On the final Sunday of the NFL's 2025 regular season, 37 players from Alabama high schools and colleges (excluding Alabama and Auburn) got on the field.
Washington Commanders safety Jeremy Reaves returns an interception during an NFL game against the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday, Jan. 4, 2026, at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia.Five years and one day after he got his first interception for the Washington Football Team against the Philadelphia Eagles, formerIn addition to his interception, the safety made six tackles, broke up another pass and had one tackle on special teams as the Commanders closed their 2025 campaign by defeating the playoff-bound Philadelphia Eagles 24-17.
The Eagles rested many of their key players, including quarterback Jalen Hurts, with Tanner McKee playing in the former Alabama standout’s place on Sunday. Reaves intercepted a third-down throw by McKee from the Washington 20-yard line at the 1 and returned his pick 28 yards to the Commanders 29 with 48 seconds left in the first half. Reaves’ interception jumpstarted a drive that end with a field goal on the final snap of the first half to give Washington a 10-7 lead. Reaves’ first interception came on Jan. 3, 2021, when he picked off Eagles backup quarterback Nate Sudfeld in the fourth quarter of Washington’s 20-14 victory. After that game, Washington was the team headed for the playoffs.Reaves was among the 37 players from Alabama high schools and colleges who got on the field on the final Sunday of the NFL’s 106Jakorian Bennett started at cornerback for the Eagles. Bennett made one tackle.Jacory “Bill” Croskey-Merritt started at running back for the Commanders. Croskey-Merritt ran for 29 yards on 13 carries.Commanders offensive tackle Trent Scott did not record any stats.Falcons cornerback Cobee Bryant made one tackle.Mohamoud Diabate started at linebacker for the Browns. Diabate made seven tackles.Bengals defensive end Cedric Johnson recorded one sack, registered two quarterback hits and made one tackle on special teams. The sack was Johnson’s second of the season.Bengals kicker Evan McPherson had only one attempt in the game – an extra point after Cincinnati’s first touchdown that was blocked.Browns linebacker Nathaniel Watson is on injured reserve and not eligible to play. Alex Wright started at defensive end for the Browns. Wright made two tackles, knocked down one pass and blocked the extra-point after Cincinnati’s first touchdown.Colts running back Ameer Abdullah had two receptions for 24 yards, one rushing attempt that gained 1 yard and two kickoff returns for 53 yards.Texans wide receiver Nico Collins was designated as a game-day inactive as Houston rested its Pro Bowl pass-catcher for the postseason. Texans wide receiver Tank Dell is on the physically-unable-to-perform list and not eligible to play.Texans cornerback Kamari Lassiter was designated as a game-day inactive. Ankle and knee injuries kept Lassiter out of the lineup. Riley Leonard started at quarterback for the Colts. Leonard completed 21-of-34 passes for 270 yards with two touchdowns and one interception, ran three times for 21 yards and one touchdown and lost two fumbles. Leonard threw touchdown passes to wide receiver Alec Pierce of 66 yards as Indianapolis took a 7-3 lead with 10:36 left in the first quarter and 8 yards as the Colts cut Houston’s lead to 20-17 with 1:25 left in the first half. Leonard’s 1-yard touchdown run with 13:05 left in the third quarter gave Indianapolis a 24-23 lead.Tremon Smith started at cornerback for the Texans. In his first start since Jan. 8, 2023, Smith made three tackles on defense and one tackle on special teams. Texans safety Jimmie Ward is on reserve/physically unable to perform and not eligible to play.Jaguars quarterback Carter Bradley is on the practice squad and not eligible to play.Josh Hines-Allen started at defensive end for the Jaguars. Hines-Allen made two tackles and registered three quarterback hits. Jaguars quarterback Nick Mullens completed both his passes for a total of 16 yards as he came in for starter Travis Lawrence and finished a touchdown drive before kneeling out the final 1:55 of the game on Jacksonville’s next possession.Jaguars