#STATEtoSundays: Week 16 Update
December 24, 2024 | Football
Nearing the end of his 12th NFL season, Darius Slay proved he is still playing at the top of his game.
Slay made seven tackles (one for loss) and three pass defenses for Philadelphia during Week 16. His tackle total was third on the team and Pro Football Focus (PFF) awarded him the top defensive grade on the Eagles at 87.0.
The six-time Pro Bowler and former Mississippi State standout posted the No. 1 coverage grade among cornerbacks in the NFL this past week at 88.4 and his overall defensive grade ranked second at his position and fifth overall in the league.
Jeffery Simmons stacked up the second-most tackles for Tennessee this past weekend with eight to go along with one tackle for loss, one sack and one quarterback hurry. The sack was the fifth for Simmons this season and bring his career total to 31 ½.
Simmons graded out with the No. 1 run defensive (78.5) and pressure (72.2) performances for the Titans in Week 16 and his tackling grade (72.3) was tied for fourth in the league at his position. He leads the team with a 79.7 pressure grade this season and ranks second overall with a 79.2 defensive grade.
Simmons' pressure grade ranks seventh overall among interior defenders in the NFL this season.
Chris Jones continues to be one of the league's top defensive tackles. Jones tallied four quarterback hurries to go along with two tackles this past week. He earned the No. 1 defensive (87.7) and pressure (82.5) grades for Kansas City in Week 16. His defensive grade ranked second among all interior defenders in the NFL and was tied for fifth at his position in pressure grade.
Jones has the top pressure grade among defensive tackles in the NFL this season at 90.0 and his 89.7 overall defensive grade ranks second at his position.
Jacksonville's Logan Cooke was a busy man this past week. Cooke was called to punt seven times and pinned one of those at the 3-yard line. He continues to have the best career net punting average in NFL history at 43.5 yards and ranks third among punters this season with a 90.0 PFF grade.
Charles Cross started at left tackle and logged all 64 offensive snaps for Seattle. Cross earned the best pass blocking grade on the team at 84.9 last week and posted the second-highest overall offensive grade on the Seahawks at 73.0.
The former first-round draft pick has the best run (76.4) and pass (83.2) blocking grades on the team in 2024 and the No. 2 overall offensive grade (83.3). His offensive grade also ranks 10th among all NFL tackles this year.
Elgton Jenkins ranks fourth among NFL guards in average pass blocking grade this season at 82.2. Jenkins logged 60 offensive snaps starting at left guard in Green Bay's 34-0 shutout against the Saints.
Offensive tackle Tyre Phillips was promoted from New York's practice squad during Week 16 and saw action for the second time this season since being signed by the Giants on Nov. 19.
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 made one assisted tackle in a 27-19 loss at the Chiefs.
Season:Â 13 tackles (eight solo, five 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 26-24 loss at the Cowboys.
Season:Â N/A
LOGAN COOKEÂ | P | JACKSONVILLE JAGUARSÂ |Â AT MSU: 2014-17
Last Week:Â Cooke punted seven times for 275 yards (39.3 avg.) with a long of 55 yards in a 19-14 loss at the Raiders.
Season:Â Punting -Â 61 punts for 3,029 yards (49.7 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 and five more on special teams in a 27-24 loss to the Vikings.
Season:Â 15 games played, 15 starts, one fumble recovery
JADEN CRUMEDYÂ | DT | CAROLINA PANTHERS |Â AT MSU: 2018-23
Last Week:Â Crumedy played 22 defensive snaps and six more on special teams in a 36-30 win over the Cardinals.
Season: Five tackles (two solo, three assists)
MARTIN EMERSONÂ | CB | CLEVELAND BROWNSÂ |Â AT MSU: 2019-21
Last Week:Â Emerson made four tackles (three solo, one assist) in a 24-6 loss at the Bengals.
Season:Â 71 tackles (56 solo, 15 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 for a 19-9 win at the Jets.
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 assist) in a 34-0 loss at the Packers.
Season:Â 26 tackles (19 solo, seven assists), one forced fumble, two fumble recoveries, two tackles for loss, two sacks, one quarterback hurry, two pass defenses
J.T. GRAYÂ | S | NEW ORLEANS SAINTSÂ |Â AT MSU: 2014-17
Last Week:Â Gray made one assisted tackle on special teams in a 34-0 loss at the Packers.
Season:Â 23 tackles (12 solo, 11 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 60 offensive snaps in a 34-0 win over the Saints.
Season: Offense - 15 games played, 15 starts Misc. – One solo tackle
CHRIS JONESÂ | DE | KANSAS CITY CHIEFS |Â AT MSU: 2013-15
Last Week:Â Jones started, made two assisted tackles and four quarterback hurries in a 27-19 win over the Texans.
Season:Â 38 tackles (19 solo, 19 assists), nine tackles for loss, 5 1/2 sacks, one forced fumble, 21 quarterback hurries
TYRE PHILLIPSÂ | OG | NEW YORK GIANTS |Â AT MSU: 2017-19
Last Week:Â Phillips was activated off the practice squad and saw action on special teams in a 34-7 loss at the Falcons.
Season:Â Two games played
DAK PRESCOTTÂ | QB | DALLAS COWBOYS |Â AT MSU: 2011-15
Last Week:Â Prescott was on injured reserve (hamstring) for a 26-24 win over the Buccaneers.
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 made two solo tackles in a 19-14 win over the Jaguars.
Season:Â 27 tackles (17 solo, 10 assists), two pass defenses
JEFFERY SIMMONSÂ | DT | TENNESSEE TITANS |Â AT MSU: 2016-18
Last Week:Â Simmons started and tied for second on the team with eight tackles (three solo, five assists), one tackle for loss, one sack and one quarterback hurry in a 38-30 loss at the Colts.
Season:Â 65 tackles (37 solo, 28 assists), 11 tackles for loss, five sacks, nine 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 third on the team with seven tackles (five solo, two assists), one tackle for loss and three pass defenses in a 36-33 loss at the Commanders.
Season:Â 46 tackles (36 solo, 10 assists), one forced fumble, one fumble recovery, 12 pass defenses, three tackles for loss
PRESTON SMITHÂ | LB | PITTSBURGH STEELERSÂ |Â AT MSU: 2011-14
Last Week:Â Smith made one assisted tackle in a 34-17 loss at the Ravens.
Season:Â 29 tackles (11 solo, 18 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 four tackles (two solo, two assists) and one quarterback hurry in a 34-17 loss to the Lions.
Season:Â 28 tackles (17 solo, 11 assists), two pass defenses, eight tackles for loss, 4 1/2 sacks, 10 quarterback hurries, one forced fumble
NATHANIEL WATSONÂ | LB | CLEVELAND BROWNSÂ |Â AT MSU: 2018-23
Last Week:Â Watson made one solo tackle on special teams in a 24-6 loss at the Bengals.
Season:Â 11 tackles (eight solo, three assists)
TYRUS WHEATÂ | DE | DALLAS COWBOYSÂ |Â AT MSU: 2020-22
Last Week:Â Wheat was inactive for a 26-24 win over the Buccaneers.
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 27-24 loss to the Vikings.
Season:Â One game played
