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ARIZONA CARDINALS SAFETY Jalen Thompson continues to be a model of consistency in his seventh NFL season. Still just 27 years old, the former Coug thumper is smack dab in the middle of his prime, and the stars are aligning for a career season.
At his current season pace, the 5-11 190-pound Thompson is projected to smash his career highs in both tackles and passes broken up.
It's worth noting that he's also allowing a career low completion percentage at 59.3 percent. For context, Thompson's career average prior to 2025 was hovering at 74.3 percent.
This is all happening while the Cardinals organization is objectively in disarray, sporting a 2-5 record, and seeing their franchise players drop like flies seemingly every other week. But when the smoke clears after every contest, the tape just keeps showing No. 34 flying to the ball and making plays.
In their 27-23 loss to Green Bay this past Sunday, Thompson was a bright spot, helping limit QB Jordan Love to just 179 passing yards and one touchdown, while allowing just a single explosive pass all afternoon.
Thompson also made a crucial third-down stop on Josh Jacobs late in the fourth quarter, causing Packers Nation to sweat it out on fourth down in their final possession (although Love would convert, en route to a game-winning drive).
In a losing effort, the former WSU All-American posted an 81.3 game grade according to Pro Football Focus, vastly outperforming his Husky counterpart at safety, Budda Baker, for the fifth time this season.
In a contract year, Thompson could not have picked a better time to be showcasing his best skills. Currently the 15th highest paid safety, Thompson should be in line for a healthy third contract, as he'll be testing the market at a young age.
AT WASHINGTON STATE Thompson was a cornerstone to Mike Leach's defense from the day he stepped on campus in 2016. Outside of being a freshman All-American, he also earned AP All Pac-12 First Team honors. Thompson would lose his senior season of eligibility after testing positive for a banned over-the-counter substance.
Subsequently entering the 2019 NFL Supplemental Draft, Arizona took Thompson with their fifth round pick. Leading up to Thompson getting drafted, Leach vouched for both his game and character.
"This guy's outstanding, he's first class," The Pirate said. "He's an honest, straightforward guy, an incredibly hard worker … And he hits a ton. He's really not a big guy, but he really unloads it."
CAROLINA PANTHERS NICKEL Chau Smith-Wade was instrumental in helping chase Jets quarterback Justin Fields out of the ballgame on Sunday. Fields was benched for Tyrod Taylor at halftime following a lowly 46 yards passing performance A key factor was Smith-Wade blanketing Fields' underneath weapons; the normally electric Breece Hall and tight end Mason Taylor combined for a head-shaking eight first-half receiving yards.
Used exclusively at nickelback throughout his pro career, it's notable that Smith-Wade rotated at safety in this contest for the first time.
His signature moment came on the game's opening drive, when he flew up on third-and-five to sniff out a quick screen for no gain, setting the tone for Carolina's eventual 13-6 victory.
NFL Coug nuggets:
Kansas City Chiefs defensive backs Jaylen Watson and Jaden Hicks had a strong day at the office, as the Chiefs defense was only on the field for 18 minutes in a 31-0 rout of Las Vegas. After playing just 20 percent of snaps last week, Hicks bounced back with a 57 percent snap count share.
The correlation between Daiyan Henley's struggles and the LA Chargers struggles becomes more ingrained by the week. Pass coverage continues to be a glaring (and head-scratching) weakness of Henley's game this season. He could not keep track of tight end Tyler Warren, who went off for 69 yards and a score in the Colts 38-24 win.
Although his Commanders lost 44-22 to Dallas, Frankie Luvu had another respectable performance. The American Samoa product garnered six tackles including two for a loss, and was surprisingly reliable in coverage, earning an 83 mark from PFF.
New England wideout Kyle Williams continues to be used sparingly in his rookie season, playing 11 snaps in the Pats' 31-13 victory in Nashville.
NOTABLE: Ex-Coug Cameron Ward was sacked five times in the Tennessee Titans 31-13 loss, adding to his league-leading sack total of 30 (the next closest being 22.) The former WSU QB also tossed a pick and lost a fumble that was recovered for a touchdown, adding to his second-in-the-league total of 10 turnovers. Ward and the 1-6 Titans will try to right the ship next Sunday on the road against the 6-1 Colts.