#FromStateToSundays: Week 1 Update

STARKVILLE – Former Mississippi State standout Jeffery Simmons picked things up right where he left off from his stellar Pro Bowl showing in 2021.

Simmons stacked up six tackles, two sacks and forced a fumble for the Tennessee Titans. It was the third time Simmons has made multiple sacks in a regular season game during his career and has six sacks over his last three contests dating back to the AFC Playoffs last year.

The Macon native led the Titans with a 93 overall defensive grade from Pro Football Focus (PFF) and also received a 92.3 pass rush grade, both of which ranked third across the NFL during Week 1. His six quarterback pressures were tied for the second-most in the league.

😈 @GrindSimmons94

📺: Watch #NYGvsTEN on @NFLonFOX pic.twitter.com/IQWyVjMLCn
— Tennessee Titans (@Titans) September 11, 2022

Fellow former Bulldog Chris Jones also applied six pressures according to PFF and led the Kansas City Chiefs with a 92.4 overall defensive grade and a 92.5 run defense grade. Jones also forced a fumble in the Chiefs win over the Arizona Cardinals.

Fletcher Cox was credited with a half-sack and now has 58.5 for his career, which if the fifth-most in Philadelphia Eagles history.

The vet still causing wreck.

📺: #PHIvsDET on FOX pic.twitter.com/NktbKN6pCr
— Philadelphia Eagles (@Eagles) September 11, 2022

Jonathan Abram not only led the Las Vegas Raiders with a dozen tackles in the 2022 opener but also recorded his 200^th career stop in the process. Abram is only the second Raider since 1987 to reach that milestone in his first 30 games and the first safety in franchise history to do so.

Other notable defensive performances on Sunday include Montez Sweat leading the newly named Washington Commanders with five pressures according to PFF and Preston Smith splitting a tackle for loss for the Green Bay Packers.

This defense is SWARMING! @Bud_Dupree x @GrindSimmons94

📺: Watch #NYGvsTEN on @NFLonFOX pic.twitter.com/QBUITLaxYO
— Tennessee Titans (@Titans) September 11, 2022

Charles Cross and Martin Emerson both made their NFL debuts during Week 1. Cross started at left tackle for the Seattle Seahawks on Monday Night Football and even recovered a fumble while Emerson notched five tackles for the Cleveland Browns.

Logan Cooke averaged an even 50 yards on his three punts for the Jacksonville Jaguars, which included a 61-yarder.

Dak Prescott threw for 134 yards in the Dallas Cowboys' opener but left the game late with an injured right thumb. Prescott underwent successful surgery on Monday and is expected to miss several weeks of action but will not be placed on injured reserve.

Newly retired linebacker K.J. Wright also served as the flag raiser at the Seattle Seahawks game on Monday. Wright played 10 of his 11 seasons with the Seahawks and helped them win Super Bowl XLVIII.

Just what we needed tonight. @KJ_WRIGHT34 😤 pic.twitter.com/xYBuKThp7t
— Seahawks Legends (@SeahawksLegends) September 13, 2022

JOHNATHAN ABRAM | LAS VEGAS RAIDERS – S | AT MSU: 2017-18
Season: 1 G, 1 GS, 12 TKL (9 SOLO, 3 AST)
Last Week: 1 GS, 12 TKL (9 SOLO, 3 AST) at Los Angeles Chargers (L, 19-24)

Made his 200th career tackles, becoming the first safety and second Raiders defender since 1987 to reach 200 tackles in 30 career games or fewer
Part of a Raiders defense that allowed just one third-down conversion in seven attempts
Led the Raiders in tackles

DENICO AUTRY | TENNESSEE TITANS – DT/DE | AT MSU: 2012-13
Season: 1 G, 4 TKL (2 SOLO, 2 AST), 1 QBH
Last Week: 4 TKL (2 SOLO, 2 AST), 1 QBH vs. New York Giants (L, 20-21)

