Mississippi State’s NFL class is producing a little bit of everything through five weeks: a franchise quarterback stacking numbers, a left tackle cashing in on a huge extension, a comeback story that’s already paying off, and a few situations that are trending in the wrong direction.
Dak Prescott remains the headline act. The Cowboys took a 24-16 loss to Tampa Bay in Week 5, and Prescott threw two interceptions in that one, but the larger body of work still looks strong. He’s up to 1,381 passing yards, nine touchdowns and three picks, and his 85.3 Pro Football Focus passing grade is third among NFL quarterbacks.
Charles Cross is also living up to the money. Seattle gave him a four-year, $104.4 million extension, and he backed it up in Week 5 by playing all 63 snaps against San Francisco. His 82.5 PFF offensive grade ranked third among NFL tackles for the week.
The best feel-good story belongs to Jaden Emerson. He tore his Achilles in July 2025, missed the entire season, then signed a one-year deal with New Orleans in April and won a roster spot.
In the Saints’ 23-13 loss to Minnesota in Week 5, he forced a fumble, and he made it clear before the season that he expected to be ready when the moment came. “I’m gonna be out there, and I’m gonna be ready for the moment.
No moment is too big for me,” Emerson told the Saints’ team website in September. He also said, “I feel like my best ball is in front of me and that’s what I’m chasing every single day,” Emerson said.
Jeffery Simmons is still giving Tennessee something to hang onto, even with the Titans struggling around him. Through five games, he has 28 tackles, four tackles for loss and two sacks.
There was also a Bulldogs-on-Bulldogs matchup in Nashville in Week 5, and Kylin Marks came out ahead. The Texans running back led Houston with 62 rushing yards on 15 carries and added four catches for 23 yards in the 26-3 win over Tennessee. On the season, he has 149 rushing yards and two touchdowns.
Not every update was positive. Montez Sweat was suspended for two games by the Bears on Tuesday for violating the NFL’s policy on performance-enhancing substances.
The suspension also voided future guaranteed money in his contract, giving Chicago flexibility without wiping out every cap charge. Bears coach Ben Johnson said Wednesday, “We’re disappointed whenever we lose a player of his caliber for multiple games,” and added, “Not a whole lot for me to add on that.”
Sweat led Chicago with 10 sacks last season and has two this year, but his future with the Bears now looks less certain.
The rookie adjustment has been slower for Tulu Thompson. Chicago drafted him in the fourth round, but he has only one catch for 13 yards so far, and a quad injury kept him out of the Chargers’ 23-18 loss to Denver in Week 5.
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Mississippi State Heads Into LSU With One Huge Kamario Taylor Question
Kamario Taylors availability has become the biggest pregame issue hanging over Mississippi State as it heads to LSU, with the quarterback listed as questionable because of a turf toe injury. Taylor has been working to get himself ready and has been described as day-to-day, but the uncertainty around him has lingered right up to the eve of kickoff.
The injury has been a concern since the end of the Missouri game, and there is still real doubt about whether he can suit up against LSU. Less than 24 hours before the game, Mississippi State is waiting on a decision that could shape how the Bulldogs handle one of their toughest matchups of the season. [Read more 🡒]
Mississippi States Season May Hinge On One Josh Hubbard Question
Josh Hubbard heads into his senior season with the kind of recognition that puts a spotlight on everything Mississippi State does. The Bulldogs standout guard was named preseason first-team All-SEC, and after a roster overhaul, Chris Jans is trying to build a team that does not ask Hubbard to carry every possession the way it often has in the past.
That is where the new pieces come in, even if the fit is still taking shape. Mississippi State added help across the roster, including RJ Johnson and Thomas Bassong, with the goal of finding a more balanced identity and a rotation the staff can trust. For the Bulldogs, the bigger question is not just how productive Hubbard can be again, but how quickly the rest of the roster turns that talent into something steadier and more sustainable. [Read more 🡒]
Mississippi State's Fast Start Faces Its Biggest Test Yet
Mississippi States early-season surge has been built on a sharper offense and a more efficient passing game, the kind of progress that has pushed the Bulldogs to a 4-1 start and into the top 20 nationally. After last years frustrations, the difference has been obvious enough to give the program real momentum, especially with the way the attack has produced more consistently and looked more balanced across the first month of the season.
Now comes the part that tends to separate a promising opening from something more lasting. The Bulldogs are about to run into a brutal stretch with LSU, Oklahoma and Texas ahead, and the injury picture is already adding pressure to a team trying to prove its rise is real. Kamario Taylor has been a central part of that conversation, and his status looms over what could be a defining week for Mississippi States season. [Read more 🡒]