This NFL weekend, two Mississippi State alums are competing in conference championship games.
The playoffs are down to four teams, and two Bulldogs.
A pair of Mississippi State alumni have at least one more game remaining in this National Football League season. With Kansas City advancing, as usual, to the conference championships round, former Dog defensive greats Chris Jones and Willie Gay Jr. remain busy. In their cases, for a Sunday afternoon matchup at Baltimore.
The winning team advances to the Super Bowl, a destination these Dogs are familiar with after previous playoff runs on a pair of championship Chiefs teams.
Green Bay’s loss to San Francisco in the division round marked the end of the season for two additional Bulldogs. Preston Smith and Elgton Jenkins’ campaigns were thus concluded. They joined the five other alumni whose teams had not won in the preceding stages.
Here is a list of every former Dog who was on a 2023 roster, both those who were injured and those who were active, along with the results from last weekend. Remember that the NFL does not apply post-season statistics to season or career totals, which remain the same for all players as they were last week.
Willie Gay Jr., a fourth-season linebacker for Kansas City
had five total tackles in two playoff games, including two solos, one tackle for loss, and one pass defense.
Regular Season: 16 GP, 15 GS, 58 total tackles, 42 solos, 1 sack, 4 passes defended, 1 interception, 1 fumble forced, 3 fumbles recovered.
Career: 57 GP, 47 GS, 233 total tackles, 5.0 sacks, 19 passes defended, 4 interceptions, 1 touchdown return, 2 fumbles forced, 4 fumbles recovered.
Chris Jones, Kansas City defensive end (8th season)
Playoffs: has 4 total tackles in two wins, 2 solos, 0.5 sacks for 2 yards, 1 pass defended, 1 fumble forced
Regular Season: 16 GP, 16 GS, 30 total tackles, 10.5 sacks, 4 passes defended,
Career: 123 GP, 102 GS, 273 total tackles, 75.5 sacks, 1 safety, 37 passes defended, 2 interceptions, 1 touchdown, 12 fumbles forced, 2 fumbles recovered.
Johnathan Abram, New Orleans safety (6th season)
2023: 9 GP, 3 GS, 26 combined tackles, 14 solos, 1 pass defended, 1 interception, 1 fumble forced
Career: 52 GP, 39 GS, 293 tackles, 166 solos, 15 passes defended, 4 interceptions, 1 fumble forced, 1 fumble recovered
Denico Autry, Tennessee defensive end (10th season)
2023: GP 17, GS 14; 50 tackles, 11.5 sacks, 4 passes defended.
Career: GP 142, GS 89, 310 total tackles, 184 solos, 59 sacks, 1 safety, 31 passes defended
Logan Cooke, Jacksonville punter (6th season) ended this year still with the best career net-punting average in NFL history.
2023: 17 GP, 61 punts, 47.4 average, 22 fair catches, 22 returned, 0 blocked
Career: 95 GP, 400 punts, 47.2 average, 43.5 net, 1 blocked, 113 fair catches, 154 returned
Fletcher Cox, Philadelphia defensive tackle (12th season)
Playoffs: had 2 assisted tackles with a half-sack for five yards in the loss to Tampa Bay
Regular Season: 15 GP, 15 GS, 33 tackles, 12 solos, 5 sacks, 2 passes defended, 1 fumble forced, 1 fumble recovered
Career: 188 GP, 182 GS, 519 total tackles, 251 solos, 70 sacks, 16 passes defended, 16 fumbles forced, 14 recovered.
Charles Cross, Seattle offensive tackle (2nd season)
2023: 13 GP, 13 GS
Career: 30 GP, 30 GS
Martin Emerson, Cleveland cornerback (2nd season)
Playoffs: had two solo tackles in the loss to Houston
Regular Season: 16 GP, 12 GS, 59 total tackles, 42 solos, 14 passes defended, 4 interceptions
Career: 33 GP, 18 GS, 122 total tackles, 89 solos, 1 sack, 29 passes defended, 4 interceptions
Emmanuel Forbes, Washington cornerback (1st season)
2023: 14 GP, 6 GS, 38 total tackles, 31 solos, 11 passes defended, 1 interception,
Career: same
J.T. Gray, New Orleans safety (6th season)
2023: 14 GP, 0 GS, 12 tackles, 7 solos
Career: 81 GP, 0 GS, 78 total tackles, 55 solos, 2.5 sacks, 1 pass defended, 1 fumble forced
Gabe Jackson, Carolina offensive guard (10th season) signed to the active roster in December, having been with the Panthers practice squad for a month.
2023: 4 GP, 1 GS
reer: 133 GP, 130 GS, 1 fumble recovered, 7 tackles
