#STATEtoSundays: Week 14 Update
December 10, 2024 | Football
Elgton Jenkins continues to be one of the NFL's elite pass blockers.
Jenkins started at left guard and logged all 50 offensive snaps for Green Bay last week. Pro Football Focus (PFF) gave the former Mississippi State standout the highest pass blocking grade among NFL guards during Week 14 at 87.8, which was the third best by any offensive lineman.
Across the league, Jenkins – a two-time Pro Bowler – ranks third at his position in pass blocking for the season at 83.1.
Former first round draft pick Charles Cross also posted another standout performance in the trenches. Cross started at left tackle for Seattle and played all 64 snaps which garnered a 78.8 pass blocking grade, the best among the Seahawks' linemen.
For the season, Cross has the highest offensive grade among the O-Line at 82.0 and tops the team in both pass blocking (81.2) and run blocking (75.9) grades.
Darius Slay made a huge difference in Philadelphia's 22-16 win over Carolina in Week 14. Slay tied for third on the team with six tackles coupled with a pair of fourth quarter pass breakups.
The six-time Pro Bowler was targeted 11 times during that contest and surrendered only two catches (39.6 passer rating allowed).
Fellow cornerbacks Martin Emerson (Cleveland) and Decamerion Richardson (Las Vegas) also finished tied for third on their respective teams with five tackles apiece. Emerson ranked third on the Browns' defense with a 79.1 tackling grade.
Jeffery Simmons was Tennessee's nominee for the Walter Payton Man of the Year Award.
On the field, Simmons finished with five stops and a tackle for loss in Week 14. The two-time Pro Bowler and former first-round pick led the Titans with an 80.7 overall defensive grade and 70.1 pressure grade against Jacksonville while also posting the team's second-best run defense grade at 75.6.
On the year, Simmons has Tennessee's top pressure grade (78.2) and ranks second in overall defense (75.9). His pressure grade ranks 10th among interior linemen in the NFL.
Chris Jones tallied a pair of tackles and one for loss to help Kansas City clinch the AFC West for the ninth consecutive year. Jones has the highest-pressure grade in the NFL among interior defenders in 2024 at 90.6 and his overall defensive grade of 86.2 ranks third at his position and leads the Chiefs.
Jaden Crumedy made his professional debut and recorded his first tackle this past Sunday. The rookie defensive tackle earned the third-highest defensive grade and pressure grade for Carolina.
Offensive guard Tyre Phillips also made his season debut for New York after being elevated from the Giants' practice squad.
Logan Cooke punted four times for a 49.5-yard average in Jacksonville's 10-6 road win over the Titans. Cooke received the second-best punting grade in the NFL during Week 14 and ranks third in that category (90.6) for the season.
J.T. Gray logged three tackles for New Orleans on special teams and has the Saints' highest special teams grade for the season at 90.9, which is tied for fifth best in the league.
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 Open date
Season:Â 11 tackles (eight solo, three assists), three tackles for loss, three sacks, six quarterback hurries, three pass defenses
MARCUS BANKSÂ | S | TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERSÂ |Â AT MSU: 2022-23
Last Week:Â Banks was on the practice squad for a 28-13 win over the Raiders.
Season:Â N/A
LOGAN COOKEÂ | P | JACKSONVILLE JAGUARSÂ |Â AT MSU: 2014-17
Last Week:Â Cooke punted four times for 198 yards (49.5 avg.) with a long of 53 yards in a 10-6 win at the Titans.
Season:Â Punting -Â 52 punts for 2,660 yards (51.2 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 64 offensive snaps in a 30-18 win at the Cardinals.
Season:Â 12 games played, 12 starts, one fumble recovery
JADEN CRUMEDYÂ | DT | CAROLINA PANTHERS |Â AT MSU: 2018-23
Last Week:Â Crumedy made his NFL debut and recorded one solo tackle in a 22-16 loss at the Eagles.
Season:Â One solo tackle
MARTIN EMERSONÂ | CB | CLEVELAND BROWNSÂ |Â AT MSU: 2019-21
Last Week:Â Emerson started and finished tied for third on the team with five tackles (four solo, one assist) in a 27-14 loss at the Steelers.