safety Cam’Ron Silmon-Craig is on the practice squad and not eligible to play. Titans guard Clay Webb is on the practice squad and not eligible to play.Trikweze Bridges started at cornerback for the Cowboys. In his second NFL start, Bridges set a career high with five tackles.Shemar James started at linebacker for the Cowboys. In his first start since Nov. 3, the rookie led Dallas with 13 tackles and shared one sack. Giants defensive tackle Rakeem Nunez-Roches is on injured reserve and not eligible to play.Reddy Steward started at slot corner for the Cowboys. Steward equaled his career high with six tackles. It’s his fourth game this season with six tackles.Cowboys defensive tackle Sam Williams made seven tackles on defense, recorded one tackle for loss and had one tackle on special teams. Entering Sunday’s game, Williams’ career high had been five tackles in a 24-20 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles on Sept. 4.Buffalo Bills 35, New York Jets 8 Tylan Grable started at left offensive tackle for the Bills. In his 2025 debut, Grable made the second start of his NFL career. Jets wide receiver Jamaal Pritchett is on the practice squad and not eligible to play.Lions wide receiver Malik Cunningham is on the practice squad and not eligible to play.Bears tight end Qadir Ismail is on the practice squad and not eligible to play. Chris Hubbard started at right offensive tackle for the Lions. Detroit elevated Hubbard from its practice squad to allow him to make his 2025 debut with his 103Broncos cornerback Kris Abrams-Draine made three tackles.Chargers running back Kimani Vidal ran three times for 12 yards and caught one pass that lost 2 yards.Cardinals wide receiver Tejhaun Palmer did not record any stats in his NFL debut.Rams cornerback Darious Williams was designated as a game-day inactive.Raiders defensive tackle Brodric Martin-Rhodes was designated as a game-day inactive. Chris Oladokun started at quarterback for the Chiefs. Oladokun completed 11-of-17 passes for 58 yards with no touchdowns and no interceptions. He was sacked three times and lost two fumbles while playing the first half. Dolphins wide receiver Tyreek Hill is on injured reserve and not eligible to play.Patriots safety Dell Pettus made one tackle.Pittsburgh Steelers 26, Baltimore Ravens 24Ravens offensive tackle Carson Vinson did not record any stats. Steelers punter Corliss Waitman averaged 39.7 yards on three punts, with no return yards. Waitman had a 33-yard punt to a fair catch at the Baltimore 14-yard line, a 53-yarder to a fair catch at the Baltimore 35 and a 33-yarder downed at the Baltimore 29., when the Tampa Bay Buccaneers defeated the Carolina Panthers 16-14 and the Seattle Seahawks defeated the San Francisco 49ers 13-3.The 2025 season is the 12th that Mark Inabinett has covered players with Alabama football roots in the NFL. Inabinett's byline appeared in a newspaper for the first time in 1976. The intervening years have...
NFL 2023 @River-Mobile @Yahoo Section:/Sports
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Former Alabama lineman wrapping up ‘decent start’ in the NFLTyler Booker will conclude his rookie season on Sunday.
Read more »
Iowa State Cyclones Former Star Safety Heading to Penn State in Transfer PortalAnother former Iowa State Cyclones player in the transfer portal is heading to the Penn State Nittany Lions.
Read more »
Former Ohio State Wide Receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba Wins NFL’s Receiving Crown for 2025 SeasonJaxon Smith-Njigba finishes the 2025 season as the NFL’s leading receiver with 1,793 yards, the eighth-most receiving yards in a single season in NFL history.
Read more »
3-star defensive lineman will transfer to Penn StateThe former Iowa State tackle is Penn State's 15th portal pickup.
Read more »
NFL Mock Draft 2026: NFL Playoffs Have Arrived!The Draft Network is your go-to source for NFL Draft coverage—featuring expert scouting reports, exclusive interviews, and the top-rated Mock Draft Machine. Be the GM and create your own mock draft today.
Read more »
Alabama NFL roundup: Jahmyr Gibbs closes season with record-tying TDOn the final Sunday of the NFL's 2025 regular season, 39 former Alabama players got on the field.
Read more »