The NFL regular season will be half-way done after this week’s games, which started on Thursday night with a 33-10 road victory by the Jaguars against the Ravens. Ahead of Sunday’s action, JOE VOZZELLI checks in once again on how the former Illini on active NFL rosters are currently performing so far this season:
Tony Adams
Tennessee Titans
➜ What happened: The defensive back started at safety and produced three tackles on defense while adding another tackle on special teams during his 31 combined snaps last Sunday in the Titans’ 43-36 overtime loss to the Bengals in Cincinnati.
➜ What’s next: Tennessee (1-7) has its scheduled bye week.
Nick Allegretti
Washington Commanders
➜ What happened: The offensive lineman participated on six snaps with special teams in the Commanders’ 27-10 victory against the Eagles this past Sunday night in Landover, Md.
➜ What’s next: Washington (2-4-1) will play host to the Rams (4-4) at noon on Sunday from Northwest Stadium.
Tanner Arkin
New England Patriots
➜ What happened: Arkin started at tight end and logged 16 snaps on offense while also playing seven snaps with the special teams unit in the Patriots’ 24-19 road victory against the Dolphins last Sunday at Hard Rock Stadium.
➜ What’s next: New England (5-3) will face the Packers (5-3) at 3:25 p.m. on Sunday at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Mass.
Chase Brown
Cincinnati Bengals
➜ What happened: The starting running back had 12 carries for 55 rushing yards and also caught eight passes out of the backfield for 46 yards in the Bengals’ 43-36 overtime win at home against the Titans this past Sunday. Brown played 51 of 74 offensive snaps.
➜ What’s next: Cincinnati (5-2) is set for an 8:30 a.m. kick on Sunday from the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium in Madrid, Spain, against the Falcons (3-5).
Sydney Brown
Atlanta Falcons
➜ What happened: The defensive back had one tackle while playing 19 total snaps on defense and special teams, as the Falcons lost 16-0 to the Buccaneers last Sunday in rainy Tampa, Fla.
➜ What’s next: Atlanta (3-5) will look to rebound at 8:30 a.m. on Sunday against the Bengals (5-2) in a matchup of the Brown twins as Sydney faces identical brother Chase in Madrid, Spain.
J.C. Davis
New York Giants
➜ What happened: Davis and his New York Giants teammates had their scheduled bye week.
➜ What’s next: New York (4-2-1) returns with an NFC East rivalry matchup against the struggling Eagles (2-6) at noon on Sunday at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia.
Tommy DeVito
New England Patriots
➜ What happened: The backup quarterback did not play in the Patriots’ 24-19 victory against the Dolphins this past Sunday in Miami Gardens, Fla.
➜ What’s next: New England (5-3) will play a home game against the Packers (5-3) at 3:25 p.m. on Sunday.
TeRah Edwards
Carolina Panthers
➜ What happened: The defensive tackle finished with one tackle and also defended one pass in the Panthers’ 27-19 loss to the Packers on Oct. 29 in Green Bay, Wis. Edwards played 18 defensive snaps.
➜ What’s next: Carolina (3-4) will look to snap a two-game losing streak, with the Panthers set for a noon kick on Sunday against the Broncos (6-2) at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, N.C.
Jake Hansen
Houston Texans
➜ What happened: Hansen and his Texans teammates had their scheduled bye week.
➜ What’s next: Houston (2-5) travels to face the Chargers (0-7) with the two teams scheduled for a 3:05 p.m. kickoff on Sunday at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, Calif.
Gabe Jacas
New England Patriots
➜ What happened: The outside linebacker put up a good performance against the Dolphins in a 24-19 road win by the Patriots last Sunday, as Jacas ended up with three tackles, including one for a loss, along with 11/2 quarterback sacks and two quarterback hits during his 19 snaps.
