#FromStateToSundays: Week 1 Update
September 12, 2023 | Football
STARKVILLE – Some of Mississippi State's defensive standouts certainly made their presences known during the opening week of NFL action.
Montez Sweat racked up five tackles (two for loss), 1 ½ sacks and forced two fumbles in the Washington Commanders' win while Darius Slay picked off a pass and returned it 70 yards for a touchdown in the Philadelphia Eagles' 25-20 victory on the road at the New England Patriots.
The Tennessee Titans defensive line duo of Denico Autry and Jeffery Simmons also had a strong showing in Week 1, combining for 2 ½ sacks. Autry had 1 ½ sacks and four quarterback hurries while Simmons provided a pair of stops behind the line of scrimmage which included his first sack of the year.
Rookies Emmanuel Forbes and Cameron Young made their respective NFL debuts for the Washington Commanders and Seattle Seahawks. Forbes secured the Commanders' 20-16 win over Arizona by breaking up a pass on fourth down with 1:10 remaining.
Dak Prescott threw for 143 yards in the Dallas Cowboys' 40-0 rout of the New York Giants on Sunday night. Prescott has now thrown for 25,086 yards in his career and joins Aaron Rogers as the only two players in NFL history to reach the 25,000 passing yards and 1,500 rushing yards in their first 100 career games.
The victory also marked Prescott and the Cowboys' 11th consecutive win against the Giants.
Four-time Pro Bowler and two-time Super Bowl Champion Chris Jones ended his holdout and signed a one-year deal to return to the Kansas City Chiefs on Monday. The deal will pay the Houston, Mississippi native up to $22.16667 million for the remainder of the season.
Offensive guard Greg Eiland has also rejoined the Seattle Seahawks as a member of the practice squad.
JOHNATHAN ABRAM | S |NEW ORLEANS SAINTS | AT MSU: 2017-18
Last Week: Abram was on the practice squad for a 16-15 win over the Titans.
Season: N/A
DENICO AUTRY | DE |TENNESSEE TITANS | AT MSU: 2012-13
Last Week: Started and made five tackles (four solo, one assist), one tackle for loss, 1.5 sacks and four quarterback hurries in a 16-15 loss at the Saints.
Season: Five tackles (four solo, one assist), one tackle for loss, 1.5 sacks, four quarterback hurries
LOGAN COOKE | P |JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS | AT MSU: 2014-17
Last Week: Cooke punted five times for 223 yards (44.6 avg.) with a long of 52 yards and pinned two inside the red zone in a 31-21 win at the Colts.
Season: Five punts, 223 yards (44.6 avg.), long 52
FLETCHER COX | DT |PHILADELPHIA EAGLES | AT MSU: 2009-11
Last Week: Cox started and made three tackles (one solo, two assists) and one quarterback hurry in a 25-20 win at the Patriots.
Season: Three tackles (one solo, two assists), one quarterback hurry
CHARLES CROSS | OT |SEATTLE SEAHAWKS | AT MSU: 2019-21
Last Week: Started at left tackle in a 30-13 loss to the Rams.
Season: One game played, one start
GREG EILAND | OG |SEATTLE SEAHAWKS | AT MSU: 2016-20
Last Week: N/A
Season: Eiland was signed to the practice squad on Sept. 11.
MARTIN EMERSON | CB |CLEVELAND BROWNS | AT MSU: 2019-21
Last Week: Emerson started and made one solo tackle in a 24-3 win over the Bengals.
Season: One solo tackle
EMMANUEL FORBES | CB |WASHINGTON COMMANDERS | AT MSU: 2020-22
Last Week: Forbes started and made three solo tackles, one tackle for loss and one pass defense in a 20-16 win over the Cardinals.
Season: Three solo tackles, one tackle for loss, one pass defense
WILLIE GAY JR. | LB |KANSAS CITY CHIEFS | AT MSU: 2017-19
Last Week: Gay started and made three tackles (two solo, one assist) in a 21-20 loss to the Lions.
Season: Three tackles (two solo, one assist)
J.T. GRAY | S |NEW ORLEANS SAINTS | AT MSU: 2014-17
Last Week: Gray was not active in a 16-15 win over the Titans.
Season: N/A
ELGTON JENKINS | OG |GREEN BAY PACKERS | AT MSU: 2014-18
Last Week: Jenkins started at left guard in a 38-20 win at the Bears.
Season: One start, one game played
CHRIS JONES | DE|KANSAS CITY CHIEFS| AT MSU: 2013-15
Last Week: N/A
Season: Jones signed a one-year contract extension with the Chiefs on Sept. 11 worth up to $22.16667 million.
TYRE PHILLIPS | OT |PHILADELPHIA EAGLES | AT MSU: 2017-19
Last Week: Phillips was on the practice squad in a 25-20 win at the Patriots.
Season: N/A
DAK PRESCOTT | QB |DALLAS COWBOYS | AT MSU: 2011-15
Last Week: Prescott started and completed 13 of 24 passes for 143 yards. He also carried once for a 6-yard gain in a 40-0 win at the Giants.
Season: Passing – 13 of 24, 143 yards Rushing – one carry, six yards
JEFFERY SIMMONS | DT |TENNESSEE TITANS | AT MSU: 2016-18
Last Week: Simmons started and made five tackles (three solo, two assists), two tackles for loss, one sack and one quarterback hurry in a 16-15 loss at the Saints.
Season: Five tackles (three solo, two assists), two tackles for loss, one sack, one quarterback hurry
DARIUS SLAY | CB |PHILADELPHIA EAGLES| AT MSU: 2011-12
Last Week: Slay started and made three tackles (one solo, two assists), three pass defenses and one interception returned 70 yards for a touchdown in a 25-20 win at the Patriots.
Season: Three tackles (one solo, two assists), three pass defenses, one interception, one touchdown
PRESTON SMITH | LB |GREEN BAY PACKERS| AT MSU: 2011-14
Last Week: Smith started and made five tackles (four solo, one assist) in a 38-20 win at the Bears.
Season: Five tackles (four solo, one assist)
MARQUISS SPENCER | DE |NEW YORK JETS | AT MSU: 2016-20
Last Week: Spencer was on the practice squad for a 22-16 win over the Bills.
Season: N/A
MONTEZ SWEAT | DE |WASHINGTON COMMANDERS | AT MSU: 2017-18
Last Week: Sweat started and made five tackles (four solo, one assist), two tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks, two forced fumbles and one quarterback hurry in a 20-16 win over the Cardinals.
Season: Five tackles (four solo, one assist), two tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks, two forced fumbles, one quarterback hurry
JORDAN THOMAS | LB |CAROLINA PANTHERS | AT MSU: 2016-17
Last Week: Thomas was on the practice squad for a 24-10 loss at the Falcons.
Season: N/A
TYRUS WHEAT | DE |DALLAS COWBOYS | AT MSU: 2020-22
Last Week: Wheat was on the practice squad for a 40-0 win at the Giants.
Season: N/A
DARRYL WILLIAMS | C |JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS | AT MSU: 2015-19
Last Week: Williams was on the practice squad for a 31-21 win at the Colts.
Season: N/A
CAMERON YOUNG | DT |SEATTLE SEAHAWKS | AT MSU: 2018-22
Last Week: In his NFL debut, Jones saw action in a 30-13 loss to the Rams.
Season: One game played
