Photo by: Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports
#FromStateToSundays: Week 7 Update
October 24, 2023 | Football
Week 7 saw several Mississippi State standouts ranked among the highest-graded players in the NFL according to Pro Football Focus (PFF).
Darius Slay received the top-overall defensive grade (90.5) among cornerbacks in the league last week and ranked fourth overall in the NFL. The five-time Pro Bowl selection tied for second on Philadelphia's team with four solo stops that included a tackle for loss along with an interception late in the fourth quarter that sealed the Eagles' win over the Miami Dolphins.
Montez Sweat earned the top tackling grade among edge rushers in the NFL in Week 7. Sweat tied for second on Washington's defense with seven tackles – two of which were for a loss - and added a sack. He now has 34 ½ sacks for his career, which is the ninth-most in franchise history.
Chris Jones (82.9) and Willie Gay Jr. (80.3) graded out second and third for Kansas City's defense last week. Gay secured his first sack of the season along with a tackle for loss in the Chiefs' 31-17 win over the Chargers.
Jones also has the third-highest grade among interior defenders in the NFL this season at 90.4.
For the second straight game, Preston Smith provided a sack for Green Bay and now has 60 for his career. Smith also received the No. 3 tackling grade for the Packers last week.
Logan Cooke had another stellar day punting for Jacksonville, pinning four of his five punts inside the red zone. Cooke also completed a 13-yard pass on a fake punt to give the Jaguars a first down. He has now completed all four of his passing attempts during his career with all four achieving first downs.
Charles Cross garnered the top offensive line grade for the Seattle Seahawks last week while Tyre Phillips made his season debut starting at right tackle in a win for the New York Giants. Phillips was plucked off Philadelphia's practice squad last week.
JOHNATHAN ABRAM | S | NEW ORLEANS SAINTS | AT MSU: 2017-18
Last Week: Abram was on the practice squad for a 31-24 loss to the Jaguars.
Season: Eight tackles (three solo, five assists)
DENICO AUTRY | DE | TENNESSEE TITANS | AT MSU: 2012-13
Last Week: Bye
Season: 19 tackles (11 solo, eight assists), four tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks, eight quarterback hurries, one forced fumble, one blocked kick
LOGAN COOKE | P | JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS | AT MSU: 2014-17
Last Week: Cooke punted five times for 224 yards (44.8 avg.) with a long of 54 yards. He pinned four of his punts inside the red zone and also completed a 13-yard pass for a first down on a fake punt in a 31-24 win at the Saints.
Season: Punting - 29 punts, 1,394 yards (48.1 avg.), long 62 Passing – 1 of 1, 13 yards
FLETCHER COX | DT | PHILADELPHIA EAGLES | AT MSU: 2009-11
Last Week: Cox started and made two tackles (one solo, one assisted), a half-sack and one quarterback hurry in a 31-17 win over the Dolphins.
Season: 13 tackles (five solo, eight assists), one sack, eight quarterback hurries, one fumble recovery
CHARLES CROSS | OT | SEATTLE SEAHAWKS | AT MSU: 2019-21
Last Week: Cross started at left tackle in a 20-10 win over the Cardinals.
Season: Three games played, three starts
CAMERON DANTZLER | CB | NEW ORLEANS SAINTS | AT MSU: 2016-19
Last Week: Dantzler was on the practice squad for a 31-24 loss to the Jaguars.
Season: Two games played
GREG EILAND | OG | SEATTLE SEAHAWKS | AT MSU 2016-20
Last Week: Eiland was on the practice squad for a 20-10 win over the Cardinals.
Season: N/A
MARTIN EMERSON | CB | CLEVELAND BROWNS | AT MSU: 2019-21
Last Week: Emerson started and made one solo tackle in a 39-38 win at the Colts.
Season: 15 tackles (14 solo, one assist), one tackle for loss, four pass defenses, one interception
EMMANUEL FORBES | CB | WASHINGTON COMMANDERS | AT MSU: 2020-22
Last Week: Forbes saw action in a 14-7 loss at the Giants.
Season: 19 tackles (17 solo, two assists), two tackles for loss, five pass defenses, one interception
WILLIE GAY JR. | LB | KANSAS CITY CHIEFS | AT MSU: 2017-19
Last Week: Gay started and made five tackles (three solo, two assists), one tackle for loss, one sack, one quarterback hurry and one pass defense in a 31-17 win over the Chargers.
Season: 28 tackles (19 solo, nine assists), one tackle for loss, one sack, two fumble recoveries, three quarterback hurries, three pass defenses
J.T. GRAY | S | NEW ORLEANS SAINTS | AT MSU: 2014-17
Last Week: Gray was not active for a 31-24 loss to the Jaguars.
