Week 3 brought a little bit of everything for former Arizona Wildcats in the NFL: a clutch kick in Baltimore, a pair of interceptions in Los Angeles, and a few uneven afternoons for players still trying to carve out bigger roles.
The biggest headline belonged to Tyler Loop, who delivered under the brightest lights. The Baltimore kicker drilled a game-winning 56-yard field goal to beat the Dallas Cowboys 34-31 in the NFL Rio Game.
It was the kind of moment that can change how a locker room sees a kicker, and it came after Loop spent the season carrying plenty of pressure following the miss in the Ravens’ 2025 season finale that would have sent the team to the playoffs. He held onto the starting job through fall camp, and Sunday night gave Baltimore a strong argument that he belongs there for the long haul.
For the north Texas native, beating the Cowboys only added to the moment. If you haven’t seen the Portuguese broadcast version of the kick, it’s worth checking out.
Another former Wildcat who made noise was Genesis Smith, who kept standing out even as the Chargers’ season has gone sideways. The rookie safety came up with two interceptions off Buffalo quarterback Josh Allen in a 24-16 Bills win, and the second one was the eye-opener - Smith spun his body around at just the right moment to finish the play. According to Pro Football Focus, he posted the highest defensive grade among all safeties this week.
Not every Arizona alum had that kind of afternoon. Tetairoa McMillan was held in check against Cleveland, catching just two passes for 17 yards on five targets in the Panthers’ 21-18 loss.
He still hasn’t scored a touchdown this season, and the separation that made him so dangerous at Arizona - and that Carolina fans were expecting to see - just hasn’t shown up often enough. The usage told its own story, too: McMillan saw only one of Carolina’s 28 second-half targets on Sunday.
On Thursday night, Jordan Morgan logged his best game of the season for Green Bay. The Packers left tackle earned a 71.5 grade from PFF, which ranked third on the offense, even though the unit as a whole struggled in a 35-14 loss to Atlanta. Morgan has now settled into the left tackle spot on an offensive line that’s been banged up.
The Falcons had a former Wildcat of their own contributing in the win. Nick Folk made two field goals, including a long of 44 yards, and climbed into a tie for 10th all time in made field goals with 436, matching Jason Elam and Sebastian Janikowski.
Jacob Cowing was involved a bit in San Francisco’s 36-30 win over the Arizona Cardinals, getting two targets and adding a seven-yard punt return. His biggest value remains on special teams, where he occasionally handles punt returns.
Roy Lopez saw plenty of action for Arizona in that same game, playing 34 snaps in the Cardinals’ loss to the 49ers and finishing with a 65.7 PFF grade, fifth-best on the defense.
Washington’s Jacory Croskey-Merritt had a quieter day in a 33-31 win over Seattle, rushing for 36 yards on 19 carries and adding one catch for seven yards.
Jonah Savaiinaea was on the field for every one of Miami’s 73 offensive snaps in the Dolphins’ 24-10 loss to Kansas City, and he finished with a 56.2 PFF grade.
Treydan Stukes did not play for the Raiders against the Saints after suffering a concussion in Week 2 against the Chargers. He is expected back this week, when the 3-0 Raiders host the 3-0 Chiefs in Las Vegas.
In Other News...
Arizonas Offense Faces A Brutal Test Against Undefeated Cincinnati
Cincinnati has spent the first part of the season looking every bit like a team that expects to stay unbeaten, and the reasons are pretty easy to spot. Keegan Nickoson of Bearcat Journal pointed first to the Bearcats offensive line, the kind of front that has given their offense a sturdy base, while quarterback JC French IV has been efficient enough to keep everything moving. Add in a rushing game that has helped Cincinnati control the tone of games, and it is no surprise this matchup with Arizona is drawing attention.
For the Wildcats, the challenge is not just facing a perfect start, but dealing with a defense that has repeatedly created problems by forcing mistakes and shortening drives. Arizonas offense will have to handle the physical edge Cincinnati has shown on both sides of the ball, and the conversation around this game keeps circling back to which player or unit can tilt the field first. If the Bearcats are going to keep rolling, they look equipped to make the Wildcats earn every yard. [Read more 🡒]
Arizonas Title Hopes Rest On One Big Rebuilt Roster Question
Arizona is heading into the new season with a very different look after making its first Final Four in 25 years, and that alone has changed the conversation around what this roster can become. Only two key players are back from last season, so the Wildcats have leaned heavily on transfers, freshmen and international additions as they try to turn a rebuilt group into another contender. The recent Red-Blue Showcase offered at least a glimpse of the talent pool, and there was enough there to suggest the pieces are interesting, even if they are still sorting out how they fit.
The biggest question now is how quickly those pieces can settle into defined roles, especially with so many moving parts still in the picture. Arizona is waiting on clarity around the eligibility situation involving RJ Godfrey, while the offensive workload for Ivan Kharchenkov and freshman Caleb Holt remains a key part of the puzzle. For a team with real title hopes, the difference between being a dangerous early-season story and a legitimate March threat may come down to how soon this rebuilt roster starts answering those questions. [Read more 🡒]
Arizona May Have Found Another Young Weapon On Offense
Arizonas offense keeps finding ways to widen its base, and Caleb Smith provided another reminder in the win over Washington State. The freshman receiver was all over the field, finishing with 122 all-purpose yards while adding 86 receiving yards, his first career touchdown catch and a 36-yard punt return. For a Wildcats attack that has leaned on young playmakers at different points, Smiths versatility stood out as a real plus.
Smiths best work came in the middle of the games biggest sequence, when Arizona needed someone to help push a drive forward and flip momentum. He delivered with key receptions and a spark in the return game, giving the Wildcats another option to build around as the season moves on. The question now is how much more of that growing role Arizona can keep unlocking. [Read more 🡒]