#STATEtoSundays: Week 11 Update
November 19, 2024 | Football
Jeffery Simmons earned the highest-pressure grade in the NFL during Week 11 according to Pro Football Focus (PFF).
The Tennessee Titans' former first-round draft pick from Mississippi State received a 92.6 pressure grade against Minnesota. He finished the game with four solo tackles while also forcing and recovering a fumble.
Simmons had the best overall defensive grade (88.7) for the Titans this past Sunday and ranks second on the team in that category for the season at 77.6.
The Bulldogs have two alums among the top 10 interior defenders in the league this season. Simmons sits seventh with a pressure grade of 80.6 in 2024 and 10th in overall defensive grade at his position. Meanwhile, Chris Jones leads all interior defenders with a 90.8 pressure grade this year and is third at the position with an overall defensive grade of 89.5.
Jones' pressure grade this season ranks 10th in the NFL regardless of position. This past week, the five-time Pro Bowler and three-time Super Bowl champion recorded five tackles including one for loss while earning the third-best pressure grade for Kansas City.
Denico Autry produced another dominant performance during Houston's 34-10 win over Dallas on Monday Night Football. Autry notched four tackles including a sack, one tackle for loss, a quarterback hurry and defended a pass.
Autry's career sack total is now at 62.
Logan Cooke garnered the NFL's top punting grade (81.8) during Week 11. Cooke punted five times for a 53.4-yard average and a long of 61 yards. Overall this season, he holds the second-best punting grade in the league at 91.1.
Cooke wasn't the only special teamer showing out this past week. New Orleans captain, J.T. Gray, provided the Saints with a tackle and took home the highest special teams grade on the team at 75.7.
Charles Cross (Seattle) and Elgton Jenkins (Green Bay) continue to be stalwarts on their respective lines, logging every offensive rep again this past Sunday. Jenkins ranks fourth among NFL guards with an 81.9 pass blocking grade this season while Cross sits ninth in both run blocking (81.1) and overall offensive grade (83.5) among the league's tackles.
Also among the Week 11 standouts was rookie Decamerion Richardson, who made a career-high five tackles and now has the No. 2 tackling grade for Las Vegas this season at 79.9. Fellow cornerbacks Martin Emerson (Cleveland) and Darius Slay (Philadelphia) also made stops behind the line of scrimmage this past week with Slay earning the second-highest tackling grade on the Eagles at 75.1.
Offensive lineman Tyre Phillips was signed to the New York Giants practice squad on Tuesday. It is Phillips' third stint with the franchise after playing there in 2022 and 2023.
JOHNATHAN ABRAM | S | FREE AGENT | AT MSU: 2017-18
Last Week: Abram was released by the New Orleans Saints on Oct. 22.
Season: 18 tackles (10 solo, eight assists), one interception, one pass defense
DENICO AUTRY | DE | HOUSTON TEXANS | AT MSU: 2012-13
Last Week: Autry started and made four tackles (three solo, one assist), one tackle for loss, one sack, one quarterback hurry and a pass defense in a 34-10 win at the Cowboys.
Season: Nine tackles (six solo, three assists), three tackles for loss, three sacks, six quarterback hurries, three pass defenses
MARCUS BANKS | S | TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS | AT MSU: 2022-23
Last Week: Open date
Season: N/A
LOGAN COOKE | P | JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS | AT MSU: 2014-17
Last Week: Cooke punted five times for 267 yards (53.4 avg.) with a long of 61 yards in a 52-6 loss at the Lions.
Season: Punting - 44 punts for 2,271 yards (51.6 avg.), long 73 Special Teams - One solo tackle
CHARLES CROSS | OT | SEATTLE SEAHAWKS | AT MSU: 2019-21
Last Week: Cross started at left tackle and played all 60 offensive snaps in a 20-17 win at the 49ers.
Season: 10 games played, 10 starts, one fumble recovery
JADEN CRUMEDY | DT | CAROLINA PANTHERS | AT MSU: 2018-23
Last Week: Open date
Season: N/A
MARTIN EMERSON | CB | CLEVELAND BROWNS | AT MSU: 2019-21
Last Week: Emerson started and made five tackles (four solo, one assist) and one tackle for loss in a 35-14 loss at the Saints.
