Week 6 gave former Indiana players another scattered look across the NFL, and the headliner was Omar Cooper Jr. finally reaching the end zone for the first time in his pro career.
Cooper, now with the New York Jets, played 51 offensive snaps and turned that work into 6 receptions for 103 yards and 1 touchdown. Through two games, he has 7 catches for 133 yards and that lone score. The first NFL touchdown was enough to draw attention on social media, with Big Ten Football posting: “Omar Cooper Jr. has had some big catches in his career 💥
The @IndianaFootball champ added another one today on his first career @NFL TD.”
Elsewhere on the Jets’ roster, D’Angelo Ponds logged 11 defensive snaps and 2 special teams snaps, bringing his season totals to 33 defensive snaps, 13 special teams snaps and 3 total tackles. Marcelino McCrary-Ball was inactive and is on injured reserve.
In Kansas City, Kahlil Benson had a heavy workload at left tackle, starting and playing 61 offensive snaps. Cam Jones also saw the field for the first time this season, contributing 15 special teams snaps. On the season, Benson has played 322 offensive snaps and 22 special teams snaps across five games, while Jones has appeared in one game.
Kaelon Black handled 14 offensive snaps for the San Francisco 49ers and produced 8 carries for 34 yards plus 1 reception for 3 yards. His season line now sits at 95 offensive snaps, 45 carries for 170 yards and 2 catches for 8 yards. CJ West remained inactive and is on injured reserve, while Kurtis Rourke did not play.
The Raiders had two former Hoosiers on the report, though Fernando Mendoza did not play as the backup quarterback. Ian Thomas saw 14 offensive snaps and 8 special teams snaps. Mendoza has played one game this season, while Thomas has 4 catches for 52 yards and 1 touchdown over six games.
Micah McFadden worked mostly on special teams for the Giants, playing 25 snaps there and finishing with 1 tackle. Riley Nowakowski did the same for Pittsburgh, getting 1 offensive snap and 23 special teams snaps while adding 1 tackle. For the season, McFadden has 4 total tackles, and Nowakowski has 4 tackles, including 1 solo.
Aiden Fisher was active for Houston but did not play. Pat Coogan played 6 special teams snaps for Tennessee.
The rest of the former IU group saw quieter weekends. Myles Price had a bye with Minnesota.
Luke Haggard was inactive for Tampa Bay, while Dan Feeney remained a reserve lineman and did not play. Elijah Sarratt was inactive for Baltimore.
Nick Westbrook-Ikhine remains on the Colts’ practice squad after appearing in three games. Ke’Shawn Williams is also on a practice squad in Cincinnati and has played in one game.
In Other News...
Pacers Open The Season With A Problem They Didn't Want
The Pacers head into their season opener already having to reshuffle the rotation, and the timing could not be much worse. Aaron Nesmith has been ruled out with a left hamstring strain, leaving Indiana without its starting small forward as it tries to get the new season moving in the right direction. His absence hands Kelly Oubre Jr. a chance to step into the lineup, while the injury also nudges the coaching staff toward more minutes for the wing depth behind him.
There is more uncertainty in the backcourt, too, with T.J. McConnell still sidelined by a right hamstring strain. For a team that leans on pace, pressure and energy, losing two rotation pieces before the first game is a frustrating start, especially when the bench is supposed to help stabilize things early. Jarace Walker and Ben Sheppard are among the players who could be asked to pick up some of the slack, and the opening stretch now comes with an immediate test of Indiana's depth. [Read more 🡒]
Pacers Trade Buzz Hints At A Bigger Plan Around Haliburton
The Pacers offseason chatter has started to sharpen around the idea that the front office is looking for more than just a bounce-back year. Bleacher Reports Dan Favale recently named three possible trade targets for Indiana in Yves Missi, Jaylin Williams and Jordan Walsh, a list that points to the kind of roster-building decisions the team may be weighing as it tries to keep pace in a crowded East.
A healthy Tyrese Haliburton changes the conversation almost immediately. Indiana is expected to take a step forward with Haliburton back from injury, and the projections reflect a team that could win a lot of games if the supporting cast fits properly around him. Haliburton already signed his five-year extension in 2023, so the long-term plan is clear enough - now the interesting part is whether the Pacers use trade talks to accelerate it. [Read more 🡒]
Pacers Suddenly Face A T.J. McConnell Concern They Can't Ignore
T.J. McConnells availability has suddenly become an early Pacers concern, with the veteran guard expected to miss the first game of the season because of a hamstring strain. For a team that leans on his pace, energy and steadying presence, the timing is hard to ignore, especially with the regular season just getting underway and the point guard room looking thinner than usual.
McConnells value has always come from the same relentless style that has helped him last this long, even as he enters his mid-30s and continues to battle the wear that comes with playing that way. The bigger question now is not just how long he sits, but what Indiana does if this becomes more than a short-term issue, because there isnt a clear like-for-like answer waiting behind him. [Read more 🡒]