Clemson Professional Athletes

Clemson doesn't just develop receivers and pass rushers. Right now, the program's most compelling NFL story is being written under center — by two quarterbacks who couldn't be in more different chapters of their careers.

Watson's Redemption Arc Is Real Now

Deshaun Watson has spent five years and $170 million being one of the NFL's most scrutinized figures. Through Week 7 of 2026, the conversation is shifting — and it's the Browns' 5-2 record doing the shifting.

Watson capped another come-from-behind win against the Titans on Sunday, orchestrating a game-winning drive that ended on a walk-off field goal from Andre Szmyt in a 27-24 Cleveland victory. It was the second consecutive week he'd led a late drive to set up a Szmyt kick as time expired. Watson finished with 308 passing yards, a rushing touchdown, and one interception in the win — workmanlike numbers, but the late-game clutch factor is what's turning heads.

Heavy Sports reported that Watson joined an exclusive historical club with the back-to-back game-winning drives, a milestone that would have seemed implausible just a year ago. Sports Illustrated noted that critics still exist — Watson hasn't fully silenced doubters — but the wins are stacking up, and a future once considered uncertain is now openly being discussed. Watson himself gave a reality check when asked about individual awards, but the Browns' record says plenty on its own.

Lawrence Eyes Something Bigger

Across the league, fellow Clemson alum Trevor Lawrence is coming off the bye week at 4-2 with Jacksonville and generating MVP whispers. Sports Illustrated made the case that Lawrence could use an upcoming Jaguars-Colts showdown as a major statement game in what's becoming a legitimate award-season push.

Heavy Sports noted that the Jaguars still have fixable issues heading into the second half — ESPN flagged three specific concerns — but Lawrence's play has been the stabilizing force. He's also shown leadership off the field, speaking publicly in support of wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr. after the team benched Thomas in Week 6 amid trade speculation, signaling a quarterback who's owning his role as the locker room anchor.

Higgins Erupts; Allen Finds the End Zone Twice

Beyond the quarterbacks, Clemson had a standout week on the stat sheet. Tee Higgins was the most productive Tiger of the weekend, torching the Ravens for 148 receiving yards and a touchdown on six catches as Cincinnati rolled 35-13. With Ja'Marr Chase nursing ankle soreness, Higgins stepped into the spotlight and delivered.

In Los Angeles, Rams tight end Davis Allen had a quietly excellent afternoon in a 35-21 win over the Raiders — hauling in 4 catches for 20 yards and punching in two touchdown receptions. Two scores in a single game is the kind of performance that earns a bigger role in Sean McVay's offense.

The Bigger Picture

No program has two quarterbacks simultaneously carrying playoff-contending teams the way Clemson does right now. Watson's 5-2 Browns and Lawrence's 4-2 Jaguars represent the kind of dual-QB alumni story that recruiters dream about. Whether both are still standing in January is another question — but through Week 7, the Tigers are very much in the conversation.

Clemson Alumni NFL Roundup | Week 7

The headline belonged to London, where two Clemson alumni — quarterback Trevor Lawrence and two-way phenom Travis Hunter — turned Wembley Stadium into a showcase for Tigers football. It wasn't enough to win, but it was enough to matter.

Lawrence and Hunter Make History Across the Pond

Jacksonville's 34-31 loss to Houston in the NFL London Game stings, but it's hard to walk away from Lawrence's tape without being impressed. The former Tigers signal-caller threw for 306 yards and four touchdowns against a single interception, adding 11 yards on the ground in a performance that had the Jaguars believing they were the better team despite the scoreboard.

The bigger story may be Hunter, whose historically notable performance at Wembley drew superlatives from Lawrence himself and prompted the team's head coach to frame the two-way role as part of a deliberate plan — not a gimmick. Per Bleacher Report, Lawrence hyped Hunter as "special" after the game, and the coaching staff leaned into the moment rather than away from it. The details of Hunter's stat line were historic enough to generate national buzz even amid a defeat.

