Arizona Professional Athletes

Arizona Alumni NFL Roundup: Oct. 11–17

The Wildcats' most prominent NFL storyline this week arrived in two painful acts: a career-best performance, followed by an injury report that ended the week on a sour note.

Croskey-Merritt's Big Day Comes at a Cost

Jacory Croskey-Merritt gave Washington Commanders fans plenty to cheer about in Sunday's tie against the New York Giants — 82 rushing yards, a touchdown, and a 7.5 yards-per-carry clip that made him look like the backfield answer Washington has been searching for. It was the former Wildcat's best outing of the young season, a performance that suggested he was firmly in command of the lead-back role.

Then the week turned. The Commanders announced Croskey-Merritt will not play in Monday Night Football's matchup against the 49ers, a brutal blow for a player who had just forced his way into the national conversation. Washington had already drawn scrutiny for reducing his touches late against the Giants despite that eye-popping efficiency — and now the injury sidelines him entirely before he could answer those questions. As Washington's leading rusher, his absence reshapes the offensive game plan heading into a high-profile prime-time stage.

Loop Keeps the Trend Going in Baltimore

In Baltimore, Tyler Loop is quietly building one of the more compelling kicker stories in the league. The Ravens' overtime win over the Atlanta Falcons — 30-23 — leaned on Loop's leg, and it's the latest chapter in what's become a reliable trend for Baltimore. Loop also made waves earlier this season with a walk-off field goal to beat the Cowboys in Brazil, a moment that prompted CBS play-by-play voice Jim Nantz to blurt out "trio in Rio" — a call Nantz later admitted he initially regretted, unsure whether anyone watching would catch the reference. They did.

Loop's week further cemented his status: after connecting on two field goals from 50-plus yards in Week 5, he entered fantasy football's top-five kicker rankings heading into Week 6. For a position that rarely draws sustained attention, Loop is becoming an exception.

Around the Rest of the Alumni

Elsewhere among Arizona's NFL contingent, the week was relatively quiet. Roy Lopez registered a sack for the Arizona Cardinals in a 21-45 loss to the Detroit Lions — a bright spot in an otherwise lopsided afternoon in the desert. Jacob Cowing caught one pass for nine yards for the 49ers in their 32-29 win over the Seahawks, while Jonah Savaiinaea continued to see time for the Dolphins in their 24-31 loss to the Bengals, with Yahoo Sports tracking his development as part of Miami's young offensive line project.

Tetairoa McMillan, the Panthers' breakout receiver and one of the most-discussed Arizona alumni in the league this season, had a bye week — but his name kept appearing in the football conversation regardless. Through four games, McMillan has caught all 26 catchable passes thrown his way, a statistic that has analysts reaching for superlatives. His Week 6 matchup against the Eagles is already generating significant betting interest and bold-prediction fodder.

The headliner remains Croskey-Merritt, though. A thunderous 82-yard rushing, one-touchdown performance deserves more than a Monday night seat on the sideline — and Wildcat fans will be watching his injury status closely as the week unfolds.

The McMillan Show

Tetairoa McMillan didn't just have a good game Sunday night. He had a statement game.

The second-year Carolina Panthers receiver torched the Detroit Lions for 14 catches, 192 yards, and two touchdowns in Charlotte's first Sunday Night Football appearance in 11 years — a 32-26 Panthers upset win that turned heads across the league. The performance set career highs across every major category and earned McMillan NFC Offensive Player of the Week honors, his first such award.

What made it more remarkable: McMillan was operating in a depleted receiver room. With Xavier Legette on injured reserve and Jalen Coker sidelined, the Arizona product was the undisputed focal point of every defensive scheme Detroit threw at him. He accounted for 43 percent of Carolina's total yardage. The Lions knew the ball was going his way. It didn't matter.

The defining moment came late in the fourth quarter with the game on the line. Carolina faced a third-and-14 from their own territory, the Lions having just cut the lead to six with 3:38 remaining. Quarterback Bryce Young — who finished with 329 yards and two scores — scrambled under pressure and located McMillan near the sideline for a clutch conversion that effectively sealed the game. Young called the connection "special" after the final whistle.

McMillan was equally composed before the game even started, making a point during player introductions to pronounce his first name in the traditional Polynesian manner — a small but deliberate nod to his heritage on the sport's biggest weekly stage.

Fantasy managers and opposing defensive coordinators alike are now on notice.

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Two More Wildcats Worth Watching

McMillan wasn't the only Arizona alum making noise this week.

Ravens kicker Tyler Loop delivered a jaw-dropping 64-yard field goal in Baltimore's 24-7 halftime lead over the Tennessee Titans — a boot that staked the Ravens to a commanding cushion, with Baltimore ultimately winning 24-18. For a rookie kicker still carving out his place on an NFL roster, that kind of moment in a tight positional competition is hard to overstate.

Meanwhile, Raiders safety Treydan Stukes remained in the news for a hit on Chiefs wide receiver Tyquan Thornton in Las Vegas's 27-30 loss to Kansas City. The play initially drew scrutiny and the prospect of a fine, but Stukes ultimately avoided punishment — the league determining the tackle did not warrant a penalty. It was a turbulent week for the rookie, who had recently returned to action for the Raiders just in time for the AFC West showdown.

Falcons kicker Nick Folk also logged a clean performance in Atlanta's 45-24 Monday Night Football blowout of the New Orleans Saints, going perfect on all scoring attempts alongside former Patriots teammate Jake Bailey. For the 41-year-old veteran, every reliable night is another argument for continued employment.

The headliner, though, was never in doubt. McMillan's Sunday night put Tucson on the NFL's front page — and with Carolina's passing attack finding its footing around him, it likely won't be the last time.