#STATEtoSundays: Week 17 Update

Dec 25, 2025; Landover, Maryland, USA; Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott (4) is interviewed after defeating the Washington Commanders at Northwest Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Amber Searls-Imagn Images

Photo by: Amber Searls-Imagn Images

#STATEtoSundays: Week 17 Update

December 30, 2025 | Football

By: Logan Lowery, Assistant Director/Communications

Dak Prescott celebrated a merry Christmas by slinging a pair of touchdown passes in Dallas' 30-23 rivalry win at Washington on Christmas Day.

Prescott finished the day with 307 passing yards and was named one of the Cowboys' MVPs in the game. He heads into the final week of the regular season leading the NFL with 4,482 passing yards and is tied for third with 30 TD tosses.

It's the fourth time in Prescott's career that he's thrown 30 or more touchdowns, which ties Tony Romo for the most in franchise history. According to Pro Football Focus (PFF), the four-time Pro Bowler has posted Dallas' top offensive grade this season at 88.1, which ranks seventh among all signal callers in the league.

D-Line U also had another dominant week in the NFL with former Mississippi State standout defensive linemen combing for 17 tackles, 3 ½ sacks, six quarterback hurries and a pair of forced fumbles.

Jeffery Simmons once again led the way tying for second on Tennessee with seven tackles and a strip sack. It was Simmons' third strip sack of the season, establishing a new career high and the most by a defensive tackle this year.

Simmons now has a 17 tackles for loss this season, the most by a Titans defender since 2008. He has a personal best 10 sacks on the year and 41 ½ for his career.

Simmons ranks 10^th in the NFL with an overall defensive grade of 89.8 this season, which is second among interior defenders. He also holds the highest pressure grade at his position at 91.7. During Week 17, the four-time Pro Bowler posted the best pressure grade in the league at 92.4 and tied for seventh with a defensive rating of 91.5.

Denico Autry also notched a strip sack in Houston's victory at the Chargers. Autry now has 3 ½ sacks this season and 65 ½ over his 12-year career. He also has forced eight fumbles in his career.

Autry also has the fourth-highest special teams grade in the league for 2025 at 91.4.

Chris Jones also provided a sack and four quarterback hurries for Kansas City. It was his fifth sack of the season and now has 85 ½ during his decade in the league. The seven-time Pro Bowler has the top pressure grade on the Chiefs at 90.7, which ranks No. 2 among NFL interior defenders just behind Simmons.

Preston Smith picked up a half-sack for the Commanders to give him 71 during his 11-year career.

Days after being named the AFC Special Teams Player of the Week, Logan Cooke followed up by averaging 63.5 yards on a pair of punts for Jacksonville this past weekend.

DENICO AUTRY | DE | HOUSTON TEXANS | AT MSU: 2012-13
Last Week: Autry made one solo tackle, one tackle for loss, one sack and one forced fumble in a 20-16 win at the Chargers.
Season: eight tackles (five solo, three assists), three tackles for loss, 3 1/2 sacks, four quarterback hurries, one pass defense, one forced fumble, two blocked field goals

MARCUS BANKS | S | TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS | AT MSU: 2022-23
Last Week: Banks was on the practice squad for a 20-17 loss at the Dolphins.
Season: three 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 twice for 127 yards (63.5 avg.) with a long of 66 yards in a 23-17 win at the Colts.
Season: Punting – 57 punts for 2,740 yards (48.1 avg.), long 68 Misc. – one solo tackle

CHARLES CROSS | OT | SEATTLE SEAHAWKS | AT MSU: 2019-21
Last Week: Cross was inactive for a 27-10 win at the Panthers.
Season: 14 games played, 14 starts

JADEN CRUMEDY | DT | CAROLINA PANTEHRS | AT MSU: 2018-23
Last Week: Crumedy was on the practice squad for a 27-10 loss to the Seahawks.
Season: two assisted tackles

MARTIN EMERSON | CB | CLEVELAND BROWNS | AT MSU: 2019-21
Last Week: Emerson was on injured reserve for a 13-6 win over the Steelers.
Season: Out for the season (torn Achilles)

