The third weekend of the 2026 NFL season brought another full slate for the Mountaineers, with nine WVU alumni currently active on 53-man rosters. Some were buried in the details of special teams work, while others had bigger roles - and Geno Smith delivered the loudest performance of the bunch.
Smith was sharp for the Jets in a narrow loss to the Lions, putting together one of his best outings in recent memory. He completed 31 of 37 passes for 321 yards and three touchdowns without an interception, while adding two carries for 12 yards. He finished with a 78.4 PFF grade in what was described as a throwback to his WVU days.
Rasul Douglas also had a notable Sunday after being pushed into the starting lineup for the Commanders. Washington pulled off an upset over the Seahawks, and Douglas logged a season-high 45 defensive snaps. He finished with four total tackles and a pass broken up.
Dante Stills continued to start up front for the Cardinals, seeing 30 snaps in a loss to the 49ers. He posted two total tackles and two quarterback pressures, along with a 60.2 ProFootballFocus grade.
Wyatt Milum remained part of the Jaguars’ field goal unit and also saw six snaps on offense in Jacksonville’s dominant win over the Patriots. His limited work still drew a solid 69.5 PFF grade.
On special teams, Rex Sunahara served as the Browns’ starting long snapper and played eight snaps. Austin Brinkman did the same for the Texans, also getting eight snaps as the team’s long snapper.
The Steelers’ Zach Frazier was included among the Mountaineers active in the league this weekend as well.
In Other News...
Rich Rodriguez Just Raised Two Big Concerns For West Virginia
Rich Rodriguez used his latest Coaches Show appearance to take a clear-eyed look at where West Virginia stands after the loss to Oklahoma State, and the picture he painted was not especially comforting. He pointed to defensive issues that showed up in the defeat, while also noting the offense had its own share of work to do as the Mountaineers try to steady things heading into a tougher stretch.
The next test comes against Iowa State, a team Rodriguez described as dangerous because of its defense and an experienced quarterback, which only sharpens the margin for error. He also offered an update on Armoni Bomar-Weavers finger injury and touched on the broader questions of player development and roster building, reminders that West Virginias concerns run beyond one game and into the shape of what comes next. [Read more 🡒]
WVU May Be Nearing Lineup Changes Fans Have Been Waiting For
West Virginias Week 5 depth chart for Iowa State did not bring the kind of sweeping shakeup some fans were hoping for, but it did reinforce that the staff is at least keeping an eye on a few spots that could use a jolt. Most of the player positions look the same as the previous week, which suggests the Mountaineers are still leaning on a familiar base as they try to steady things heading into another Big 12 test.
Still, there are signs the lineup could look different sooner rather than later. Georgia transfer JaCorey Thomas is expected to make his debut, and there is potential for some movement in the defensive backfield as the staff searches for the right mix. The offensive line is another area worth watching if the performance does not improve, leaving this weeks chart less like a final answer and more like a snapshot of a roster that may still be in flux. [Read more 🡒]
WVU Passing Game Suddenly Has A New Concern Before Iowa State
West Virginias passing game picked up a new concern this week as Rich Rodriguez said wide receiver Armoni Weaver-Bomar is dealing with a finger injury that could affect his availability for the upcoming games. Weaver-Bomar has been used in limited snaps this season, but his injury adds another layer to a receiver group that is already trying to find more stability heading into the matchup with Iowa State.
Weaver-Bomar was hurt during the recent game against Oklahoma State, and the timing is less than ideal with the Mountaineers still sorting out their options on offense. The program is expected to release an official availability report later in the week, which should provide a clearer picture of whether he can suit up or if West Virginia will need to adjust again at receiver. [Read more 🡒]