#STATEtoSundays: Week 8 Update
October 29, 2024 | Football
Jeffery Simmons and Montez Sweat wreaked havoc on opposing offenses during their time at Mississippi State and helped the Bulldogs secure the No. 1 defense in the country in 2018.
The two former first-round NFL Draft picks both put their defensive prowess on display again during Week 8 of NFL action.
Simmons made four tackles, two tackles for loss, one sack, one quarterback hurry and forced a fumble for the Tennessee Titans. Pro Football Focus (PFF) rated Simmons' performance with the top pressure grade in the NFL during Week 8 at 92.2 and his overall defensive grade as the second-best on the Titans at 84.
On the season, Simmons is tied for the team lead with a 77.6 run defensive grade and has the Titans' best pressure grade at 70.6. The two-time Pro Bowler's run defensive grade ranks sixth among interior defenders in the NFL in 2024 and his overall defensive grade (74.7) ranks third on the team.
Sweat secured a similar stat line for Chicago this past Sunday. He notched four tackles, two for loss, one sack and three quarterback hurries. The 2023 Pro Bowler graded out with the second-best defensive grade (86.1) for the Bears while also posting the No. 2 run defensive grade (76.9) and third-best pressure grade (75.5).
Sweat now has 3 ½ sacks on the season and 45 for his career.
Another proud alum of D-Line U, Chris Jones, recorded three stops, one tackle for loss and one quarterback hurry for Kansas City during Week 8. Jones' 79.3 defensive grade and 71.2 pressure grade ranked second on the Chiefs this past week.
Jones has the top defensive grade (89.6) and pressure grade (91.2) for Kansas City this season. His defensive grade ranks fourth among interior defenders in the NFL this year while his pressure grade sits eighth among all players in the league regardless of position.
Nathaniel Watson, the 2023 SEC Defensive Player of the Year, earned his first NFL start over the weekend. Watson finished with three tackles and posted the third-best tackling grade for Cleveland at 73.2 during Week 8.
Watson also boasts the No. 2 tackling grade for the Browns this season at 77.6.
Logan Cooke booted a career-long 73-yard punt this past weekend, which was the longest in the NFL during Week 8, and rolled out of bounds at the 2-yard line. He finished the game with five punts for a 59.6-yard average for Jacksonville.
Since it became an official stat in 1976, Cooke's career 43.4-yard net punting average remains the best in NFL history.
Charles Cross and Elgton Jenkins continue to prove their durability in the trenches for their respective offensive lines. Cross logged all 51 snaps at left tackle for Seattle and earned the team's top pass blocking grade of 80.4 this past week. Jenkins was on the field for all 70 of Green Bay's offensive plays and has the fifth-best pass blocking grade among NFL guards this season at 81.7.
Cross ranks sixth among tackles in the NFL with an 83.7 offensive grade and 82.8 run blocking grade. His run blocking grade leads the Seahawks while his overall offensive grade sits second on the team.
Dak Prescott completed 25 of 38 passes for 243 yards and two touchdowns for Dallas this past week. Prescott now has 212 career passing touchdowns which ties him with Terry Bradshaw and Matt Hasselbeck for 42nd all-time in NFL history.
JOHNATHAN ABRAMÂ | S | FREE AGENTÂ |Â AT MSU: 2017-18
Last Week:Â Abram was released by the New Orleans Saints on Oct. 22. Â
Season:Â 18 tackles (10 solo, eight assists), one interception, one pass defense
DENICO AUTRYÂ | DE | HOUSTON TEXANSÂ |Â AT MSU: 2012-13
Last Week:Â Autry had one quarterback hurry and one pass defense in a 23-20 win over the Colts.
Season:Â Two quarterback hurries, one pass defense
MARCUS BANKSÂ | S | TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERSÂ |Â AT MSU: 2022-23
Last Week:Â Banks was on the practice squad for a 31-26 loss to the Falcons.
Season:Â N/A
LOGAN COOKEÂ | P | JACKSONVILLE JAGUARSÂ |Â AT MSU: 2014-17
Last Week:Â Cooke punted five times for 298 yards (59.6 avg.) with a long of 73 yards in a 30-27 loss to the Packers.
Season:Â Punting -Â 29 punts for 1,492 yards (51.5 avg.), long 73Â Special Teams -Â One solo tackle
CHARLES CROSSÂ | OT | SEATTLE SEAHAWKSÂ |Â AT MSU: 2019-21
Last Week:Â Cross started at left tackle and played all 51 offensive snaps in a 31-10 loss to the Bills.
Season:Â Eight games played, eight starts
JADEN CRUMEDYÂ | DT | CAROLINA PANTHERS |Â AT MSU: 2018-23
Last Week:Â Crumedy was on injured reserve (high-ankle sprain) for a 40-7 loss at the Commanders.
