#STATEtoSundays: Week 5 Update
October 08, 2024 | Football
Two former Mississippi State players were activated off NFL practice squads in Week 5 and both produced positive results.
New Orleans dressed out safety Johnathan Abram for the first time this season. The former first-round pick finished third on the Saints with eight tackles during their Monday Night Football game at Kansas City.
The 2023 SEC Defensive Player of the Year, linebacker Nathaniel Watson, notched the first two tackles of his professional career after being elevated from the practice squad by Cleveland. Martin Emerson provided three tackles and one stop for loss as well as forcing and recovering a fumble for the Browns.
Chris Jones' stat line for Week 5 was limited to two assisted tackles and a quarterback hurry but Pro Football Focus (PFF) rated it as the No. 2 defensive performance in the NFL this past week with a 93.2 grade. Jones also received the second-best pressure grade in the league at 93.6 in Kansas City's win over the Saints.
Jones has the highest defensive and pressure grades on the Chiefs this season at 90.2 and 92.1 respectively. His pressure grade is also tops among interior defenders and sixth overall in the NFL and his defensive grade ranks second at his position.
Preston Smith had four assisted tackles and a half-sack during Green Bay's road victory at the Rams. Smith now has 2 ½ sacks on the season and 68 ½ for his career. He holds the top tackling grade on the Packers' defense this year (78.1) as well as the third-best run defensive grade (71.4) on the team.
Smith's tackling grade ranks fifth among NFL edge rushers this season.
Tyrus Wheat made three tackles including a tackle for loss and the first half-sack of his NFL career for Dallas. Wheat owns the No. 4 tackling grade (74.8) for the Cowboys in 2024 as well as the No. 5 defensive grade on the team.
Dak Prescott completed 29 of 42 passes for 352 yards and two touchdowns in Dallas' comeback win at Pittsburgh. Both of Prescott's TD tosses came during the fourth quarter, including the game-winner to Jalen Tolbert on 4th-and-goal with 20-seconds remaining.
It was Prescott's second 300-plus yard passing game of the season, one of only four quarterbacks to pass that plateau joining C.J. Stroud, Joe Burrow and Caleb Williams.
Charles Cross continued his dominance at left tackle for Seattle. Cross earned an 80.1 pass-blocking grade against the Giants. For the year, he has the No. 3 run-blocking grade among tackles at 88.2, which is also ninth-best among offensive linemen.
Cross also ranks second on the Seahawks with an 83.2 offensive grade in 2024.
Elgton Jenkins posted an 82.4 pass-blocking grade for Green Bay in Week 5 and his 83.8 pass-blocking grade for the season leads the Packers. Jenkins' pass-blocking grade is fourth among offensive guards in the NFL this year.
Logan Cooke punted twice for a 51-yard average this past week and served as a captain for Jacksonville. Cooke's career 43.8-yard net punting average continues to be the best in NFL history since that started being tracked in 1976. Â
JOHNATHAN ABRAMÂ | S | NEW ORLEANS SAINTSÂ |Â AT MSU: 2017-18
Last Week:Â Abram finished tied for third on the team with eight tackles (six solo, one assist, one special teams assist) in a 26-13 loss at the Chiefs.
Season:Â Eight tackles (six solo, two assists)
DENICO AUTRYÂ | DT | HOUSTON TEXANSÂ |Â AT MSU: 2012-13
Last Week:Â Autry was suspended for a 23-20 win over the Bills.
Season:Â N/A
MARCUS BANKSÂ | S | TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERSÂ |Â AT MSU: 2022-23
Last Week:Â Banks was on the practice squad for a 36-30 loss at the Falcons.
Season:Â N/A
LOGAN COOKEÂ | P | JACKSONVILLE JAGUARSÂ |Â AT MSU: 2014-17
Last Week:Â Cooke punted twice for 102 yards (51 avg.) with a long of 58 yards in a 37-34- win over the Colts.
Season:Â Punting - 18 punts for 931 yards (51.7 avg.), long 67 Special Teams - One solo tackle
CHARLES CROSSÂ | OT | SEATTLE SEAHAWKSÂ |Â AT MSU: 2019-21
Last Week:Â Cross started at left tackle in a 29-20 loss to the Giants.