LOGAN COOKE | JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS – P | AT MSU: 2014-17
Season: 1 G, 3 Punts, 150 YDS, 50.0 AVG, LONG 61, 1 In-20, 42.7 NET AVG
Last Week: 3 Punts, 150 YDS, 50.0 AVG, LONG 61, 1 In-20, 42.7 NET AVG at Washington Commanders (L, 22-28)

FLETCHER COX | PHILADELPHIA EAGLES – DT | AT MSU: 2009-11
Season: 1 G, 1 GS, 2 TKL (1 SOLO, 1 AST), 0.5 SK, 2 QBH
Last Week: 1 GS, 2 TKL (1 SOLO, 1 AST), 0.5 SK, 2 QBH at Detroit Lions (W, 38-35)

Recorded a half sack with 11:30 to play in the fourth quarter
Sack gives him 58.5 for his career, which is fifth in Philadelphia franchise history
Totaled two pressures per PFF

CHARLES CROSS | SEATTLE SEAHAWKS – OT | AT MSU: 2020-21
Season: 1 G, 1 GS, 4 Pressures Allowed, 1 FR
Last Week: 1 GS, 4 Pressures Allowed, 1 FR vs. Denver Broncos (W, 17-16)

CAMERON DANTZLER | MINNESOTA VIKINGS – CB | AT MSU: 2016-19
Season: 1 G, 1 GS, 5 SOLO TKL
Last Week: 1 GS, 5 SOLO TKL vs. Green Bay Packers (W, 23-7)

GREG EILAND (PS) | SEATTLE SEAHAWKS – OT | AT MSU: 2016-20
Season: Practice Squad
Last Week: DNP vs. Denver Broncos (W, 17-16)

MARTIN EMERSON JR. | CLEVELAND BROWNS – CB | AT MSU: 2019-21
Season: 1G, 5 TKL (4 SOLO, 1 AST)
Last Week: 5 TKL (4 SOLO, 1 AST) at Carolina Panthers (W, 26-24)

WILLIE GAY JR. | KANSAS CITY CHIEFS – LB | AT MSU: 2017-19
Season: 1 G, 1 GS, 4 TKL (2 SOLO, 2 AST)
Last Week: 1 GS, 4 TKL (2 SOLO, 2 AST) at Arizona Cardinals (W, 44-21)

J.T. GRAY | NEW ORLEANS SAINTS – DB | AT MSU: 2014-17
Season: 1 G, 2 TKL (1 ST. SOLO, 1 ST. AST)
Last Week: 2 TKL (1 ST. SOLO, 1 ST. AST) at Atlanta Falcons (W, 27-26)

KYLIN HILL (IR) | GREEN BAY PACKERS – RB | AT MSU: 2017-20
Season: Currently on PUP list
Last Week: DNP at Minnesota Vikings (L, 7-23)

GABE JACKSON | SEATTLE SEAHAWKS – OG | AT MSU 2009-13
Season: 1 G, 1 GS, 3 Pressures Allowed
Last Week: 1 GS, 3 Pressures Allowed vs. Denver Broncos (W, 17-16)

ELGTON JENKINS | GREEN BAY PACKERS – OG | AT MSU: 2014-18
Season: DNP
Last Week: DNP at Minnesota Vikings (L, 7-23)

CHRIS JONES | KANSAS CITY CHIEFS – DT | AT MSU: 2013-15
Season: 1 G, 1 GS, 1 SOLO TKL, 1 PD, 1 FF
Last Week: 1 GS, 1 SOLO TKL, 1 PD, 1 FF at Arizona Cardinals (W, 44-21)

Led Kansas City with a 92.4 overall defense grade and a 92.5 run defense grade from PFF
Run defense grade was tied for the fourth-highest in the NFL in Week 1 and overall grade was fifth
Totaled six pressures per PFF, which was tied for second in the NFL in Week 1

KOBE JONES (PS) | GREEN BAY PACKERS – LB | AT MSU: 2016-20
Season: Practice Squad
Last Week: DNP at Minnesota Vikings (L, 7-23)

