#STATEtoSundays: Week 7 Update
October 21, 2025 | Football
Two former Mississippi State defenders shined in the primetime spotlight of Monday Night Football.
Denico Autry had a sack and blocked a field goal for Houston while Tyrus Wheat tallied 1 ½ sacks while also forcing a fumble in Detroit's victory to close out Week 7 of the NFL slate.
Autry announced his return in a big way after being activated from the physically unable to perform list. He finished with two solo tackles, a sack, one tackle for loss, a quarterback hurry and blocked a field goal in his season debut.
The sack was the 63rd for the 12-year NFL veteran and his blocked field goal was the 13th block of his career. Pro Football Focus (PFF) awarded Autry the second-highest special teams grade in the NFL during Week 7 at 92.7.
However, no defender in the league had a higher pressure or overall defensive grade this past week than Wheat. He notched two tackles, 1 ½ sacks, one tackle for loss, one quarterback hurry and forced a fumble.
It was the first forced fumble of Wheat's career and brings his sack total to two.
Montez Sweat posted a similar stat line for Chicago as well. The 2023 Pro Bowler made four solo tackles – two of which were for loss – along with a sack, two quarterback hurries and a forced fumble.
Sweat ranks third on the Bears in pressure grade this season and now has 49 sacks for his career.
Chris Jones finished third on Kansas City's defense with a pair of tackles to go along with a sack and a quarterback hurry. It was the second sack of the year for the six-time Pro Bowler and three-time Super Bowl champion, who now has 80 ½ in his career.
PFF graded Jones' defense performance in Week 7 the fourth-highest in the NFL at 91.1, which was tops among all interior defenders. His pressure grade of 89.1 led the Chiefs and ranked fourth at his position this past week. He tops the Chiefs with an overall pressure grade of 86.9 in 2025.
Dak Prescott continued his dominant season in Dallas' 44-22 win over Washington. Prescott connected on 21 of 30 passes for 264 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions. It marked the fourth consecutive game he's had with at least three passing TDs and no interceptions becoming only the sixth player in NFL history to accomplish that joining Tom Brady, Peyton Manning, Aaron Rodgers, Drew Brees and Russell Wilson.
It was the 40th career game in which Prescott has thrown for three touchdowns, tying Tony Romo for the most in Cowboys' history. This season, he has Dallas' top offensive grade at 91.3, which ranks second among NFL quarterbacks. He also has the third-highest passing grade in the league at 90.6.
Charles Cross logged all 72 offensive snaps at left tackle for Seattle and has the Seahawks' highest pass blocking grade this year at 80.1. Elgton Jenkins was also a workhorse as Green Bay's center playing all 56 snaps and currently ranks second among the Packers' offensive linemen this season in pass blocking grade.
Logan Cooke booted a season-long 62-yard punt for Jacksonville last week and is averaging 48 yards per attempt in 2025. His 43.6-yard career net punting average is the highest in NFL history since it became a stat in 1976.
DENICO AUTRYÂ | DE | HOUSTON TEXANSÂ |Â AT MSU: 2012-13
Last Week:Â Autry made two solo tackles, one tackle for loss, one sack, one quarterback hurry and blocked a field goal in a 27-19 loss at the Seahawks.
Season:Â two solo tackles, one tackle for loss, one sack, one quarterback hurry, one blocked field goal
LOGAN COOKEÂ | P | JACKSONVILLE JAGUARSÂ |Â AT MSU: 2014-17
Last Week:Â Cooke punted five times for 207 yards (41.4 avg.) with a long of 62 yards in a 35-7 loss to the Rams.
Season:Â Punting -Â 30 punts for 1,234 yards (48.0 avg.), long 62
CHARLES CROSSÂ | OT | SEATTLE SEAHAWKSÂ |Â AT MSU: 2019-21
Last Week:Â Cross started at left tackle and played all 72 offensive snaps as well as six special teams reps in a 27-19 win over the Texans.
Season:Â seven games played, seven starts
JADEN CRUMEDYÂ | DT | CAROLINA PANTHERS |Â AT MSU: 2018-23
Last Week:Â Crumedy was not active in a 13-6 win at the Jets.
Season:Â two assisted tackles
MARTIN EMERSONÂ | CB | CLEVELAND BROWNSÂ |Â AT MSU: 2019-21
Last Week:Â Emerson was on injured reserve for a 31-6 win over the Dolphins.
