Ole Miss had plenty of former Rebels making noise around the league in Week 5, with a couple of breakout performances headlining the weekend and several others logging meaningful snaps across the NFL.
The biggest individual moments came on Sunday Night Football, where Atlanta Falcons defensive end Jared Ivey and Baltimore Ravens end Tavius Robinson both turned in impact games. Ivey picked up the first sack of his career, dropping Ravens quarterback Tyler Huntley for a loss of nine yards and finishing with three total tackles. Robinson answered with a stat line that stuffed the box score: six tackles, one sack, one forced fumble, and one pass defended in Baltimore’s 30-23 overtime win over Atlanta.
Elsewhere, Denver Broncos tight end Evan Engram was the focal point of the passing game in the win over the Chargers, catching four passes for 55 yards to lead Denver in both categories. Broncos defensive tackle D.J. Jones also did damage, posting four tackles, one sack, one tackle for loss, one quarterback hit, and one forced fumble in the 23-17 victory.
There were also several former Rebels earning significant workloads. New England Patriots lineman Ben Brown started at right guard and played all 75 offensive snaps in a 45-17 win over the Las Vegas Raiders. Arizona Cardinals tackle Jayden Williams made his first career start and handled all 73 offensive snaps at left tackle, while San Francisco 49ers receiver Jordan Watkins also made his first career start and was on the field for 22 offensive snaps in a 32-29 win over the rival Seattle Seahawks.
A handful of other Rebels contributed in smaller but still notable ways. Pittsburgh Steelers receiver D.K.
Metcalf finished with three catches for 12 yards and added one carry for 11 yards in a 34-22 win over the Indianapolis Colts. Dallas Cowboys wideout Jonathan Mingo had two receptions for 20 yards in a loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, while Indianapolis Colts receiver Laquon Treadwell caught two passes for 34 yards in a loss to Pittsburgh.
On defense, Jacksonville Jaguars cornerback Deane Leonard played 42 total snaps and recorded five tackles in a loss to Denver. Arizona Cardinals defensive lineman Walter Nolen III had four tackles on 43 defensive snaps in a loss to the Detroit Lions. Cleveland Browns edge Sam Williams added four solo tackles, including two for loss, in a 17-12 loss to the New York Jets.
The list also included several special teams and depth contributions. Cincinnati Bengals defensive end Cedric Johnson played 15 special teams snaps in a 31-24 win over the Miami Dolphins. Indianapolis Colts linebacker Tahj Chambers logged 24 special teams snaps in the loss to Pittsburgh, while Colts safety Kapena Gushiken played three special teams snaps in that same game.
A few Rebels did not dress or were unavailable. Jaylon Jones was not active for Jacksonville.
JJ Pegues was not active for Las Vegas. Diego Pounds was on bye with Kansas City in Week 4, and Princely Umanmielen was on bye in Week 5 with Carolina.
Several players remain on injured reserve, including Trey Amos, A.J. Brown, Jaxson Dart, De'Zhaun Stribling, and Laremy Tunsil.
The practice squad group features Ulyesses Bentley IV with New Orleans, AJ Finley with Seattle, Trey Washington with Indianapolis, Harrison Wallace III with Arizona, and Antwane Wells JR. with Atlanta.
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Ole Miss Has One Week 7 Game SEC Fans Can't Ignore
Week 7 is packed with ranked matchups across the country, and the schedule offers plenty for SEC fans to monitor even before the conference slate fully hits its stride. Indiana at Ohio State and Notre Dame against BYU headline a busy stretch of games from Tuesday through Saturday, giving viewers a steady run of top-25 intrigue on multiple networks and streaming platforms.
For Ole Miss, the appeal is simple: a crowded national weekend means one result can ripple into the conversation around the Rebels, even if they are not on every screen themselves. With broadcast windows spread across the week and major games drawing plenty of attention, SEC fans will have reason to keep one eye on the rest of the sport while waiting to see how the wider picture shapes up. [Read more 🡒]
Ahmad Hardys Status Keeps A Dangerous Future Ole Miss Matchup In Focus
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For Ole Miss, the uncertainty is part of the challenge. A healthy Hardy changes the texture of Missouris offense and the way the Rebels would have to prepare for it, while Drinkwitz also made clear he wants to cut through the online speculation around Hardys status. He said he will announce it publicly when the running back resumes practice, leaving the timeline open for now and keeping one of the matchups biggest variables unresolved. [Read more 🡒]
Ole Miss Has One Edge Against Missouri That May Not Be Enough
Pete Golding does not need a scouting report to know Austin Simmons. Ole Miss defensive coordinator spent time around the quarterback during his stint in Oxford, and that familiarity is part of the backdrop as the Rebels get ready to face Missouri. For a defense trying to sort through a new opponent, having seen a quarterback up close before can help, especially when the player on the other side is carrying the kind of confidence Simmons has built this season.
Still, the challenge is bigger than a memory or two from Simmons Ole Miss days. Since transferring to Missouri, he has taken a clear step forward, throwing for 1,434 yards with 14 touchdowns and just one interception. Golding may have an edge from knowing the player, but Ole Miss is also preparing for a quarterback who has grown into a much tougher problem than the one they once knew. [Read more 🡒]