Alabama Professional Athletes

Detroit's Alabama Pipeline Is Becoming the NFL's Most Dangerous Backfield

The Detroit Lions didn't just beat Green Bay 20–17 on Sunday — they ran a full Alabama highlight reel in the process. Three former Crimson Tide players were central to the victory, and the game set the tone for a week of heavy Bama NFL news.

Brian Branch made his return from last season's Achilles injury count immediately, pulling in an interception against the Packers and, according to Fox Sports, giving Detroit a legitimate claim as a Super Bowl contender. Branch was also fined $23,882 by the league for an unnecessary roughness penalty — a helmet-to-helmet hit on Green Bay tight end Tucker Kraft in the first quarter — but the message was clear: the Lions' defense is a different animal with him on the field.

Jahmyr Gibbs was the engine on the ground, grinding out 116 rushing yards and adding 27 receiving yards on five catches. The performance capped with one of the week's signature moments: Gibbs deliberately going down short of the goal line to set up a walk-off field goal from Jake Bates, a heads-up play that went instantly viral. Jameson Williams did the damage through the air, catching five passes for 91 yards and punching in two touchdowns — the kind of performance that's been a long time coming for the Lions' electric receiver.

Jacobs Scores, But the Story Isn't Football

On the other sideline, Josh Jacobs had a productive day for Green Bay in defeat — 36 rushing yards, five catches for 55 yards, and a receiving touchdown — then added a rushing touchdown in Thursday's 27–19 win over Carolina (39 yards, six catches, two total scores on the week). But Jacobs' on-field work has been almost impossible to separate from a growing off-field crisis.

Police records revealed three additional women had accused Jacobs of abusive behavior in incidents predating his May arrest. His attorneys issued a statement on October 31 disputing the allegations. Sports Illustrated ran a pointed column arguing the Packers have a moral obligation to cut him. Green Bay has not made a roster move. Jacobs was also booed at Ford Field by Lions fans during Sunday's game — an atmosphere he addressed publicly ahead of Green Bay's home debut at Lambeau.

Around the League

Landon Dickerson returned to the Eagles' lineup for Monday night's 38–21 loss to Dallas, but the left guard's comeback couldn't reverse Philadelphia's skid — and Dickerson told reporters afterward he felt he let his team down.

Daron Payne won't be returning to Washington's lineup anytime soon. The Commanders DT suffered a significant foot injury in practice and is expected to be placed on injured reserve. Per Pro Football Talk, Washington had already been in trade discussions involving Payne before the injury ended those conversations entirely.

Jaylen Waddle suited up for Denver in its 30–16 win over Arizona, catching four passes for 48 yards despite entering the week listed as questionable. And Bryce Young had another rough afternoon in Carolina's 43–13 blowout loss to Tampa Bay — 163 yards, one touchdown, two interceptions — though he bounced back somewhat Thursday to throw for 209 yards with one TD and one pick in a tighter loss to Green Bay.

The Lions' Alabama trio stole the week. The Jacobs situation clouds what should otherwise be a clean story.

Alabama's NFL diaspora rarely generates a quiet news cycle, but the week of Oct. 18–24 was something else — roster cuts, a surprise signing, an MVP conversation, and standout performances scattered across the league.

Diggs and Harris Hit the Street

The biggest headlines belonged to two former Tide stars who found themselves unemployed within days of each other.

Trevon Diggs, the cornerback who starred for the Cowboys before injuries derailed his Dallas tenure, was released from the Seattle Seahawks' practice squad on Friday. Diggs had been trying to work his way back to the active roster after signing with Seattle, but he never regained his footing. Per Bleacher Report, the Seahawks cut him loose with his NFL future now uncertain. The fall from perennial All-Pro contender to practice squad casualty is a stark one for a player who, at his peak, was one of the best corners in football.

Najee Harris had an even more turbulent exit. The Giants cut the veteran running back on Tuesday, Oct. 20 — just days after Harris publicly voiced frustration over New York's backfield rotation following a Week 6 loss to the Saints, in which he carried the ball just twice for 2 yards. CBS Sports reported the release came directly on the heels of his criticism of the coaching staff's usage decisions. Fox Sports confirmed the move via a league source. Teammate Cam Skattebo's reaction was blunt: "Nobody is safe." Harris, who also had a stint with the Chargers before landing in New York, is now a free agent looking for his third team in as many years.

