#STATEtoSundays: Week 5 Update
October 07, 2025 | Football
Jeffery Simmons proved to be nearly unstoppable in Tennessee's 22-21 road win at Arizona this past Sunday.
Simmons finished third on the Titans by stacking up eight tackles (six solos) along with 1 ½ sacks, one tackle for loss and two quarterback hurries. The former Mississippi State standout and three-time Pro Bowler now has 3 ½ sacks on the season and 35 for his career.
This season, Pro Football Focus (PFF) ranks Simmons No. 2 among NFL interior defenders with a 90.8 pressure grade and ranks ninth overall at his position with an overall defensive grade of 82.5. His defensive and pressure grade leads Tennessee in both categories and also tops the Titans with an 89.5 overall defensive grade and an 87.9 pressure grade during Week 5.
Willie Gay Jr. earned his first start of the season and owns the No. 1 defensive and coverage grades for Miami this season at 79.3 and 78.8 respectively. Gay also sports the second-best tackling grade on the Dolphins at 77.3.
Preston Smith made his 2025 debut and recorded a solo tackle in Washington's 27-10 win at the Chargers.
Dak Prescott had another huge week for Dallas, completing 18 of 29 passes for 237 yards, four touchdowns and no interceptions in a 37-22 win at the Jets. In the process, Prescott passed Tony Romo to become the Cowboys' second all-time leader in pass attempts with 4,354 for his career.
Prescott holds the top offensive grade for the Cowboys this season at 90.8, which ranks fourth among NFL quarterbacks. He also ranks fourth among signal callers in the league with a passing grade of 88.8 in 2025.
Prescott has now thrown three or more TDs in a single game 38 times in his career, which is the sixth-most such games by a quarterback in his first 10 seasons in NFL history.
Charles Cross continues to be a stalwart for Seattle at left tackle. The former first-round draft pick played all 61 offensive snaps during Week 5 leads all Seahawks offensive linemen in both run blocking and pass blocking grades this season.
Cross ranks eighth among all offensive tackles in the league with an 84.0 pass blocking grade and a 78.9 overall offensive grade.
Logan Cooke flipped the field twice in Jacksonville's 31-28 win over Kansas City on Monday Night Football. Cooke averaged 52.5 yards on his two punts and his career net punting average of 43.7 yards remains the most in NFL history since it became a stat in 1976.
DENICO AUTRYÂ | DE | HOUSTON TEXANSÂ |Â AT MSU: 2012-13
Last Week:Â Autry was on the physically unable to perform list for a 44-10 win at the Ravens.
Season:Â N/A
LOGAN COOKEÂ | P | JACKSONVILLE JAGUARSÂ |Â AT MSU: 2014-17
Last Week:Â Cooke punted five twice for 105 yards (52.5 avg.) with a long of 53 yards in a 31-28 win over the Chiefs.
Season:Â Punting -Â 17 punts for 841 yards (49.5 avg.), long 60
CHARLES CROSSÂ | OT | SEATTLE SEAHAWKSÂ |Â AT MSU: 2019-21
Last Week:Â Cross started at left tackle and played all 61 offensive snaps as well as six special teams reps in a 38-35 loss to the Buccaneers.
Season:Â five games played, five starts
JADEN CRUMEDYÂ | DT | CAROLINA PANTHERS |Â AT MSU: 2018-23
Last Week:Â Crumedy was not active in a 27-24 win over the Dolphins.
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 21-17 loss to the Vikings in London, England.
Season:Â Out for the season (torn Achilles)
EMMANUEL FORBESÂ | CB | LOS ANGELES RAMSÂ |Â AT MSU: 2020-22
Last Week:Â Forbes made one solo tackle in a 26-23 overtime loss to the 49ers.
Season:Â 12 tackles (eight solo, four assists), two pass defenses
WILLIE GAY JR. | LB | MIAMI DOLPHINS | AT MSU: 2017-19
Last Week:Â Gay started and played three snaps on defense and seven more on special teams in a 27-24 loss at the Panthers.
Season:Â three tackles (one solo, two assists), one tackle for loss
J.T. GRAYÂ | S | BALTIMORE RAVENSÂ |Â AT MSU: 2014-17
Last Week:Â Gray was on the practice squad for a 44-10 loss to the Texans.
Season:Â N/A
ELGTON JENKINSÂ | G/C | GREEN BAY PACKERS |Â AT MSU: 2014-18
Last Week:Â Bye
Season:Â four games played, four starts
CHRIS JONESÂ | DE | KANSAS CITY CHIEFS |Â AT MSU: 2013-15
Last Week:Â Jones started and made one assisted tackle and one quarterback hurry in a 31-28 loss at the Jaguars.
Season:Â seven tackles (four solo, three assists), four tackles for loss, six quarterback hurries, one sack, one pass defense
TYRE PHILLIPSÂ | OG | CLEVELAND BROWNS |Â AT MSU: 2017-19
Last Week:Â Phillips was on the practice squad for a 21-17 loss to the Vikings in London, England.
Season:Â N/A
DAK PRESCOTTÂ | QB | DALLAS COWBOYS |Â AT MSU: 2011-15
Last Week:Â Prescott started and completed 18 of 29 passes for 237 yards, four touchdowns and no interceptions. He also rushed seven times for 28 yards in a 37-22 win at the Jets.
Season: Passing - 139 of 195, 1,356 yards, 10 touchdowns, three interceptions Rushing – 12 carries, 50 yards, one touchdown Misc. – one solo tackle, one fumble recovery
DECAMERION RICHARDSONÂ | CB | LAS VEGAS RAIDERSÂ |Â AT MSU: 2020-23
Last Week:Â Richardson saw action on four special teams reps in a 40-6 loss at the Colts.
Season:Â two solo tackles
JEFFERY SIMMONSÂ | DT | TENNESSEE TITANS |Â AT MSU: 2016-18
Last Week: Simmons started and finished third on the team with eight tackles (six solo, two assists), 1 ½ sacks, one tackle for loss and two quarterback hurries in a 22-21 win at the Cardinals.
Season:Â 22 tackles (16 solo, six assists), six tackles for loss, 3 1/2 sacks, nine quarterback hurries, one forced fumble
DARIUS SLAYÂ | CB | PITTSBURGH STEELERS |Â AT MSU: 2011-12
Last Week:Â Bye
Season:Â 15 tackles (14 solo, one assist), two pass defenses, one fumble recovery
PRESTON SMITHÂ | LB | WASHINGTON COMMANDERSÂ |Â AT MSU: 2011-14
Last Week:Â Smith made one solo tackle in a 27-10 win at the Chargers.
Season:Â one solo tackle
MONTEZ SWEATÂ | DE | CHICAGO BEARSÂ |Â AT MSU: 2017-18
Last Week:Â Bye
Season:Â 11 tackles (nine solo, two assists), three tackles for loss, one pass defense, three quarterback hurries, one sack
NATHANIEL WATSONÂ | LB | CLEVELAND BROWNSÂ |Â AT MSU: 2018-23
Last Week:Â Watson was on injured reserve for a 21-17 loss to the Vikings in London, England.
Season:Â Out for the season (bicep)
TYRUS WHEATÂ | DE | DETROIT LIONSÂ |Â AT MSU: 2020-22
Last Week:Â Wheat saw action on 13 special teams reps in a 37-24 win at the Bengals.
Season:Â one assisted tackle