Season:Â 66 tackles (53 solo, 13 assists), five pass defenses, three tackles for loss, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery
EMMANUEL FORBESÂ | CB | LOS ANGELES RAMSÂ |Â AT MSU: 2020-22
Last Week:Â Forbes was inactive 44-42 win over the Bills.
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 played 10 snaps on special teams in a 14-11 win at the Giants.
Season:Â 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. GRAYÂ | S | NEW ORLEANS SAINTSÂ |Â AT MSU: 2014-17
Last Week:Â Gray made three tackles (two solo, one assist) on special teams in a 14-11 win at the Giants.
Season:Â 22 tackles (12 solo, 10 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 50 offensive snaps in a 34-31 loss at the Lions.
Season: Offense - 13 games played, 13 starts Misc. – One solo tackle
CHRIS JONESÂ | DE | KANSAS CITY CHIEFS |Â AT MSU: 2013-15
Last Week:Â Jones started and made two solo tackles and one tackle for loss in a 19-17 win over the Chargers.
Season:Â 33 tackles (18 solo, 15 assists), eight tackles for loss, 5 1/2 sacks, one forced fumble, 14 quarterback hurries
TYRE PHILLIPSÂ | OG | NEW YORK GIANTS | AT MSU: 2017-19
Last Week:Â Phillips played three snaps on special teams in a 14-11 loss to the Saints.
Season:Â One game played
DAK PRESCOTTÂ | QB | DALLAS COWBOYS |Â AT MSU: 2011-15
Last Week:Â Prescott was on injured reserve (hamstring) for a 27-20 loss to the Bengals.
Season: Passing - 185 of 286, 1,978 yards, 11 touchdowns, eight interceptions Rushing – 13 carries, 54 yards, one touchdownÂ
DECAMERION RICHARDSONÂ | CB | LAS VEGAS RAIDERSÂ |Â AT MSU: 2020-23
Last Week:Â Richardson started and tied for third on the team with five tackles (three solo, two assists) in a 28-13 loss at the Buccaneers.
Season:Â 24 tackles (16 solo, eight assists), two pass defenses
JEFFERY SIMMONSÂ | DT | TENNESSEE TITANS |Â AT MSU: 2016-18
Last Week:Â Simmons started and made five tackles (three solo, two assists), one tackle for loss and one pass defense in a 10-6 loss to the Jaguars.
Season:Â 50 tackles (31 solo, 19 assists), eight tackles for loss, four sacks, six quarterback hurries, four pass defenses, two forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries
DARIUS SLAYÂ | CB | PHILADELPHIA EAGLES |Â AT MSU: 2011-12
Last Week:Â Slay started and finished tied for third on the team with six tackles (five solo, one assist) and two pass defenses in a 22-16 win over the Panthers.
Season:Â 38 tackles (30 solo, eight assists), one forced fumble, nine pass defenses, two tackles for loss
PRESTON SMITHÂ | LB | PITTSBURGH STEELERSÂ |Â AT MSU: 2011-14
Last Week:Â Smith played 20 snaps (19 defensive, one special teams) in a 27-14 win over the Browns.
Season:Â 26 tackles (11 solo, 15 assists), four tackles for loss, 3 1/2 sacks, five quarterback hurries, one fumble recovery
MONTEZ SWEATÂ | DE | CHICAGO BEARSÂ |Â AT MSU: 2017-18
Last Week:Â Sweat started and made two tackles (one solo, one assist) in a 38-13 loss at the 49ers.
Season:Â 22 tackles (13 solo, nine assists), two pass defenses, seven tackles for loss, 4 1/2 sacks, nine quarterback hurries, one forced fumble
NATHANIEL WATSONÂ | LB | CLEVELAND BROWNSÂ |Â AT MSU: 2018-23
Last Week:Â Watson made one assisted tackle on special teams in a 27-14 loss at the Steelers.
Season:Â Seven tackles (four solo, three assists)
TYRUS WHEATÂ | DE | DALLAS COWBOYSÂ |Â AT MSU: 2020-22
Last Week:Â Wheat was inactive for a 27-20 loss to the Bengals.
Season:Â 14 tackles (six solo, eight 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 injured reserve (knee) for a 30-18 win at the Cardinals.
Season:Â One game played