Season:Â N/A
MARTIN EMERSONÂ | CB | CLEVELAND BROWNSÂ |Â AT MSU: 2019-21
Last Week:Â Emerson started and made four solo tackles and one pass defense in a 29-24 win over the Ravens.
Season:Â 39 tackles (30 solo, nine assists), five pass defenses, one tackle for loss, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery
EMMANUEL FORBESÂ | CB | WASHINGTON COMMANDERSÂ |Â AT MSU: 2020-22
Last Week:Â Forbes saw action in an 18-15 win over the Bears.
Season:Â Seven tackles (two solo, five assists), one interception, one pass defense
WILLIE GAY JR. | LB | NEW ORLEANS SAINTS | AT MSU: 2017-19
Last Week:Â Gay made two tackles (one solo, one special teams) in a 26-8 loss at the Rams.
Season:Â 18 tackles (13 solo, five assists), one forced fumble, two fumble recoveries, one tackle for loss, one sack, one quarterback hurry, two pass defenses
J.T. GRAYÂ | S | NEW ORLEANS SAINTSÂ |Â AT MSU: 2014-17
Last Week:Â Gray made two solo tackles on special teams in a 26-8 loss at the Rams.
Season:Â 14 tackles (nine solo, five assists), one forced fumble, one blocked punt
ELGTON JENKINSÂ | OG | GREEN BAY PACKERS |Â AT MSU: 2014-18
Last Week:Â Jenkins started at left guard and played all 70 offensive snaps in a 30-27 win at the Jaguars.
Season: Offense - Eight games played, eight starts Misc. – One solo tackle
CHRIS JONESÂ | DE | KANSAS CITY CHIEFS |Â AT MSU: 2013-15
Last Week: Jones started and made three tackles (two solo, one assist), one tackle for loss and one quarterback hurry in a  27-20 win at the Raiders.
Season:Â 16 tackles (seven solo, nine assists), four tackles for loss, 3 1/2 sacks, one forced fumble, nine quarterback hurries
DAK PRESCOTTÂ | QB | DALLAS COWBOYS |Â AT MSU: 2011-15
Last Week:Â Prescott started and completed 25 of 38 passes for 243 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions. He also rushed once for minus-1 yard in a 30-24 loss at the 49ers.
Season: Passing - 167 of 262, 1,845 yards, 10 touchdowns, eight interceptions Rushing – 10 carries, 24 yards, one touchdownÂ
DECAMERION RICHARDSONÂ | CB | LAS VEGAS RAIDERSÂ |Â AT MSU: 2020-23
Last Week:Â Richardson saw action in a 27-20 loss to the Chiefs.
Season:Â One solo tackle
JEFFERY SIMMONSÂ | DT | TENNESSEE TITANS |Â AT MSU: 2016-18
Last Week:Â Simmons started and made four tackles (three solo, one assist), two tackles for loss, one sack, one quarterback hurry and forced one fumble in a 52-14 loss at the Lions.
Season:Â 20 tackles (13 solo, seven assists), five tackles for loss, two sacks, three quarterback hurries, one pass defense, one forced fumble
DARIUS SLAYÂ | CB | PHILADELPHIA EAGLES |Â AT MSU: 2011-12
Last Week:Â Slay started and made four solo tackles and one pass defense in a 37-17 win at the Bengals.
Season:Â 27 tackles (21 solo, six assists), one forced fumble, four pass defenses, one tackle for loss
PRESTON SMITHÂ | DE | GREEN BAY PACKERSÂ |Â AT MSU: 2011-14
Last Week:Â Smith started and made one assisted tackle and one quarterback hurry in a 30-27 win at the Jaguars.
Season:Â 15 tackles (six solo, nine assists), two tackles for loss, 2 1/2 sacks, four quarterback hurries
MONTEZ SWEATÂ | DE | CHICAGO BEARSÂ |Â AT MSU: 2017-18
Last Week:Â Sweat started and made four tackles (three solo, one assist), two tackles for loss, one sack and three quarterback hurries in an 18-15 loss at the Commanders.
Season:Â 14 tackles (10 solo, four assists), two pass defenses, five tackles for loss, 3 1/2 sacks, six quarterback hurries, one forced fumble
NATHANIEL WATSONÂ | LB | CLEVELAND BROWNSÂ |Â AT MSU: 2018-23
Last Week:Â Watson started and made three tackles (one solo, one special teams solo, one special teams assist) in a 29-24 win over the Ravens.
Season:Â Six tackles (four solo, two assists)
TYRUS WHEATÂ | DE | DALLAS COWBOYSÂ |Â AT MSU: 2020-22
Last Week:Â Wheat made two assisted tackles in a 30-24 loss at the 49ers.
Season:Â 11 tackles (five solo, six assists), one tackle for loss, 0.5 sack, one quarterback hurry
CAMERON YOUNGÂ | DT | SEATTLE SEAHAWKSÂ |Â AT MSU: 2018-22
Last Week:Â Young was inactive in a 31-10 loss to the Bills.
Season:Â One game played