Evan Neal Finds a New Home in the NFC East

The Giants' difficult week extended to another Alabama alum. Offensive tackle Evan Neal, the 2022 first-round pick who never lived up to his draft billing in New York, signed with the Philadelphia Eagles — an NFC East rival. Heavy Sports described the move as the closing chapter on one of the more disappointing recent first-round investments, with Neal now getting a fresh start in Philadelphia after playing out his rookie deal without ever establishing himself as a reliable starter.

Bryce Young's MVP Case Keeps Growing

While former Tide players were making news for the wrong reasons, Bryce Young was doing the opposite. The Panthers quarterback carved up the Eagles on Sunday, throwing for 281 yards and 2 touchdowns in a 25–14 Carolina victory — a win that came against a Philadelphia team with a significant number of Alabama alumni on its roster. Sports Illustrated reported that Panthers defensive tackle Derrick Brown would cast an MVP vote for Young if he could, reflecting the buzz building around the second-year QB's resurgent season. Young also added 6 rushing yards, showing the mobility that made him a generational prospect coming out of Tuscaloosa.

Bernard Breaks Out, Henry Runs Hard

Germie Bernard, the rookie wideout for Pittsburgh, had the kind of game that gets fans talking — 11 catches, 87 yards, and a touchdown in the Steelers' 26–19 win over Tampa Bay. He's now eligible for FedEx Ground Player of the Week voting. Meanwhile, Derrick Henry continued his productive Baltimore campaign with 58 rushing yards and a reception in a narrow 13–10 loss to Cleveland, a reminder that the ageless back remains a featured piece of the Ravens' offense.

In that same game, Browns tight end Josh Cuevas — a former Alabama standout — posted 4 catches, 44 yards, and a touchdown.

It was, in short, a week that captured everything the Alabama-to-NFL pipeline can produce: MVP-caliber highs, hard roster realities, and a rookie making his first real statement.

Detroit's Alabama Pipeline Puts on a Show

Jahmyr Gibbs didn't just have a good Sunday — he rewrote Lions history. The Alabama running back rushed for 151 yards and two touchdowns against the Cardinals, surpassing Hall of Famer Barry Sanders for the most NFL touchdowns scored before age 25 in Detroit franchise history. For good measure, he added five catches for 56 receiving yards in a 45-21 blowout. The performance earned Gibbs his fourth NFC Offensive Player of the Week award, a mark that speaks less to a hot streak than to a sustained level of dominance.

Gibbs won't turn 25 until next March, with 12 games still to play this season — meaning Sanders' mark could end up a distant memory by the time the year is out.

Fellow Alabama alum Jameson Williams made the Cardinals afternoon equally miserable, hauling in two touchdown receptions on just two catches for 47 yards. The Lions also released veteran safety Jalen Mills this week, a move that signals the possible return of Brian Branch — another Alabama product — from injury.

Tua's Falcons Debut Goes Sideways

Atlanta's Sunday night trip to Baltimore started badly and ended worse. Starter Michael Penix Jr. absorbed a big hit late in regulation and was unable to return for overtime, thrusting Tua Tagovailoa into his first action since leaving Miami. The Alabama quarterback entered and promptly threw an overtime interception, sealing a 30-23 Ravens comeback win. Tagovailoa finished with just 34 passing yards and the pick, and the loss has the Falcons searching for answers at quarterback. Former Falcons QB Kurt Benkert publicly called for the team to add another option behind Penix.

Derrick Henry, on the other side, was vintage Ravens — 102 rushing yards and a receiving touchdown in the win, making life difficult for everyone wearing red and black, including former Alabama teammate Brian Robinson Jr., who managed just 16 rushing yards in the loss.