Jacksonville's loss wasn't just about what happened on the field — it's about what's happening around Lawrence. Starting left tackle Anton Harrison suffered a torn ACL and is done for the season, per CBS Sports, leaving Walker Little to protect Lawrence's blind side for the remainder of the year. That's a significant swing for a team already playing close games. Despite the injury and the loss, ESPN's power rankings placed the Jaguars in the top five — a recognition that this team, if it stops hurting itself, is a legitimate AFC threat.

Deshaun Watson Wins, but Questions Linger

Across the AFC, Clemson's other prominent NFL quarterback had a quieter but consequential afternoon. Deshaun Watson finished with 164 passing yards and added 29 on the ground as Cleveland beat Baltimore 13-10, keeping the Browns atop the AFC North. The win is real. The future, less certain.

Owner Jimmy Haslam addressed Watson's contract situation publicly, declining to make firm commitments, and multiple reports suggest Watson's strong play may not translate directly into leverage for a new deal. Offensive coordinator Todd Monken went on record explaining why Watson was chosen over Shedeur Sanders to begin the season — framing it as a bet on upside — but the Watson-Sanders dynamic remains one of the NFL's more compelling subplots as the trade deadline approaches.

Around the Rest of the Alumni Map

Clemson's fingerprints were all over Week 7's broader slate. In Atlanta, cornerbacks A.J. Terrell Jr. and Avieon Terrell both dressed despite entering Sunday listed as questionable — A.J. was activated ahead of the Falcons' game against Chicago, though Atlanta lost 31-23. In Cincinnati, Tee Higgins continued to be a consistent presence for the Bengals heading into a key matchup with Baltimore, with Sports Illustrated flagging him as the team's top X-factor in that divisional game.

In Baltimore, linebacker Trenton Simpson has quietly been one of the Ravens' most reliable defenders through the first third of the season. Per Sports Illustrated, Simpson detailed the adjustments driving his breakout campaign — a storyline worth watching as Baltimore navigates a loaded AFC North race.

The Clemson pipeline into the NFL remains as deep as ever. The Tigers had alumni active across at least a dozen Week 7 games. London just happened to be where the brightest lights were pointing.

Shipley Down, Eagles' Backfield in Crisis

The Philadelphia Eagles' running back room went from thin to critically depleted this week, and a Clemson alumnus is at the center of it. Will Shipley suffered a foot injury during Sunday's 19–17 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars — a game in which he had managed 6 rushing yards, a touchdown, and a catch before exiting — and was subsequently placed on injured reserve. With Saquon Barkley already sidelined and Tank Bisby also on IR, Philadelphia enters Week 6 leaning on Dameon Pierce and Carson Steele. Shipley's IR designation signals a multi-week absence at minimum, a brutal development for a team already playing short-handed at the position.

That same Eagles–Jaguars game produced another Clemson storyline, and not a flattering one.

Trotter Jr. Pays for Week 5 Fallout

Linebacker Jeremiah Trotter Jr. was ejected in Philadelphia's Week 5 loss after a fight involving Jacksonville's Bryan Thomas Jr., and the league wasn't done with him there. The NFL followed up the ejection with a formal fine and additional discipline, per reporting from Heavy Sports and Bleacher Report. Trotter and Thomas Jr. were both fined for the altercation. Despite the league's punishment, Trotter Jr. is expected to remain in the Eagles' linebacker rotation for Week 6, with Philadelphia planning to deploy him alongside Jihaad Campbell opposite All-Pro Zack Baun. He'll need to stay clean — the Eagles can't afford to lose him for an entire game again.

Terrell Getting His Shot in Atlanta

While his former teammates dealt with chaos, Avieon Terrell stepped into the spotlight in Atlanta. The Falcons rookie second-round corner was set for a significantly expanded role heading into the team's matchup with the Chicago Bears in Week 6, with Sports Illustrated reporting the team was ready to hand him a major assignment. Terrell had already seen action in the Falcons' Week 5 loss to Baltimore (30–23), and the coaching staff's confidence in him is clearly growing. It's the kind of opportunity that can define a rookie season — and Clemson's defensive back pipeline to the NFL shows no signs of slowing down.

