We’re now a full month into the regular season for the NFL with Week 5 getting underway on Thursday night with the Buccaneers’ 24-16 road win at the Cowboys. Ahead of Sunday’s games, JOE VOZZELLI checks in on how the 21 former Illini on active NFL rosters are currently performing so far this season:
Isaiah Adams
Arizona Cardinals
What happened: The offensive lineman started at right guard but played a total of only 30 snaps on offense and special teams after leaving last Sunday’s 36-24 road loss by the Cardinals to the New York Giants with an ankle injury.
What’s next: Adams has been ruled out for Arizona’s Week 5 game, as the Cardinals (1-3) will host the Lions (2-2) at 3:25 p.m. on Sunday from State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Ariz.
Tony Adams
Tennessee Titans
What happened: The defensive back had one quarterback hit while playing 10 snaps on defense in the Titans’ 24-18 loss to the Ravens this past Sunday in Baltimore. Adams also logged 13 snaps on special teams.
What’s next: Tennessee (0-4) will face the Texans (0-4) in a battle of winless teams at noon on Sunday from Nissan Stadium in Nashville, Tenn.
Nick Allegretti
Washington Commanders
What happened: Allegretti was limited to three snaps on special teams, as the Commanders lost 30-13 to the Colts last Sunday in London.
What’s next: Washington (1-3) plays just its second home game of the 2026 season at noon on Sunday against the NFC rival Giants (3-1) from Northwest Stadium in Landover, Md.
Tanner Arkin
New England Patriots
What happened: The tight end was back on the inactive list ahead of the Patriots’ 29-26 road victory against the Bills this past Sunday.
What’s next: New England (2-2) will host the Raiders (3-1) at noon on Sunday from Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Mass.
Chase Brown
Cincinnati Bengals
What happened: The starting running back finished with 10 rushing yards on nine carries but was far more productive out of the backfield as Brown had 11 receptions for 71 yards while playing 60 offensive snaps in a 22-17 loss by the Bengals against the Jaguars last Sunday in Cincinnati.
What’s next: The Bengals (2-2) will look to get back on track against the Dolphins (0-4) at noon on Sunday at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Fla.
Sydney Brown
Atlanta Falcons
What happened: Brown started at defensive back and ended up with one tackle for loss and also one pass defense in the Falcons’ 45-24 victory this past Monday night against the Saints in New Orleans. Brown played on 22 defensive snaps and assisted on a special teams tackle while participating on 14 snaps with that unit.
What’s next: Atlanta (2-2) will play a second straight prime-time game as the Falcons will face the Ravens (3-1) for a 7:20 p.m. Sunday kickoff at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta.
Pat Bryant
Denver Broncos
What happened: The wide receiver had three receptions for 47 yards before a sprained right ankle forced him to miss the rest of the Broncos’ 24-14 road loss to the 49ers last Sunday. Bryant ended up playing 30 snaps prior to the injury.
What’s next: With Bryant expected to miss several weeks, Denver (2-2) will play the Chargers (0-4) at 3:05 p.m. on Sunday from SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, Calif.
J.C. Davis
New York Giants
What happened: The offensive lineman landed on the inactive list for this past Sunday’s 36-24 home win by the Giants against the Cardinals.
What’s next: New York (3-1) will head down Interstate 95 before playing the struggling Commanders (1-3) in an NFC East game at noon on Sunday inside Northwest Stadium in Landover, Md.
Tommy DeVito
New England Patriots
What happened: The backup quarterback did not play for the Patriots in New England’s 29-26 road win against the Buffalo Bills last Sunday in an AFC East showdown.
What’s next: The Patriots (2-2) are set to host the Raiders (3-1) at noon on Sunday.
TeRah Edwards
Carolina Panthers
What happened: The defensive tackle played 22 snaps across defense and special teams in Carolina’s 32-26 victory this past Sunday night against the Lions in Charlotte, N.C.
What’s next: Edwards and his Carolina teammates have their scheduled bye week.
Jake Hansen
Houston Texans
What happened: Hansen continued to impress with the 28-year-old Tarpon Springs, Fla., native starting at linebacker and producing a team-high 12 tackles, including two tackles for loss. Hansen also had one quarterback sack and registered a quarterback hit. Still, the Texans couldn’t get in the win column, as the Cowboys rallied late for the 34-30 victory last Sunday in Houston. Hansen ended up with a high snap count, too, with 74 snaps on defense and another nine on special teams.
