#STATEtoSundays: Week 13 Update
December 02, 2025 | Football
Something no quarterback wants to see is Jeffery Simmons – all 6-foot-4, 305-pounds of him – steamrolling past their offensive linemen and heading straight for them.
Jacksonville signal caller Trevor Lawrence saw Simmons' No. 98 plenty this past weekend as the former Mississippi State standout finished third on Tennessee's defense with six tackles, one of which was a sack.
Simmons now has 6 ½ sacks and 10 tackles for loss this season and 59 stops behind the line of scrimmage and 38 sacks for his career. His 90.9 pressure grade and 87.3 overall defensive grades from Pro Football Focus (PFF) are the best on the Titans.
The three-time Pro Bowler has the top pressure grade of any interior defender in the NFL this season and eighth highest regardless of position. His overall defensive grade ranks second at his position.
Chris Jones was credited with four tackles - including one for loss - during Kansas City's contest at Dallas on Thanksgiving. Jones had the highest pressure grade (78.2) and second-best defensive grade (75.3) for the Chiefs during Week 13.
Jones' 86.2 pressure grade this season tops Kansas City and ranks third in the NFL among interior defenders.
Dak Prescott connected on 27 of 39 throws for 320 yards, two touchdowns and a two-point conversion in Dallas' 31-28 victory against the Chiefs on Turkey Day. Prescott has thrown for 2,305 yards on Thanksgiving, the second most in franchise history behind Tony Romo (2,338).
It was also Prescott's fourth 300-yard passing game of the season, the most of any quarterback in the NFL.
Charles Cross started and logged 64 snaps at left tackle for Seattle this past Sunday, earning the best pass blocking grade on the team at 81.0. Cross' 81.5 pass blocking grade in 2025 is also the highest on the Seahawks and ranks seventh among all offensive tackles in the league.
Logan Cooke punted seven times for a 44.7-yard average, which included a season-long 63 yarder. He also made a tackle following one of his punts in the Jaguars' 25-3 road win at Tennessee.
For the second straight week, Marcus Banks was activated off Tampa Bay's practice squad and saw 10 special teams reps in a 20-17 victory over Arizona. Stone Blanton was released from San Francisco's practice squad on Nov. 26.
DENICO AUTRY | DE | HOUSTON TEXANS | AT MSU: 2012-13
Last Week: Autry made one assisted tackle in a 20-16 win at the Colts.
Season: four tackles (three solo, one assist), one tackle for loss, one sack, one quarterback hurry, one pass defense, two blocked field goals
MARCUS BANKS | S | TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS | AT MSU: 2022-23
Last Week: Banks was activated from the practice squad on Nov. 30 and received 10 reps on special teams in a 20-17 win over the Cardinals.
Season: two games played
STONE BLANTON | LB | FREE AGENT | AT MSU: 2024
Last Week: Blanton was released from the 49ers practice squad on Nov. 26.
Season: N/A
LOGAN COOKE | P | JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS | AT MSU: 2014-17
Last Week: Cooke punted seven times for 313 yards (44.7 avg.) including a season-long 63-yarder. He also recorded one solo tackle in a 25-3 win at the Titans.
Season: Punting – 44 punts for 2,060 yards (46.8 avg.), long 68 Misc. – one solo tackle
CHARLES CROSS | OT | SEATTLE SEAHAWKS | AT MSU: 2019-21
Last Week: Cross started at left tackle and played 64 snaps on offense and six on special teams in a 26-0 win over the Vikings.
Season: 12 games played, 12 starts
JADEN CRUMEDY | DT | CAROLINA PANTEHRS | AT MSU: 2018-23
Last Week: Crumedy was on the practice squad for a 31-28 win over the Rams.
Season: two assisted tackles
MARTIN EMERSON | CB | CLEVELAND BROWNS | AT MSU: 2019-21
Last Week: Emerson was on injured reserve for a 26-8 loss to the 49ers.
Season: Out for the season (torn Achilles)
EMMANUEL FORBES | CB | LOS ANGELES RAMS | AT MSU: 2020-22
Last Week: Forbes started and made two assisted tackles in a 31-28 loss at the Panthers.