EMMANUEL FORBES | CB | LOS ANGELES RAMS | AT MSU: 2020-22
Last Week: Forbes started and made two tackles (one solo, one assist) and one pass defense in a 27-24 loss at the Falcons.
Season: 43 tackles (30 solo, 13 assists), 17 pass defenses, one forced fumble, three interceptions

WILLIE GAY JR. | LB | MIAMI DOLPHINS | AT MSU: 2017-19
Last Week: Gay made four tackles (two solo, two assists) in a 20-17 win over the Buccaneers.
Season: 18 tackles (nine solo, nine assists), three tackles for loss, two sacks, two quarterback hurries, two pass defenses

J.T. GRAY | S | TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS | AT MSU: 2014-17
Last Week: Gray saw action on 16 special teams plays in a 20-17 loss at the Dolphins.
Season: one assisted tackle

ELGTON JENKINS | G/C | GREEN BAY PACKERS | AT MSU: 2014-18
Last Week: Jenkins was on injured reserve (fractured lower left leg) for a 41-24 loss to the Ravens.
Season: nine games played, nine starts

CHRIS JONES | DE | KANSAS CITY CHIEFS | AT MSU: 2013-15
Last Week: Jones started and made two tackles (one solo, one assist), one tackle for loss, one sack and four quarterback hurries in a 20-13 loss to the Broncos.
Season: 26 tackles (13 solo, 13 assists), 10 tackles for loss, 22 quarterback hurries, five sacks, two pass defenses

TYRE PHILLIPS | OG | CLEVELAND BROWNS | AT MSU: 2017-19
Last Week: Phillips was on the practice squad for a 13-6 win over the Steelers.
Season: N/A

DAK PRESCOTT | QB | DALLAS COWBOYS | AT MSU: 2011-15
Last Week: Prescott started and completed 19 of 37 passes for 307 yards and two touchdowns. He also rushed four times for 24 yards in a 30-23 win at the Commanders.
Season: Passing - 397 of 589, 4,482 yards, 30 touchdowns, 10 interceptions Rushing – 51 carries, 178 yards, two touchdowns Misc. – two solo tackles, three fumble recoveries

DECAMERION RICHARDSON | CB | LAS VEGAS RAIDERS | AT MSU: 2020-23
Last Week: Richardson saw action on 12 special teams plays in a 34-10 loss to the Giants.
Season: 10 tackles (eight solo, two assists)

JEFFERY SIMMONS | DT | TENNESSEE TITANS | AT MSU: 2016-18
Last Week: Simmons started and finished second on the team with seven tackles (four solo, three assists), one sack, one quarterback hurry and one forced fumble in a 34-26 loss to the Saints.
Season: Defense - 65 tackles (38 solo, 27 assists), 17 tackles for loss, 10 sacks, 20 quarterback hurries, three forced fumbles, three pass defenses, one safety Receiving – one catch, 1 yard, one touchdown

DARIUS SLAY | CB | BUFFALO BILLS | AT MSU: 2011-12
Last Week: Slay was on the reserve/did not report list for a 13-12 loss to the Eagles.
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, a half-sack and one quarterback hurry in a 30-23 loss to the Cowboys.
Season: 23 tackles (eight solo, 15 assists), six quarterback hurries, two tackles for loss, one pass defense, 0.5 sack

MONTEZ SWEAT | DE | CHICAGO BEARS | AT MSU: 2017-18
Last Week: Sweat started and made five tackles (four solo, one assist) in a 42-38 loss at the 49ers.
Season: 48 tackles (35 solo, 13 assists), 13 tackles for loss, six pass defenses, 16 quarterback hurries, 9 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 13-6 win over the Steelers.
Season: Out for the season (bicep)

TYRUS WHEAT | DE | DETROIT LIONS | AT MSU: 2020-22
Last Week: Wheat saw action on 14 special teams plays in a 23-10 loss at the Vikings.
Season: 13 tackles (five solo, eight assists), one tackle for loss, 1 ½ sacks, two quarterback hurries, one forced fumble, one pass defense