#STATEtoSundays: Week 7 Preview
October 16, 2025 | Football
There will be plenty of opportunities this week to catch some of your favorite Mississippi State alumni at the next level with 24 Bulldogs currently on NFL rosters, coaching staffs and more.
Among the Bulldogs that have made the move #FromStateToSundays are Pro Bowlers Darius Slay (6x), Chris Jones (6x), Dak Prescott (3x), Jeffery Simmons (3x), Elgton Jenkins (2x), Logan Cooke, J.T. Gray and Montez Sweat.
MSU also has four first-round draft picks in the league in Simmons, Sweat, Charles Cross and Emmanuel Forbes as well as Super Bowl Champions in Jones (3x), Slay and Willie Gay Jr. The Bulldogs also boast the 2016 NFC Offensive Rookie of the Year and 2022 Walter Payton Man of the Year in Prescott.
Gray was signed off the Ravens' practice squad and added to Denver's active roster on Oct. 14.
Tyre Phillips (Browns) is a member of Cleveland's practice squad. Martin Emerson and Nathaniel Watson are on injured reserve for the Browns and will miss the 2025 season while Denico Autry of the Houston Texans is currently on the physically unable to perform list.
Several other State alums are making an impact on the sidelines and beyond throughout the NFL. Stephen Adegoke is the safeties coach for the Houston Texans and Fred Walker is working as an offensive assistant for the Jacksonville Jaguars. Former Pro Bowler and Super Bowl champ K.J. Wright is in his second year as the defensive quality control coach for the San Francisco 49ers while fellow linebacker DeAndre Ward serves as the assistant strength and conditioning coach for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Dr. Allen Sills also holds the distinction of being the NFL's chief medical officer.
Pittsburgh Steelers (4-1) at Cincinnati Bengals (2-4) | 7:15 p.m. Prime Video
CB Darius Slay (PIT)
Los Angeles Rams (4-2) vs. Jacksonville Jaguars (4-2) in London, England | 8:30 a.m. NFL Network
P Logan Cooke (JAX)
CB Emmanuel Forbes (LAR)
New Orleans Saints (1-5) at Chicago Bears (3-2) | 12 p.m. FOX
DE Montez Sweat (CHI)
Miami Dolphins (1-5) at Cleveland Browns (1-5) | 12 p.m. CBS
LB Willie Gay Jr. (MIA)
Las Vegas Raiders (2-4) at Kansas City Chiefs (3-3) | 12 p.m. CBS
DT Chris Jones (KC)
CB Decamerion Richardson (LV)
Carolina Panthers (3-3) at New York Jets (0-6) | 12 p.m. FOX
DT Jaden Crumdey (CAR)
New England Patriots (4-2) at Tennessee Titans (1-5) | 12 p.m. CBS
DT Jeffery Simmons (TEN)
New York Giants (2-4) at Denver Broncos (4-2) | 3:05 p.m. CBS
S J.T. Gray (DEN)
Green Bay Packers (3-1-1) at Arizona Cardinals (2-4) | 3:25 p.m. FOX
C/G Elgton Jenkins (GB)
Washington Commanders (3-3) at Dallas Cowboys (2-3-1) | 3:25 p.m. FOX
QB Dak Prescott (DAL)
LB Preston Smith (WAS)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (5-1) at Detroit Lions (4-2) | 6 p.m. ESPN, ABC
DE Tyrus Wheat (DET)
Houston Texans (2-3) at Seattle Seahawks (4-2) | 9 p.m. ESPN
OT Charles Cross (SEA)