Michigan State’s NFL pipeline kept showing up in Week 3, with Spartans scattered across the league and a few of them making real noise.
The biggest stat line belonged to Kenneth Walker III, who helped Kansas City stay unbeaten with a 24-10 win in Miami. Walker found the end zone twice, rushing for 70 yards and a touchdown while also catching two passes for 3 yards and a score. The Chiefs are 3-0.
Cody White also made his moment count for the Raiders. The undrafted receiver caught only one pass in Las Vegas’ 35-27 win over the New Orleans Saints, but it went for a 4-yard touchdown, coming one week after he scored twice for the silver and black.
White also added one tackle and logged 15 snaps on special teams. Kirk Cousins kept the Raiders moving, completing 22 of 33 passes for 248 yards with three touchdowns and no interceptions while continuing to hold off No. 1 overall pick Fernando Mendoza under center.
Jalen Nailor had one catch for 16 yards, and Connor Heyward played 29 snaps - 19 on offense and 10 on special teams - while recovering a fumble.
Elsewhere, Ryan Eckley got his first NFL road trip to Brazil and came away with a win. The rookie punter booted three punts for Baltimore in a 34-31 victory over Dallas, averaging 49.7 yards per kick. The Ravens moved to 2-1, while Ameer Speed did his work mostly on special teams for the Cowboys, playing 24 snaps there and four on defense without recording a stat in the loss.
Washington’s 33-31 upset of Seattle featured another Spartan rookie. Matt Gulbin filled in at right guard for four offensive snaps and added four more on special teams as the Commanders beat the reigning Super Bowl champs. Montorie Foster Jr. was inactive for Seattle in the road defeat.
Jayden Reed was also inactive after leaving Green Bay’s Week 2 game with an injury, and the Packers fell 35-14 at home to Atlanta to drop to 1-2. Jordan Turner got one assisted tackle for Denver in Sunday night’s 30-26 win over the Rams, playing one defensive snap and 21 more on special teams.
A few other Spartans were limited by injury or circumstance. Nick Samac was ruled out for Minnesota’s 23-16 road win over Tampa Bay. Bryce Baringer has not yet made his season debut after opening the year on injured reserve, and New England was blown out 35-6 by Jacksonville.
On defense, Naquan Jones made his 49ers debut in San Francisco’s 36-30 win over Arizona. He played 18 defensive snaps and finished with one assisted tackle as the 49ers stayed perfect at 3-0.
In Other News...
Michigan State May Finally Have A New Answer For Its Stalled Offense
Four weeks into Pat Fitzgeralds tenure, Michigan State is still searching for a cleaner offensive rhythm, and the strain has started to show on the other side of the ball as well. The Spartans have not found enough consistency to take pressure off a defense that has been asked to carry too much, so the staff is looking for ways to get more out of the roster it already has.
One possible piece is tight end Carson Gulker, the Ferris State transfer who has drawn notice for his athleticism and versatility. Offensive coordinator Nick Sheridan said Gulker may be in line for more playing time as Michigan State tries to be more efficient with its personnel, though his blocking still needs work before he can become a major factor. [Read more 🡒]
Michigan State Still Has A Real Path To A Wisconsin Upset
Michigan State heads into its matchup with Wisconsin still looking for answers after a rough stretch, and Pat Fitzgerald knows the margin for error is thin. The Badgers have already shown they can beat a quality opponent, knocking off Penn State and landing just outside the AP Top 25, which makes this a tricky spot for a Spartan team trying to steady itself.
There are still reasons to think Michigan State can make this interesting if it cleans up its own issues and gets help from a few key areas. The Spartans will be leaning more on Jaz Patterson with Cam Edwards injured, and Patterson has already shown he can be productive against Wisconsin, giving Michigan State at least one familiar piece to build around as it tries to find the kind of opening that could turn this into an upset. [Read more 🡒]
Michigan State Enters Wisconsin With Its Offense Suddenly Under Pressure
Michigan State heads into Wisconsin with its offense facing a new layer of uncertainty after the loss to Nebraska and the season-ending knee injury to leading rusher Cam Edwards. The Spartans have already had to navigate an up-and-down stretch, and now the challenge becomes even more immediate against a Wisconsin team coming off its largest comeback win in two decades against Penn State, a result that has given the Badgers fresh momentum at home.
For Michigan State, the timing is especially tricky because the backfield picture has shifted so suddenly, forcing the staff to reshuffle around Edwards absence. Wisconsins recent surge adds another test, and both coaches have acknowledged the stakes of where each team stands entering the matchup. The Spartans are trying to steady an offense under pressure, while the Badgers are leaning into a strong response after a dramatic victory that changed the tone around their season. [Read more 🡒]