Season: Four tackles (two solo, two assists)
ELGTON JENKINS | OG | GREEN BAY PACKERS | AT MSU: 2014-18
Last Week: Jenkins started at left guard in a 19-17 loss at the Packers.
Season: Four games played, four starts
CHRIS JONES | DE| KANSAS CITY CHIEFS | AT MSU: 2013-15
Last Week: Jones started and had one quarterback hurry in a 31-17 win over the Chargers.
Season: 12 tackles (seven solo, five assists), 5.5 sacks, four tackles for loss, 12 quarterback hurries, three pass defenses
TYRE PHILLIPS | OT | NEW YORK GIANTS | AT MSU: 2017-19
Last Week: Phillips started at right tackle in a 14-7 win over the Commanders.
Season: One game played, one start
DAK PRESCOTT | QB | DALLAS COWBOYS | AT MSU: 2011-15
Last Week: Bye
Season: Passing – 132 of 190, 1,333 yards, six touchdowns, four interceptions Rushing – 19 carries, 85 yards, one touchdown
JEFFERY SIMMONS | DT | TENNESSEE TITANS | AT MSU: 2016-18
Last Week: Bye
Season: 19 tackles (12 solo, seven assists), four tackles for loss, three sacks, five quarterback hurries
DARIUS SLAY | CB | PHILADELPHIA EAGLES | AT MSU: 2011-12
Last Week: Slay started and was tied for second on the team with four solo tackles, one tackle for loss, two pass defenses and returned an interception for 16 yards in a 31-17 win over the Dolphins.
Season: 29 tackles (25 solo, four assists), one tackle for loss, six pass defenses, two interceptions, one touchdown
PRESTON SMITH | LB | GREEN BAY PACKERS | AT MSU: 2011-14
Last Week: Smith started at outside linebacker and made two tackles (one solo, one assist), one sack and one quarterback hurry in a 19-17 loss at the Broncos.
Season: 17 tackles (11 solo, six assists), one tackle for loss, two sacks, five quarterback hurries, one pass defense
MARQUISS SPENCER | DE | NEW YORK JETS | AT MSU: 2016-20
Last Week: Bye
Season: N/A
MONTEZ SWEAT | DE | WASHINGTON COMMANDERS | AT MSU: 2017-18
Last Week: Sweat started and finished tied for second on the team with seven tackles (three solo, four assists), two tackles for loss, one sack and one quarterback hurry in a 14-7 loss at the Giants.
Season: 26 tackles (17 solo, nine assists), seven tackles for loss, 5.5 sacks, two forced fumbles, 10 quarterback hurries, one pass defense
JORDAN THOMAS | LB | CAROLINA PANTHERS | AT MSU: 2016-17
Last Week: Bye
Season: N/A
TYRUS WHEAT | DE | DALLAS COWBOYS | AT MSU: 2020-22
Last Week: Bye
Season: One game played
DARRYL WILLIAMS | C | JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS | AT MSU: 2015-19
Last Week: Williams was on the practice squad for a 31-24 win at the Saints.
Season: N/A
CAMERON YOUNG | DT | SEATTLE SEAHAWKS | AT MSU: 2018-22
Last Week: Young saw action in a 20-10 win over the Cardinals.
Season: Four tackles (three solo, one assist), one tackle for loss, one quarterback hurry
Darius Slay received the top-overall defensive grade (90.5) among cornerbacks in the league last week and ranked fourth overall in the NFL. The five-time Pro Bowl selection tied for second on Philadelphia's team with four solo stops that included a tackle for loss along with an interception late in the fourth quarter that sealed the Eagles' win over the Miami Dolphins.
Montez Sweat earned the top tackling grade among edge rushers in the NFL in Week 7. Sweat tied for second on Washington's defense with seven tackles – two of which were for a loss - and added a sack. He now has 34 ½ sacks for his career, which is the ninth-most in franchise history.
Chris Jones (82.9) and Willie Gay Jr. (80.3) graded out second and third for Kansas City's defense last week. Gay secured his first sack of the season along with a tackle for loss in the Chiefs' 31-17 win over the Chargers.
Jones also has the third-highest grade among interior defenders in the NFL this season at 90.4.
For the second straight game, Preston Smith provided a sack for Green Bay and now has 60 for his career. Smith also received the No. 3 tackling grade for the Packers last week.
