And then there was one unbeaten team left in the NFL, and yes, it’s the Minnesota Vikings.
Week 7 also brought a few Hawk highlights, starting with Brandon Smith finally getting his first NFL catches. Smith has had a long road since 2021, moving from practice squad to practice squad and taking brief stops with Dallas, the New York Jets, Arizona, and New England before landing in Pittsburgh this season.
He was activated on October 24, and this weekend he made the most of the opportunity. In Pittsburgh’s 16-10 win over New Orleans in Paris (??), Smith caught two passes for 24 yards.
Congratulations to Smith!
Noah Fant was on the other sideline and finished with two catches for 12 yards as the Saints dropped to 2-5.
Elsewhere, T.J. Hockenson got on the scoresheet for the Vikings in their 16-10 win over Indianapolis.
His touchdown, a 5-yarder, put Minnesota ahead for good on National Tight End Day, no less. That win left the Vikings alone at the top of the league’s unbeaten column.
Detroit’s 20-17 win over Green Bay came with a packed Hawk reunion. Sam LaPorta had just one catch for 18 yards after a week that has drawn attention for his public comments about not getting a contract offer yet and saying that if one doesn’t come, he’ll play elsewhere. On defense, Jack Campbell led the Lions with 11 tackles.
For Green Bay, Nick Niemann added two tackles, Lukas Van Ness had none but did get credit for a hit on Jared Goff, and Kaleb Johnson did not record a touch. With Josh Jacobs back, it may be tough for Johnson to see much of the ball going forward, and that’s disappointing.
George Kittle kept rolling in the Bay Area, catching six passes for 88 yards even though San Francisco lost 29-20 in Atlanta to suffer its first defeat of the season. The Niners were dealing with a banged-up receiver room, and Christian McCaffrey missed a big chunk of the game with an injury. Power station-related, I’m sure…
In Dallas, Goodson continued to make his presence felt. He handled 10 carries for 38 yards, added two kick returns for 42 yards, and nearly broke off a return touchdown in the Cowboys’ 38-21 win over Philadelphia before the play was wiped out by all that laundry on the field. Meanwhile, Cooper DeJean made seven tackles for the Eagles, who are now in free fall.
Erick All’s bad luck continues, almost unbelievably.
In Other News...
Iowa Is Already Sending A Clear Message About Tradon Bessinger
Even without a path to the field this season, Tradon Bessinger is already being brought into Iowas daily football rhythm. The four-star freshman quarterback is traveling with the Hawkeyes and getting exposed to the teams game-day routines, part of an early effort to help him adjust to the college game and understand what the program expects long before he is asked to help it on Saturdays.
Kirk Ferentz made it clear the staff views Bessinger as a future player, and the way Iowa is handling his first year reflects that long view. For a program that has always leaned on patience and development at quarterback, the message is straightforward: Bessinger is being introduced to the environment now, even if there is no sign he will be called on for action this fall. [Read more 🡒]
Iowa Freshman Jaidyn Coon Already Faces A Tough Path To Minutes
Jaidyn Coons first taste of Iowa basketball came in an exhibition setting, and the early read was pretty simple: there is a long way to go before minutes come easy. The incoming freshman from Storm Lake, who arrived with the pedigree of a recent Iowa Mr. Basketball and a high school rsum that included leading his team to state tournament appearances, got about four minutes off the bench as the Hawkeyes started sorting out roles and rotation depth.
For Coon, the challenge is less about proving he belongs and more about carving out a lane on a wing that already has bodies competing for time. Iowa is hoping his energy and athleticism can become an asset off the bench, but for now he is trying to make every brief opportunity count while the staff figures out how his game fits into the mix. [Read more 🡒]
Former Hawkeyes Suddenly Have A Real Opening In Oklahoma City
Oklahoma Citys first loss of the 2026-2027 season came with an injury-depleted roster, and it also created an opening for two former Hawkeyes who have spent the early part of the year waiting for a real look. Bennett Stirtz and Josh Dix both logged meaningful minutes against Dallas, giving Iowa fans a familiar connection to a Thunder team suddenly short on bodies and searching for answers.
Stirtz, who was acquired in the 2026 NBA Draft, finished with 8 points, while Dix, the undrafted guard who signed a two-way contract with Oklahoma City, got on the scoreboard for the first time in the NBA. With Jalen Williams already out for the season and four starters unavailable in all, the Thunders thin rotation may have just turned into a surprising opportunity for both ex-Hawkeyes to prove they belong. [Read more 🡒]