Another week of the NFL season is in the books, and a handful of former Arizona Wildcats made their mark in Week 5 - with some rising performances and a few rough afternoons mixed in.
Jacory Croskey-Merritt turned in his best outing of the young season for the Washington Commanders. In their tie with the New York Giants, the running back piled up 82 yards and a touchdown.
His biggest moment came early, when he burst through for a 33-yard score on Washington’s first drive. Croskey-Merritt finished with 7.5 yards per carry.
Sunday Night Football also gave former Arizona fans a direct kicker showdown, and Tyler Loop came out ahead. Baltimore topped Atlanta 30-23 in overtime, and Loop was perfect, drilling all three of his field goal tries. His long of the night was 51 yards.
Nick Folk was just as sharp for the Falcons. He also went 3-for-3, with a long of 48 yards. Folk now sits at 440 career field goals, leaving him one behind Phil Dawson for ninth on the all-time list.
Up front, Jordan Morgan logged a full workload as Green Bay kept rolling against Chicago. The Packers handled the Bears 31-7 at home, and Morgan played all 62 offensive snaps at left tackle. Pro Football Focus gave him a 51.0 grade.
Jacob Cowing saw his busiest usage of the season in San Francisco’s 32-29 win over Seattle. He caught one pass for nine yards, while appearing on 26 offensive snaps and four special teams snaps.
Treydan Stukes had a tough day in the Raiders’ 45-17 loss to New England in Foxborough. He was challenged repeatedly in man coverage and gave up several completions. PFF charged him with a 54.1 grade, which fit the broader story of a shaky Raiders defense.
Jonah Savaiinaea also had a difficult week for Miami. Playing at right guard, he struggled before leaving with an ankle injury after 18 snaps. The Dolphins fell to 0-5 with a 31-24 loss to the Bengals.
Genesis Smith, meanwhile, worked through rookie growing pains in the Chargers’ 23-17 loss to the Broncos. PFF gave him a 35.5 grade, the lowest mark among Chargers defensive players.
In Other News...
Arizona Gets An Early Test For Its New-Look Final Four Follow-Up
Arizona will get an early look at its new season mix on Oct. 13, when the Wildcats host San Francisco in an exhibition at McKale Center. It is the first public tune-up for a program coming off a 36-3 season and a Final Four run, one that has managed to keep some familiar pieces in place while still looking notably different as it turns the page to another year with high expectations.
San Francisco is bringing a roster of its own that has been heavily remade, so the game should serve as an evaluation point for both sides. For Arizona, the timing offers a useful checkpoint before the games count, a chance to see how quickly the new group settles in against a disciplined opponent and whether the Wildcats can start building on last seasons standard right away. [Read more 🡒]
Arizona Opens With Real Rotation Questions Still Hanging Over This Team
The Arizona mens basketball team is using its exhibition slate to learn a little more about itself before the 2026-27 season begins, with three tune-ups scheduled against Division I opponents. San Francisco comes first Tuesday night at ALKEME Arena, then San Diego State and Eastern Washington later in October, giving the Wildcats a set of games that should feel more like early-season work than preseason theater. Assistant coach Jack Murphy said the point is to create competitive challenges that help the team get ready for the real thing.
Those matchups also arrive with some rotation uncertainty still hanging over the roster. Arizona is sorting through a few availability questions as it tries to settle roles and lineups, and the exhibitions should provide a clearer picture of who can handle what once the games count. In that sense, the first week of October may matter less for the final score than for the clues it offers about how the Wildcats will piece themselves together. [Read more 🡒]
Arizona Begins Sorting Out A New-Look Team With Pressure Still There
The exhibition calendar brings a familiar sort of October buzz, and for Arizona it offers the first real look at a roster still taking shape. Before the regular season begins, the Wildcats get a chance to sort through their rotation and see how the new pieces fit in a setting that matters more than practice but less than the standings.
Pressure is still part of the backdrop, though, because preseason games are not just about getting minutes, they are about answering questions. Arizona will use its opener to evaluate key pieces, including freshman Caleb Holt and returning frontcourt players Motiejus Krivas and Ivan Kharchenkov, as the staff starts separating first impressions from longer-term roles. [Read more 🡒]