Week 13 of the NFL season is officially in the books, and for nine former West Virginia Mountaineers now suiting up on Sundays, it was another week of grinding through the league’s long, unforgiving schedule. From rookies getting their feet wet to veterans holding down starting roles, here’s a breakdown of how each Mountaineer performed this past weekend.
Dante Stills - DE, Arizona Cardinals
Stills continues to carve out a rotational role on the Cardinals’ defensive front.
He logged 26 snaps in Week 13, tallying two total tackles and generating one quarterback pressure. While his Pro Football Focus grade of 48.6 suggests there’s room for improvement, Stills is staying active in the trenches and gaining valuable reps in his rookie campaign.
David Sills V - WR, Atlanta Falcons
Sills is making the most of his recent opportunities.
He found the end zone for the second straight week, hauling in 2 of his 4 targets for 15 yards and a touchdown in the Falcons’ loss to the Jets. The downside?
A crucial drop that could’ve extended a drive. Still, back-to-back scoring weeks is a positive sign for a receiver looking to stick in a crowded wideout room.
Rex Sunahara - LS, Cleveland Browns
Sunahara handled long-snapping duties for the Browns once again, logging four clean snaps. At a position where consistency is everything, Sunahara continues to do his job quietly and effectively - just the way special teams coaches like it.
Austin Brinkman - LS, Houston Texans
Brinkman remained the starting long snapper for the Texans and saw six snaps in Week 13. Like Sunahara, Brinkman is staying steady and reliable - a key trait for a position that only gets noticed when something goes wrong.
Wyatt Milum - OL, Jacksonville Jaguars
It was a breakout week in terms of playing time for Milum.
The rookie offensive lineman saw a career-high 35 snaps in the Jaguars’ blowout win over the Titans, giving him a valuable taste of extended NFL action. He earned a 55.4 PFF grade, which shows he’s still adjusting to the speed and physicality of the pro game, but the reps are a step in the right direction for his development.
Geno Smith - QB, Las Vegas Raiders
It’s been a tough stretch for Smith, and Week 13 was no different.
He completed 18-of-23 passes for 165 yards and two touchdowns, but also threw a costly interception in the Raiders’ loss to the Chargers. While his accuracy was solid, his third straight subpar PFF grade (56.2) reflects a performance that lacked explosive plays.
He added two rush attempts, but they netted -6 yards. Smith will need to find a spark soon if the Raiders want to stay competitive down the stretch.
Rasul Douglas - CB, Miami Dolphins
Douglas made his return from injury and stepped right back into a starting role for Miami.
He was on the field for 72 snaps, finishing with six total tackles and grabbing his first interception of the season. However, he was also targeted heavily, allowing five catches for 60 yards and a touchdown.
It was a mixed bag, but Douglas showed he’s still a playmaker - and the Dolphins will need more of that as they gear up for a playoff push.
Zach Frazier - OL, Pittsburgh Steelers
Frazier continues to be a bright spot on the Steelers’ offensive line.
He played 43 snaps in Pittsburgh’s loss to the Bills and didn’t allow a single pressure. In fact, he still hasn’t given up a sack all season, according to PFF.
For a rookie, that kind of consistency in pass protection is impressive and bodes well for his long-term future in the league.
Colton McKivitz - OL, San Francisco 49ers
McKivitz started at right tackle and played a full workload of 67 snaps in the 49ers’ win over the Browns.
It wasn’t his best outing - he posted a season-low PFF grade of 51.9 and allowed three pressures - but the Niners still came away with the victory. McKivitz has been a steady presence on the edge all season, and even on an off day, he’s helping anchor one of the league’s most balanced offenses.
From rookies getting their first real taste of NFL action to veterans continuing to grind through the season, West Virginia’s NFL alumni made their presence felt in Week 13. With a month left in the regular season, there’s still plenty of football to be played - and plenty of chances for these Mountaineers to make their mark.