➜ What’s next: Jacas carries no injury game designation into a 3:25 p.m. Week 9 matchup on Sunday for New England (5-3) against the Packers (5-3) at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Mass., after briefly exiting the game with Miami in the second half due to a knee injury.
Ted Karras
Cincinnati Bengals
➜ What happened: The offensive lineman started at center and played all 74 offensive snaps — plus five snaps with special teams — in the Bengals’ 43-36 overtime win against the Titans this past Sunday in Cincinnati.
➜ What’s next: Cincinnati (5-2) aims for a fourth straight win at 8:30 a.m. on Sunday against the Falcons (3-5) in Madrid, Spain.
Vederian Lowe
San Francisco 49ers
➜ What happened: Lowe and his San Francisco 49ers teammates had their scheduled bye week.
➜ What’s next: San Francisco (6-1) will host the Raiders (4-4) at 3:25 p.m. on Sunday at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif.
Quan Martin
Washington Commanders
➜ What happened: The defensive back registered three tackles on defense while Martin played 32 snaps and added one tackle on special teams as he logged 18 snaps with that unit in the Commanders’ 27-10 comeback victory against the Eagles last Sunday night in Landover, Md.
➜ What’s next: Washington (2-4-1) has another home game at noon on Sunday against the visiting Rams (4-4) at Northwest Stadium.
Chase McLaughlin
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
➜ What happened: The starting place kicker had a standout performance amid adverse field conditions, making all three of his field-goal attempts from 46, 34 and 42 yards — and also adding a successful point-after try following the game’s only touchdown — in helping the Buccaneers to a 16-0 victory against the Falcons this past Sunday in a rainy game at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Fla.
➜ What’s next: Tampa Bay (3-5) heads to Chicago for a 7:20 p.m. prime-time game against the Bears (6-2) on Sunday at Soldier Field.
Alex Palczewski
Denver Broncos
➜ What happened: The offensive lineman played nine total snaps during the course of the Broncos’ 28-24 victory against the AFC West rival Kansas City Chiefs last Sunday at Empower Field at Mile High in Denver.
➜ What’s next: The Broncos (6-2) have a noon kick against the Panthers (3-4) on Sunday at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, N.C.
Del’Shawn Phillips
Los Angeles Chargers
➜ What happened: The starting linebacker tallied four tackles on 34 snaps with the defense and was also on the field for eight snaps on special teams during the Chargers’ 24-9 loss to the Rams this past Sunday.
➜ What’s next: Los Angeles (0-7) is still searching for its first win of the 2026 season with the Texans (2-5) up next for a 3:05 p.m. kick on Sunday from SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, Calif.
James Thompson Jr.
San Francisco 49ers
➜ What happened: Thompson and his San Francisco 49ers teammates had their scheduled bye week.
➜ What’s next: San Francisco (6-1) has a 3:25 p.m. home game against the Raiders (4-4) on Sunday.
Isaiah Williams
New York Jets
➜ What happened: The backup wide receiver caught a 18-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Geno Smith in the second quarter to put his team ahead 13-7, but the Jets came up short in a 38-33 home loss to the Raiders last Sunday. Williams also had two punt returns for 22 yards and had two kick returns for 66 yards, with the St. Louis native playing 10 snaps on offense and another nine snaps with special teams.
➜ What’s next: New York (2-6) will travel to face the Chiefs (5-2) for a noon kick on Sunday at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Mo.
Devon Witherspoon
Seattle Seahawks
➜ What happened: The defensive back started at corner as Witherspoon had eight tackles, one of which was a tackle for loss, while playing all 70 defensive snaps and another snap on special teams during the Seahawks’ 34-17 loss at home to the Bears last Monday night.
➜ What’s next: Seattle (4-4) will face the Cardinals (3-5) in an NFC West matchup at 3:25 p.m. on Sunday at Lumen Field in Seattle.
Other notables
➜ Injured reserve: Isaiah Adams (Arizona Cardinals), Pat Bryant (Denver Broncos), 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).