2x), Logan Cooke and Montez Sweat.
MSU also has four first round draft picks in the league in Simmons, Sweat, Charles Cross and Emmanuel Forbes Jr. as well as Super Bowl Champions in Cross, Jones and Willie Gay Jr. Prescott is also the 2016 NFC Offensive Rookie of the Year and 2022 Walter Payton Man of the Year.
Running back Devon Booth (Colts) and linebacker Nathaniel Watson (Browns) are members of the practice squad for their respective teams.
Several other State alums are making an impact on the sidelines and beyond around the NFL. Stephen Adegoke is the safeties coach for the Houston Texans and Fred Walker is an offensive assistant for the Jacksonville Jaguars. Former Pro Bowler and Super Bowl cham K.J. Wright serves as the linebackers coach for the San Francisco 49ers while fellow linebacker DeAndre Ward Sr. works as an 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.
Carolina Panthers (0-1) at Atlanta Falcons (0-1) | 12 p.m. FOX
OT Albert Reese IV (CAR)
New Orleans Saints (0-1) at Baltimore Ravens (1-0) | 12 p.m. CBS
CB Martin Emerson (NO)
CB Decamerion Richardson (NO)
Minnesota Vikings (1-0) at Chicago Bears (1-0) | 12 p.m. FOX
DE Montez Sweat (CHI)
Cincinnati Bengals (1-0) at Houston Texans (0-1) | 12 p.m. CBS
DT Jaden Crumedy (HOU)
RB Jo'Quavious "Woody" Marks (HOU)
Cleveland Browns (0-1) at Tampa Bay Buccaneers (0-1) | 12 p.m. CBS
C/G Elgton Jenkins (CLE)
Philadelphia Eagles (1-0) at Tennessee Titans (0-1) | 12 p.m. FOX
DT Jeffery Simmons (TEN)
Jacksonville Jaguars (1-0) at Denver Broncos (0-1) | 3:05 p.m. CBS
P Logan Cooke (JAX)
Las Vegas Raiders (1-0) at Los Angeles Chargers (0-1) | 3:05 p.m. CBS
WR Brenen Thompson (LAC)
Seattle Seahawks (1-0) at Arizona Cardinals (1-0) | 3:25 p.m. FOX
OT Charles Cross (SEA)
Washington Commanders (0-1) at Dallas Cowboys (0-1) | 3:25 p.m. FOX
QB Dak Prescott (DAL)
LB Tyrus Wheat (DAL)
Miami Dolphins (0-1) at San Francisco 49ers (1-0) | 3:25 p.m. FOX
LB Willie Gay Jr. (MIA)
TE Seydou Traore (MIA)
Indianapolis Colts (0-1) at Kansas City Chiefs (1-0) | 7:20 p.m. NBC, Peacock
DT Chris Jones (KC)
New York Giants (1-0) at Los Angeles Rams (0-1) | 7:15 p.m. ESPN, ABC
CB Emmanuel Forbes (LAR)