TYRE PHILLIPS | NEW YORK GIANTS – OG | AT MSU: 2017-19
Season: DNP
Last Week: DNP at Tennessee Titans (W, 21-20)

MAKAI POLK (PS) | BALTIMORE RAVENS – WR | AT MSU: 2021
Season: Practice Squad
Last Week: DNP at New York Jets (W, 24-9)

DAK PRESCOTT | DALLAS COWBOYS – QB | AT MSU: 2011-2015
Season: 1 G, 1 GS, 14-29, 134 YDS, 47.2 QBR, 2 RUSH, 11 YDS, LONG 12
Last Week: 1 GS, 14-29, 134 YDS, 47.2 QBR, 2 RUSH, 11 YDS, LONG 12 vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (L, 3-19)

Was injured in the fourth quarter and will miss multiple weeks

WILL REDMOND (PS) | INDIANAPOLIS COLTS – CB | AT MSU: 2012-15
Season: Practice Squad
Last Week: DNP at Houston Texans (T, 20-20)

JEFFERY SIMMONS | TENNESSEE TITANS – DL | AT MSU: 2016-18
Season: 1 G, 1 GS, 6 TKL (4 SOLO, 2 AST), 2.0 SK, 2.0 TFL, 2 QBH, 1 FF
Last Week: 1 GS, 6 TKL (4 SOLO, 2 AST), 2.0 SK, 2.0 TFL, 2 QBH, 1 FF vs. New York Giants (L, 20-21)

Led Tennessee with a 93.0 overall defensive grade and 92.3 pass rush grade from PFF
Both grades ranked third in the NFL in Week 1
Totaled six pressures per PFF, which was tied for second in the NFL in Week 1
Recorded a five-yard sack in the first quarter
Registered a strip-sack in the second quarter, which led to a Titans field goal
It was the first strip-sack of his career and the second forced fumble
Ranks second in the NFL in sack yardage (19)
Registered his third career regular-season game with multiple sacks, in addition to one multi-sack performance in the postseason and improved his career total to 15.5 sacks.
Including the 2021 regular-season finale at Houston (1.0) and the team's postseason game against Cincinnati (3.0), has notched a total of six sacks in a three-game period.

DARIUS SLAY | PHILADELPHIA EAGLES – CB | AT MSU: 2011-12
Season: 1 G, 1 GS, 6 TKL (4 SOLO, 2 AST)
Last Week: 1 GS, 4 TKL, 2 AST, 6 TT at Detroit Lions (W, 38-35)

Turned in a 75.3 coverage grade, which was Philadelphia's second-highest, per PFF

PRESTON SMITH | GREEN BAY PACKERS – LB | AT MSU: 2011-14
Season: 1 G, 1 GS, 6 TKL (4 SOLO, 2 AST), 2 QBH
Last Week: 1 GS, 6 TKL (4 SOLO, 2 AST), 2 QBH at Minnesota Vikings (L, 7-23)

Recorded five total pressures per PFF
Led Green Bay's outside linebackers with 53 total snaps
Split a tackle for a one-yard loss in the fourth quarter

MONTEZ SWEAT | WASHINGTON COMMANDERS – DE | AT MSU: 2017-18
Season: 1 G, 1 GS, 3 SOLO TKL, 3 QBH, 1 PD
Last Week: 1 GS, 3 SOLO TKL, 3 QBH, 1 PD vs. Jacksonville Jaguars (W, 28-22)

Tied his career high with three QB hits
Totaled a team-leading five pressures per PFF

DARRYL WILLIAMS (PS) | JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS – OL | AT MSU: 2015-19
Season: Practice Squad
Last Week: DNP at Washington Commanders (L, 22-28)

ISAIAH ZUBER (PS) | LAS VEGAS RAIDERS – WR | AT MSU: 2019
Season: Practice Squad
Last Week: DNP at Los Angeles Chargers (L, 19-24)

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#FromStateToSundays: Week 1 Update

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