What’s next: Houston (0-4) hits the road for a noon kick against the Titans (0-4) in Nashville, Tenn.
Gabe Jacas
New England Patriots
What happened: The outside linebacker registered three tackles while playing a total of 39 snaps on the defensive and special teams units for the Patriots in their 29-26 road victory against the Bills this past Sunday.
What’s next: The Raiders (3-1) will travel to face New England (2-2) at noon on Sunday from Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Mass.
Ted Karras
Cincinnati Bengals
What happened: The veteran offensive lineman started at center and was on the field for all 76 of his team’s offensive snaps, but the Bengals came up short in a 22-17 home loss to the Jaguars last Sunday.
What’s next: Cincinnati (2-2) has a chance to rebound against the winless Dolphins (0-4) in a road matchup at noon on Sunday.
Vederian Lowe
San Francisco 49ers
What happened: The offensive lineman participated on five snaps with special teams, as the 49ers collected the 24-14 home victory against the Broncos this past Sunday.
What’s next: San Francisco (4-0) will head to the Pacific Northwest for a key early-season NFC West game against the Seahawks (3-1) at 3:25 p.m. on Sunday in Seattle.
Quan Martin
Washington Commanders
What happened: The defensive back started at safety and netted five tackles as Martin played 59 snaps on defense in the Commanders’ 30-13 loss to the Colts last Sunday in London. Martin also added 10 snaps on special teams.
What’s next: Washington (1-3) will host the New York Giants (3-1) at noon on Sunday.
Chase McLaughlin
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
What happened: The starting place kicker and the Buccaneers got Week 5 underway with a 24-16 victory against the Cowboys on Thursday night in Arlington, Texas, as McLaughlin hit for a 41-yard field goal and was 3 of 3 on extra points in Tampa Bay’s first win of the 2026 season. Earlier in the week, McLaughlin made both of his point-after attempts in this past Sunday’s 17-14 home loss by the Buccaneers to the Packers.
What’s next: Tampa Bay (1-4) will have this weekend off before playing the Steelers on Oct. 18 at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Fla.
Alex Palczewski
Denver Broncos
What happened: The offensive lineman saw limited action with four total snaps during Denver’s 24-14 road loss to the 49ers last Sunday.
What’s next: The Broncos (2-2) have a 3:05 p.m. road game against the Chargers (0-4) on Sunday.
Del’Shawn Phillips
Los Angeles Chargers
What happened: Phillips started at linebacker this past Sunday in the Chargers’ 30-23 road loss to the Seahawks. Phillips had five tackles and played 52 snaps on defense, plus 12 snaps on special teams.
What’s next: Los Angeles (0-4) is still searching for its first win before playing host to the Broncos (2-2) at 3:05 p.m. on Sunday.
James Thompson Jr.
San Francisco 49ers
What happened: The defensive lineman was on the inactive list when the 49ers won 24-14 at home against the Broncos last Sunday.
What’s next: San Francisco (4-0) will look to stay undefeated when the 49ers play the Seahawks (3-1) at 3:25 p.m. on Sunday in Seattle.
Isaiah Williams
New York Jets
What happened: The wide receiver had one of the few highlights for the Jets in their 23-12 loss to the Bears this past Sunday at Soldier Field. The St. Louis native caught a 58-yard touchdown pass from Geno Smith
in the fourth quarter. The starting wide receiver is now one of six players with three touchdowns of 50 or more yards since the start of last season, as Williams also returned two punt return for TDs in 2025. Williams finished with two receptions for 73 yards and also returned one kickoff for 22 yards against Chicago, as he participated on 35 combined snaps.
What’s next:New York (1-3) will play host to the Browns (3-1) for a noon kick on Sunday at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J.
Devon Witherspoon
Seattle Seahawks
What happened: The starting cornerback finished with nine tackles, including one for a loss, in the Seahawks’ 30-23 victory at home against the Los Angeles Chargers last Sunday with Witherspoon on the field for all 71 defensive snaps while also logging four snaps on special teams.
What’s next:Seattle (3-1) will host the division rival 49ers (4-0) at 3:25 p.m. on Sunday
Other notables
Injured reserve:
Milo Eifler (Tennessee Titans), Nate Hobbs (San Francisco 49ers) and Jer’Zhan Newton (Washington Commanders).
Physically unable to perform (PUP) list: Kerby Joseph (Detroit Lions) and Tip Reiman (Arizona Cardinals).