Logan Cooke had another stellar day punting for Jacksonville, pinning four of his five punts inside the red zone. Cooke also completed a 13-yard pass on a fake punt to give the Jaguars a first down. He has now completed all four of his passing attempts during his career with all four achieving first downs.
Charles Cross garnered the top offensive line grade for the Seattle Seahawks last week while Tyre Phillips made his season debut starting at right tackle in a win for the New York Giants. Phillips was plucked off Philadelphia's practice squad last week.
JOHNATHAN ABRAM | S | NEW ORLEANS SAINTS | AT MSU: 2017-18
Last Week: Abram was on the practice squad for a 31-24 loss to the Jaguars.
Season: Eight tackles (three solo, five assists)
Last Week: Bye
Season: 19 tackles (11 solo, eight assists), four tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks, eight quarterback hurries, one forced fumble, one blocked kick
Last Week: Cooke punted five times for 224 yards (44.8 avg.) with a long of 54 yards. He pinned four of his punts inside the red zone and also completed a 13-yard pass for a first down on a fake punt in a 31-24 win at the Saints.
Season: Punting - 29 punts, 1,394 yards (48.1 avg.), long 62 Passing – 1 of 1, 13 yards
Last Week: Cox started and made two tackles (one solo, one assisted), a half-sack and one quarterback hurry in a 31-17 win over the Dolphins.
Season: 13 tackles (five solo, eight assists), one sack, eight quarterback hurries, one fumble recovery
Last Week: Cross started at left tackle in a 20-10 win over the Cardinals.
Season: Three games played, three starts
Last Week: Dantzler was on the practice squad for a 31-24 loss to the Jaguars.
Season: Two games played
GREG EILAND | OG | SEATTLE SEAHAWKS | AT MSU 2016-20
Last Week: Eiland was on the practice squad for a 20-10 win over the Cardinals.
Season: N/A
Last Week: Emerson started and made one solo tackle in a 39-38 win at the Colts.
Season: 15 tackles (14 solo, one assist), one tackle for loss, four pass defenses, one interception
Last Week: Forbes saw action in a 14-7 loss at the Giants.
Season: 19 tackles (17 solo, two assists), two tackles for loss, five pass defenses, one interception
Last Week: Gay started and made five tackles (three solo, two assists), one tackle for loss, one sack, one quarterback hurry and one pass defense in a 31-17 win over the Chargers.
Season: 28 tackles (19 solo, nine assists), one tackle for loss, one sack, two fumble recoveries, three quarterback hurries, three pass defenses
Last Week: Gray was not active for a 31-24 loss to the Jaguars.
Season: Four tackles (two solo, two assists)
Last Week: Jenkins started at left guard in a 19-17 loss at the Packers.
Season: Four games played, four starts
Last Week: Jones started and had one quarterback hurry in a 31-17 win over the Chargers.
Season: 12 tackles (seven solo, five assists), 5.5 sacks, four tackles for loss, 12 quarterback hurries, three pass defenses
Last Week: Phillips started at right tackle in a 14-7 win over the Commanders.
Season: One game played, one start
Last Week: Bye
Season: Passing – 132 of 190, 1,333 yards, six touchdowns, four interceptions Rushing – 19 carries, 85 yards, one touchdown
Last Week: Bye
Season: 19 tackles (12 solo, seven assists), four tackles for loss, three sacks, five quarterback hurries
Last Week: Slay started and was tied for second on the team with four solo tackles, one tackle for loss, two pass defenses and returned an interception for 16 yards in a 31-17 win over the Dolphins.
Season: 29 tackles (25 solo, four assists), one tackle for loss, six pass defenses, two interceptions, one touchdown
Last Week: Smith started at outside linebacker and made two tackles (one solo, one assist), one sack and one quarterback hurry in a 19-17 loss at the Broncos.
Season: 17 tackles (11 solo, six assists), one tackle for loss, two sacks, five quarterback hurries, one pass defense
Last Week: Bye
Season: N/A
Last Week: Sweat started and finished tied for second on the team with seven tackles (three solo, four assists), two tackles for loss, one sack and one quarterback hurry in a 14-7 loss at the Giants.
Season: 26 tackles (17 solo, nine assists), seven tackles for loss, 5.5 sacks, two forced fumbles, 10 quarterback hurries, one pass defense
Last Week: Bye
Season: N/A
Last Week: Bye
Season: One game played
Last Week: Williams was on the practice squad for a 31-24 win at the Saints.
Season: N/A
Last Week: Young saw action in a 20-10 win over the Cardinals.
Season: Four tackles (three solo, one assist), one tackle for loss, one quarterback hurry
Players Mentioned
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