Season: 49 tackles (38 solo, 11 assists), five pass defenses, two tackles for loss, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery
EMMANUEL FORBES | CB | WASHINGTON COMMANDERS | AT MSU: 2020-22
Last Week: Forbes did not play in a 26-18 loss at the Eagles
Season: Seven tackles (two solo, five assists), one interception, one pass defense
WILLIE GAY JR. | LB | NEW ORLEANS SAINTS | AT MSU: 2017-19
Last Week: Gay started at Sam linebacker in a 35-14 win over the Browns.
Season: 23 tackles (17 solo, six assists), one forced fumble, two fumble recoveries, two tackles for loss, one sack, one quarterback hurry, two pass defenses
J.T. GRAY | S | NEW ORLEANS SAINTS | AT MSU: 2014-17
Last Week: Gray made one assisted tackle on special teams in a 35-14 win over the Browns.
Season: 18 tackles (10 solo, eight assists), one forced fumble, one blocked punt
ELGTON JENKINS | OG | GREEN BAY PACKERS | AT MSU: 2014-18
Last Week: Jenkins started at left guard and played all 46 offensive snaps in a 20-19 win at the Bears.
Season: Offense - 10 games played, 10 starts Misc. – One solo tackle
CHRIS JONES | DE | KANSAS CITY CHIEFS | AT MSU: 2013-15
Last Week: Jones started and made five tackles (four solo, one assist) and one tackle for loss in a 30-21 loss at the Bills.
Season: 25 tackles (13 solo, 12 assists), five tackles for loss, 3 1/2 sacks, one forced fumble, 11 quarterback hurries
DAK PRESCOTT | QB | DALLAS COWBOYS | AT MSU: 2011-15
Last Week: Prescott was on injured reserve (hamstring) for a 34-10 loss to the Texans.
Season: Passing - 185 of 286, 1,978 yards, 11 touchdowns, eight interceptions Rushing – 13 carries, 54 yards, one touchdown
DECAMERION RICHARDSON | CB | LAS VEGAS RAIDERS | AT MSU: 2020-23
Last Week: Richardson made a career-high five tackles (two solo, three assists) in a 34-19 loss at the Dolphins.
Season: Six tackles (three solo, three assists), one pass defense
JEFFERY SIMMONS | DT | TENNESSEE TITANS | AT MSU: 2016-18
Last Week: Simmons started and made four solo tackles and forced and recovered a fumble in a 23-13 loss to the Vikings.
Season: 34 tackles (21 solo, 13 assists), six tackles for loss, three sacks, five quarterback hurries, two pass defenses, two forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries
DARIUS SLAY | CB | PHILADELPHIA EAGLES | AT MSU: 2011-12
Last Week: Slay started and made two solo tackles and one tackle for loss in a 26-18 win over the Commanders.
Season: 29 tackles (23 solo, six assists), one forced fumble, six pass defenses, two tackles for loss
PRESTON SMITH | LB | PITTSBURGH STEELERS | AT MSU: 2011-14
Last Week: Smith made one solo tackle in a 18-16 win over the Ravens.
Season: 22 tackles (10 solo, 12 assists), four tackles for loss, 3 1/2 sacks, five quarterback hurries
MONTEZ SWEAT | DE | CHICAGO BEARS | AT MSU: 2017-18
Last Week: Sweat started and made one assisted tackle in a 20-19 loss to the Packers.
Season: 16 tackles (10 solo, six assists), two pass defenses, five tackles for loss, 3 1/2 sacks, seven quarterback hurries, one forced fumble
NATHANIEL WATSON | LB | CLEVELAND BROWNS | AT MSU: 2018-23
Last Week: Watson played 15 snaps on special teams in a 35-14 loss at the Saints.
Season: Six tackles (four solo, two assists)
TYRUS WHEAT | DE | DALLAS COWBOYS | AT MSU: 2020-22
Last Week: Wheat played three snaps on special teams in a 34-10 loss to the Texans.
Season: 14 tackles (six solo, eight assists), one tackle for loss, 0.5 sack, one quarterback hurry
CAMERON YOUNG | DT | SEATTLE SEAHAWKS | AT MSU: 2018-22
Last Week: Young was on injured reserve (knee) for a 20-17 win at the 49ers.
Season: One game played