The Turnover Specialists

Two Alabama defensive backs turned the ball-hawking dial to maximum this week. Xavier McKinney recorded two interceptions for the Packers in a 31-7 demolition of the Bears — a statement game for a Green Bay defense that has looked increasingly sharp. In Cincinnati, safety Jordan Battle also pulled down two interceptions in the Bengals' 31-24 win over the Dolphins. Battle's week came with an asterisk: he was subsequently fined by the NFL for a separate play in that game, a reminder that physicality in the secondary always carries a price.

Around the Tide

Pat Surtain II was ruled out for the Broncos' Thursday night win over Seattle, but Jaylen Waddle contributed four catches for 24 yards in the victory. Minkah Fitzpatrick, now in a Jets uniform, was fined by the NFL for an illegal hit on Browns receiver KC Concepcion from the previous week's game. Landon Dickerson returned to Eagles practice after an IR stint, a significant development for Philadelphia's offensive line. And Packers running back Josh Jacobs — on the commissioner's exempt list while the NFL investigates a domestic violence matter — filed a lawsuit to block the release of video footage related to the incident, leaving his return timeline unresolved.

It was, in short, a week that reminded the NFL that Alabama's footprint stretches from franchise record books to prime-time overtime drives — and everywhere in between.

The Bryce Young Show Is Very Much On

It started with a 32–26 win over the Detroit Lions on Sunday night. It ended with an entire stadium chanting "M-V-P." In between, Bryce Young looked like the best quarterback in the NFL.

The Alabama product threw for 329 yards and two touchdowns, overtook the NFL passing yards lead, and set a Panthers franchise record — all in the same night. That's the kind of performance that doesn't just win games; it rewrites narratives. Young, who spent his first two NFL seasons absorbing legitimate questions about whether he belonged in the league, is now fielding questions about hardware.

His MVP odds on prediction market Kalshi more than doubled after the win, jumping from below 1% to 2%. That number might still read as modest, but the trajectory is the story. Sports Illustrated and Heavy both noted that the chants weren't just fan enthusiasm — they reflected a quarterback who had visibly ascended into a different tier of play. When pressed postgame about the MVP noise, Young's response was characteristically measured, but the performance behind it was anything but.

He also made sure to credit receiver Tetairoa McMillan — who torched Detroit for 14 catches, 190 yards, and two scores — as the night's standout playmaker. Young and McMillan are building something that is drawing comparisons to the elite QB-WR pairings around the league.

Fellow Alabama alum John Metchie III chipped in three catches for 37 yards in the same win, a quiet but useful complement to McMillan's explosion.

The Lions Had Their Own Alabama Story

Detroit lost the game, but two former Tide players made sure the Lions' night wasn't a total wash.

Jameson Williams was the Lions' best offensive weapon, hauling in six catches for 102 yards. The explosiveness that made him a first-round pick was on full display, even in a losing effort. Jahmyr Gibbs added 46 rushing yards and a touchdown on the ground, plus 31 yards through the air on four receptions. Together, the two ex-Alabama teammates combined for over 200 scrimmage yards against their former college QB — a subplot that could have used its own broadcast segment.

Safety Brian Branch, another Lions alum from Tuscaloosa, remained sidelined, though coach Dan Campbell offered an optimistic update on his return timeline.

Robinson Runs All Over the Saints

Monday night belonged to Brian Robinson Jr. The Falcons running back had one of the more dominant individual performances of the week, rushing for 62 yards and finding the end zone three times in Atlanta's 45–24 demolition of New Orleans. Add a reception for five yards and Robinson finished with a three-score night that will have fantasy managers feeling very good about their Week 5 decision-making.

Around the League

Minkah Fitzpatrick, now with the Jets, came up with an interception in New York's 23–12 loss to Chicago. Dallas Turner posted two sacks for the Vikings in a 15–10 win over Miami — a quiet but impactful day for the linebacker out of Tuscaloosa. Pat Surtain II exited Denver's 14–24 loss to San Francisco with a non-contact ankle injury and was ruled out, a significant blow to a Broncos defense already managing attrition at corner. Trevon Diggs, meanwhile, officially signed to Seattle's active roster, cementing his role with the Seahawks.

One week, one conference worth of NFL production — and Alabama alumni were everywhere that mattered.