Season: 29 tackles (21 solo, eight assists), 13 pass defenses, one forced fumble, three interceptions
WILLIE GAY JR. | LB | MIAMI DOLPHINS | AT MSU: 2017-19
Last Week: Gay made one pass defense in a 21-17 win over the Saints.
Season: 10 tackles (five solo, five assists), two tackles for loss, one sack, one quarterback hurry, one pass defense
J.T. GRAY | S | TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS | AT MSU: 2014-17
Last Week: Gray was on the practice squad for a 20-17 win over the Cardinals.
Season: one game played
ELGTON JENKINS | G/C | GREEN BAY PACKERS | AT MSU: 2014-18
Last Week: Jenkins was on injured reserve (fractured lower left leg) for a 31-24 win at the Lions.
Season: nine games played, nine starts
CHRIS JONES | DE | KANSAS CITY CHIEFS | AT MSU: 2013-15
Last Week: Jones started and made four tackles (two solo, two assists) and one tackle for loss in a 31-28 loss at the Cowboys.
Season: 20 tackles (10 solo, 10 assists), seven tackles for loss, 11 quarterback hurries, three sacks, one pass defense
TYRE PHILLIPS | OG | CLEVELAND BROWNS | AT MSU: 2017-19
Last Week: Phillips was on the practice squad for a 26-8 loss to the 49ers.
Season: N/A
DAK PRESCOTT | QB | DALLAS COWBOYS | AT MSU: 2011-15
Last Week: Prescott started and completed 27 of 39 passes for 320 yards, two touchdowns, one interception and a two-point conversion. He also rushed three times for minus-2 yards in a 31-28 win over the Chiefs.
Season: Passing - 303 of 437, 3,261 yards, 25 touchdowns, eight interceptions Rushing – 41 carries, 124 yards, two touchdowns Misc. – one solo tackle, three fumble recoveries
DECAMERION RICHARDSON | CB | LAS VEGAS RAIDERS | AT MSU: 2020-23
Last Week: Richardson made two solo tackles on special teams in a 31-14 loss at the Chargers.
Season: eight tackles (seven solo, one assist)
JEFFERY SIMMONS | DT | TENNESSEE TITANS | AT MSU: 2016-18
Last Week: Simmons started and finished third on the team with six tackles (two solo, four assists), one tackle for loss, one sack and two quarterback hurries in a 25-3 loss to the Jaguars.
Season: 41 tackles (26 solo, 15 assists), 10 tackles for loss, 6 1/2 sacks, 15 quarterback hurries, one forced fumble
DARIUS SLAY | CB | PITTSBURGH STEELERS | AT MSU: 2011-12
Last Week: Slay was not active in a 26-7 loss to the Bills.
Season: 36 tackles (28 solo, eight assists), three pass defenses, one fumble recovery, one tackle for loss
PRESTON SMITH | DE | WASHINGTON COMMANDERS | AT MSU: 2011-14
Last Week: Smith made two assisted tackles and one quarterback hurry in a 27-26 overtime loss to the Broncos.
Season: 14 tackles (four solo, 10 assists), two quarterback hurries, one tackle for loss
MONTEZ SWEAT | DE | CHICAGO BEARS | AT MSU: 2017-18
Last Week: Sweat started and made one assisted tackle in a 24-15 loss at the Eagles.
Season: 35 tackles (26 solo, nine assists), 11 tackles for loss, six pass defenses, 12 quarterback hurries, 7 1/2 sacks, three forced fumbles, one fumble recovery
NATHANIEL WATSON | LB | CLEVELAND BROWNS | AT MSU: 2018-23
Last Week: Watson was on injured reserve for a 26-8 loss to the 49ers.
Season: Out for the season (bicep)
TYRUS WHEAT | DE | DETROIT LIONS | AT MSU: 2020-22
Last Week: Wheat saw action for 16 reps on special teams in a 31-24 loss to the Packers.
Season: 11 tackles (three solo, eight assists), one tackle for loss, 1 ½ sacks, one quarterback hurry, one forced fumble
