#STATEtoSundays: Week 17 Preview
December 25, 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 Chris Jones (7x), Darius Slay (6x), Dak Prescott (4x), Jeffery Simmons (4x), Elgton Jenkins (2x), Logan Cooke, J.T. Gray and Montez Sweat. Cooke was named the AFC Special Teams Player of the Week for his Week 16 performance.
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.
Marcus Banks (Buccaneers), Jaden Crumedy (Panthers) and Tyre Phillips (Browns) are members of the practice squad. Martin Emerson and Nathaniel Watson are on injured reserve for the Browns and will miss the 2025 season.
Jenkins was also placed on injured reserve for the Packers following Week 10. Slay was claimed off waivers by Buffalo earlier this month but is currently on the reserve/did not report list. Â
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.
Dallas Cowboys (6-8-1) at Washington Commanders (4-11) | 12 p.m. Netflix
QB Dak Prescott (DAL)
DE Preston Smith (WAS)
Detroit Lions (8-7) at Minnesota Vikings (7-8) | 3:30 p.m. Netflix
DE Tyrus Wheat (DET)
Denver Broncos (12-3) at Kansas City Chiefs (6-9) | 7:15 p.m. Prime Video
DT Chris Jones (KC)
Houston Texans (10-5) at San Diego Chargers (11-4) | 3:30 p.m. NFL Network
DE Denico Autry (HOU)
Seattle Seahawks (12-3) at Carolina Panthers (8-7) | 12 p.m. CBS
OT Charles Cross (SEA)
Jacksonville Jaguars (11-4) at Indianapolis Colts (8-7) | 12 p.m. FOX
P Logan Cooke (JAX)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (7-8) at Miami Dolphins (6-9) | 12 p.m. FOX
LB Willie Gay Jr. (MIA)
S J.T. Gray (TB)
New Orleans Saints (5-10) at Tennessee Titans (3-12) | 12 p.m. CBS
DT Jeffery Simmons (TEN)
New York Giants (2-13) at Las Vegas Raiders (2-13) | 3:05 p.m. CBS
CB Decamerion Richardson (LV)
Chicago Bears (11-4) at San Francisco 49ers (11-4) | 7:20 p.m. NBC, Peacock
DE Montez Sweat (CHI)
Los Angeles Rams (11-4) at Atlanta Falcons (6-9) | 7:15 p.m. ESPN
CB Emmanuel Forbes (LAR)
