Week 5 is in the books, and the NFL Boilers kept showing up in a mix of small roles, bigger snaps, and a few firsts along the way. From kickoff returns to defensive disruption, there’s been plenty to track over the last four weeks.
Derrick Barnes has been one of the steadier names in the group. He opened this stretch with 6 tackles and a sack in Detroit’s 41-31 loss to Buffalo in Week 2, then followed that with 8 tackles, including one TFL, in the Lions’ 31-24 win over the Jets in Week 3. Week 4 was quieter with just 1 tackle in a 32-26 loss to Carolina, but he bounced back in Week 5 with 4 tackles and a sack as the Lions beat the Cardinals 45-21.
George Karlaftis has been making his presence felt for Kansas City too. In Week 2, he had 5 tackles against the Colts in a 33-30 overtime win.
The next week brought a big milestone: 1st career INT, along with 2 tackles and 1 TFL in the Chiefs’ 24-10 win over the Dolphins. Week 4 was another active outing, as he finished with 5 tackles, 1 TFL and 6 total QB hits in a 30-27 win over the Raiders.
Then came the bye in Week 5, because, well, sometimes the schedule hands out a breather.
Tyrone Tracy Jr. has kept finding ways to contribute for the Giants. He opened Week 2 with two kickoff returns for 52 yards and a special teams tackle in a 28-6 loss to the Rams.
In Week 3, he logged 1 carry for 3 yards and another special teams tackle in a 12-7 win over the Titans. Week 4 brought one kickoff return for 55 yards and one rush for -1 yards in a 36-24 win over the Cardinals.
Then in Week 5, he had 3 rushes for 6 yards, 2 catches for 25 yards and 2 kick returns for 55 yards, giving him a combined 86 yards in the Giants’ 27-27 tie with Washington.
Marcus Mbow has mostly been on the special teams side of things for New York, but Week 5 marked a notable jump. He played 2 special teams snaps in Week 2, then 4 special teams snaps in Week 3, and 2 more in Week 4 with no stats recorded. In Week 5, he was on the field for 51% of all offensive snaps at right tackle as the Giants and Commanders finished tied at 27.
Payne Durham’s usage with Tampa Bay has been a recurring storyline. In Week 2, he played 23 snaps when combining offense and special teams, and the note there was clear enough: “I’m still personally disgruntled that he’s not getting more run on offense.”
He started at tight end in Week 3 but did not record a catch, though there was praise for his blocking in a 23-16 loss to Minnesota. Week 4 was another 23-snap outing, again combining offense and special teams.
Then Week 5 finally brought a little more production, as the Bucs beat the Cowboys 24-16 and Durham picked up his first catch of the season - a 5-yard reception. “Feed Durham and good things happen.”
Reese Taylor’s work with Miami has stayed rooted in special teams. He had 1 tackle as part of the punting unit in Week 2, then 3 special teams snaps in Week 3, followed by 1 special teams tackle in Week 4. In Week 5, he was inactive.
Aidan O’Connell’s last four weeks have been interrupted by circumstance and lineup decisions. He was out in Week 2 due to the death of his father as the Raiders beat the Chargers 26-14. He did not play in Week 3, was a DNP in Week 4 during a 30-27 loss to Kansas City, and was again a DNP in Week 5, when the Raiders lost to the Chiefs 30-27.
Jalen Graham and Charlie Jones were both on the practice squad earlier in the stretch, with Graham staying there for the 49ers and Jones there for the Giants through Week 3. Jones then saw his first action of the season in Week 4, returning 3 kicks for 69 yards and 2 punts for 29 yards, good for 78 total yards in New York’s 36-24 win over Arizona.
One of the more curious notes in all of this is that both Tyrone Tracy Jr. and Charlie Jones are on the Giants and both are returning kicks. Just one of those weird coincidences.
In Other News...
Purdue Faces A Washington QB Decision That Could Change Everything
Purdue heads into Fridays matchup with Washington in relatively good shape health-wise, a welcome development at this stage of the season. The Boilermakers still have several players sidelined, but their injury list is far shorter than Washingtons, where multiple key contributors are dealing with questionable or out designations as the teams prepare to meet.
The biggest storyline sits under center for the Huskies, where Demond Williams Jr. is working back from a rib injury and remains uncertain for the game. Washingtons quarterback situation could shape the entire night, especially with backup Elijah Brown having already been pressed into action after Williams went down in the previous game, giving this one an added layer of intrigue for Purdue as it tries to take advantage of any disruption. [Read more 🡒]
Matt Painter's Trey Kaufman-Renn Stance Says A Lot About Purdue
Trey Kaufman-Renns bid for a sixth year of college basketball has already turned into one of the more unusual off-court storylines of Purdues offseason. After filing a lawsuit against the NCAA and landing a temporary restraining order and injunction that would allow him to keep playing, the former Boilermaker suddenly had a path back into the sport, even if that path did not automatically lead back to West Lafayette.
Matt Painters response said plenty about where Purdue stands as it tries to balance loyalty, continuity and roster management. Rather than carving out a spot for Kaufman-Renn, Painter stuck with the commitments he had already made to the players in the program, a reminder that even in a fluid college basketball era, the Boilermakers are still drawing lines around opportunity. Kaufman-Renn has not yet picked a landing spot for the 2026-27 season, and until he does, this remains one more reminder of how complicated an extra year can make things for everyone involved. [Read more 🡒]
Purdue Faces A Dangerous Trap Game With One Huge Washington Unknown
Purdue heads into its Big Ten matchup with Washington in a spot that can feel tricky for a team riding momentum. The Boilermakers have reasons to feel good about where their offense is trending, but this is the kind of game where recent success can disappear fast if the focus slips, especially against a Washington program that still brings enough talent and structure to make things uncomfortable.
The biggest variable is the quarterback situation, which can change the entire feel of the afternoon. Washington has had to sort through injury concerns at the position, and Purdue also has some unusual personal ties in the matchup, including a family link on the opposing sideline that adds a little extra edge to a game the Boilermakers would like to keep from turning into another lopsided memory. [Read more 🡒]