Season:Â Five games played, five starts
JADEN CRUMEDYÂ | DT | CAROLINA PANTHERS |Â AT MSU: 2018-23
Last Week:Â Crumedy was on injured reserve (high-ankle sprain) for a 34-24 loss to the Bengals.
Season:Â N/A
MARTIN EMERSONÂ | CB | CLEVELAND BROWNSÂ |Â AT MSU: 2019-21
Last Week:Â Emerson started and three solo tackles, one tackle for loss, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery in a 34-13 loss at the Commanders.
Season:Â 27 tackles (19 solo, eight assists), two 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 a 34-13 win over the Browns.
Season:Â Six tackles (two solo, four assists)
WILLIE GAY JR. | LB | NEW ORLEANS SAINTS | AT MSU: 2017-19
Last Week:Â Gay was inactive for a 26-13 loss at the Chiefs.
Season:Â 10 tackles (seven solo, three assists), one fumble recovery
J.T. GRAYÂ | S | NEW ORLEANS SAINTSÂ |Â AT MSU: 2014-17
Last Week:Â Gray made two tackles on special teams (one solo, one assist) in a 26-13 loss at the Chiefs.
Season:Â Six tackles (three solo, three assists), one blocked punt
ELGTON JENKINSÂ | OG | GREEN BAY PACKERS |Â AT MSU: 2014-18
Last Week:Â Jenkins started at left guard in a 34-19 win at the Rams.
Season: Offense - Five games played, five starts Misc. – One solo tackle
CHRIS JONESÂ | DE | KANSAS CITY CHIEFS |Â AT MSU: 2013-15
Last Week:Â Jones started and made two assisted tackles and one quarterback hurry in a 26-13 win over the Saints.
Season:Â 12 tackles (four solo, eight assists), three tackle for loss, 3 1/2 sacks, one forced fumble, eight quarterback hurries
DAK PRESCOTTÂ | QB | DALLAS COWBOYS |Â AT MSU: 2011-15
Last Week:Â Prescott started and completed 29 of 42 passes for 352 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions. He also rushed once for 3 yards in a 20-17 win at the Steelers.
Season: Passing - 125 of 181, 1,424 yards, eight touchdowns, four interceptions Rushing - eight carries, 24 yards, one touchdown Misc. - one assisted tackle
DECAMERION RICHARDSONÂ | CB | LAS VEGAS RAIDERSÂ |Â AT MSU: 2020-23
Last Week:Â Richardson was inactive in a 34-18 loss at the Broncos.
Season:Â N/A
JEFFERY SIMMONSÂ | DT | TENNESSEE TITANS |Â AT MSU: 2016-18
Last Week:Â Bye week
Season:Â 11 tackles (six solo, five assists), two tackles for loss, one sack, one quarterback hurry
DARIUS SLAYÂ | CB | PHILADELPHIA EAGLES |Â AT MSU: 2011-12
Last Week:Â Bye week
Season:Â 19 tackles (13 solo, six assists), one forced fumble, two pass defenses
PRESTON SMITHÂ | DE | GREEN BAY PACKERSÂ |Â AT MSU: 2011-14
Last Week:Â Smith started and made four assisted tackles, a half-sack and one quarterback hurry in a 24-19 win at the Rams.
Season:Â 12 tackles (five solo, seven assists), two tackles for loss, 2 1/2 sacks, three quarterback hurries
MONTEZ SWEATÂ | DE | CHICAGO BEARSÂ |Â AT MSU: 2017-18
Last Week:Â Sweat started in a 36-10 win over the Panthers.
Season:Â Eight tackles (six solo, two assists), two pass defenses, three tackles for loss, two sacks, two quarterback hurries, one forced fumble
NATHANIEL WATSONÂ | LB | CLEVELAND BROWNSÂ |Â AT MSU: 2018-23
Last Week:Â Watson made two tackles (one solo, one assist) in a 34-13 loss at the Commanders.
Season:Â Two tackles (one solo, one assist)
TYRUS WHEATÂ | DE | DALLAS COWBOYSÂ |Â AT MSU: 2020-22
Last Week:Â Wheat made three tackles (two solo, one assist), one tackle for loss, a half-sack and one quarterback hurry in a 20-17 win at the Steelers.
Season:Â Six tackles (three solo, three 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 on the physically unable to perform list with a lower-body injury for a 29-20 loss to the Giants.
Season:Â N/A