Season:Â Out for the season (torn Achilles)
EMMANUEL FORBESÂ | CB | LOS ANGELES RAMSÂ |Â AT MSU: 2020-22
Last Week:Â Forbes made four solo tackles in a 35-7 win at the Jaguars.
Season:Â 17 tackles (13 solo, four assists), two pass defenses, one forced fumble
WILLIE GAY JR. | LB | MIAMI DOLPHINS | AT MSU: 2017-19
Last Week:Â Gay saw action on three defensive plays and received one special teams rep in a 31-6 loss at the Browns.
Season:Â three tackles (one solo, two assists), one tackle for loss
J.T. GRAYÂ | S | DENVER BRONCOSÂ |Â AT MSU: 2014-17
Last Week:Â Gray was not active in a 33-32 win over the Giants.
Season:Â N/A
ELGTON JENKINSÂ | G/C | GREEN BAY PACKERS |Â AT MSU: 2014-18
Last Week:Â Jenkins started at center and logged all 56 offensive snaps as well as five special teams plays in a 27-23 win at the Cardinals.
Season:Â six games played, six starts
CHRIS JONESÂ | DE | KANSAS CITY CHIEFS |Â AT MSU: 2013-15
Last Week:Â Jones started and finished tied for third on the team with two tackles (one solo, one assist), one tackle for loss, one sack and one quarterback hurry in a 31-0 win over the Raiders.
Season:Â 10 tackles (five solo, five assists), five tackles for loss, seven quarterback hurries, two sacks, one pass defense
TYRE PHILLIPSÂ | OG | CLEVELAND BROWNS |Â AT MSU: 2017-19
Last Week:Â Phillips was on the practice squad for a 31-6 win over the Dolphins.
Season:Â N/A
DAK PRESCOTTÂ | QB | DALLAS COWBOYS |Â AT MSU: 2011-15
Last Week:Â Prescott started and completed 21 of 30 passes for 264 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions. He also rushed five times for seven yards and recovered a fumble in a 44-22 win over the Commanders.
Season: Passing - 185 of 259, 1,881 yards, 16 touchdowns, three interceptions Rushing – 19 carries, 56 yards, one touchdown Misc. – one solo tackle, three fumble recoveries
DECAMERION RICHARDSONÂ | CB | LAS VEGAS RAIDERSÂ |Â AT MSU: 2020-23
Last Week:Â Richardson saw action on seven special teams reps in a 31-0 loss at the Chiefs.
Season:Â two solo tackles
JEFFERY SIMMONSÂ | DT | TENNESSEE TITANS |Â AT MSU: 2016-18
Last Week:Â Simmons started and made two tackles (one solo, one assist) in a 31-13 loss to the Patriots.
Season:Â 30 tackles (21 solo, nine assists), eight tackles for loss, 4 1/2 sacks, 11 quarterback hurries, one forced fumble
DARIUS SLAYÂ | CB | PITTSBURGH STEELERS |Â AT MSU: 2011-12
Last Week:Â Slay started and made four tackles (three solo, one assist) in a 33-31 loss at the Bengals.
Season:Â 23 tackles (20 solo, three assists), three pass defenses, one fumble recovery
PRESTON SMITHÂ | LB | WASHINGTON COMMANDERSÂ |Â AT MSU: 2011-14
Last Week:Â Smith made two tackles (one solo, one assist) in a 44-22 loss at the Cowboys.
Season:Â five tackles (two solo, three assists)
MONTEZ SWEATÂ | DE | CHICAGO BEARSÂ |Â AT MSU: 2017-18
Last Week:Â Sweat started and made four solo tackles, two tackles for loss, one sack, two quarterback hurries and forced a fumble in a 26-14 win over the Saints.
Season:Â 18 tackles (15 solo, three assists), five tackles for loss, three pass defenses, five quarterback hurries, two sacks, two forced fumbles
NATHANIEL WATSONÂ | LB | CLEVELAND BROWNSÂ |Â AT MSU: 2018-23
Last Week:Â Watson was on injured reserve for a 31-6 win over the Dolphins.
Season:Â Out for the season (bicep)
TYRUS WHEATÂ | DE | DETROIT LIONSÂ |Â AT MSU: 2020-22
Last Week: Wheat made two tackles (one solo, one assist), one tackle for loss, 1 ½ sacks, one quarterback hurry and forced a fumble in a 24-9 win over the Buccaneers.
Season: four tackles (one solo, three assists), one tackle for loss, 1 ½ sacks, one quarterback hurry, one forced fumble