Watson Battered Again in Cleveland

If there's a recurring nightmare for Clemson fans watching Deshaun Watson in Cleveland, this week offered more of the same. Watson was sacked eight times in a 17–12 loss to the New York Jets, finishing with just 155 passing yards and one touchdown. Jets rookie David Bailey delivered a historic three-sack performance, and Watson was largely unable to move the ball in the pocket. Offensive coordinator Todd Monken publicly put Watson on notice after the game, telling him his style of play has to change. The Browns are already looking ahead — reports indicate Cleveland is projected to target a franchise QB successor in the 2027 NFL Draft. For now, Watson faces a Week 6 date with the Ravens, whose All-Pro defenders have already publicly outlined their blueprint to exploit his vulnerabilities.

Elsewhere Around the League

Trevor Lawrence turned in a sharp performance in Jacksonville's narrow 19–17 win over Philadelphia — the same game that ended Shipley's week — throwing for 331 yards, two touchdowns, and one interception while adding 25 rushing yards. It was one of his stronger outings of the season. In Cincinnati, Tee Higgins caught 2 passes for 22 yards and Barrett Carter contributed a sack in the Bengals' 31–24 win over Miami. Antonio Williams hauled in 3 catches for 31 yards for Washington in a 27–27 tie with the Giants. And Grady Jarrett, now with the Chicago Bears, returned to Atlanta for the first time since being released by the Falcons — a homecoming he addressed publicly ahead of the game.

The Week 4 matchup between the Bengals and Jaguars doubled as the most compelling Clemson reunion of the NFL season — and it ended with the best individual performance clouded by the worst individual news.

Tee Higgins was magnificent against Jacksonville, hauling in 11 catches for 157 yards in Cincinnati's 22-17 loss. It was the kind of game that reminds you why the Bengals paid him — precise route running, contested catches, consistent separation. Then he didn't finish it. Higgins exited with an adductor injury and has since added a neck issue to his injury report, leaving him sidelined through Thursday's practice while teammates prepared for a Week 5 trip to Miami. The Bengals listed him as questionable heading into the weekend, though reports out of Cincinnati characterized the outlook as bleak. In a season where Cincinnati's receiving corps was supposed to be a strength, losing Higgins — even temporarily — is a significant blow.

On the other sideline, fellow Tiger Trevor Lawrence quietly did what needed doing. The Jaguars quarterback threw for 227 yards and a touchdown, managing the game cleanly enough to secure the win. It wasn't a Lawrence-torches-the-league performance, but Jacksonville got the result, and Lawrence's efficiency was a meaningful piece of it.

The Clemson defensive presence in that same game was notable too. Both Myles Murphy and Dexter Lawrence II recorded sacks for Cincinnati — two Tigers making life difficult for their own alumni quarterback — while Ruke Orhorhoro contributed for Jacksonville up front. The Tigers were everywhere in that building.

Elsewhere Around the League

Will Shipley got the call in Philadelphia with Saquon Barkley sidelined, and the former Tiger running back made the most of his opportunity — carrying the ball for 23 yards as the Eagles fell 24-20 to the Rams in a loss that stings given how close it was. Shipley had gone on record before the game about his mindset heading into a likely start, and while the outcome wasn't what the Eagles wanted, Shipley's number was called and he answered.

In Baltimore's 24-18 win over Tennessee, Trenton Simpson picked off a pass and Nate Wiggins was active in the secondary — a nice double dose of Clemson DB production from the Ravens' increasingly Tiger-heavy roster.

Antonio Williams had a quiet three-catch, 21-yard afternoon for Washington in a 30-13 loss to the Colts, a game that went about as poorly for the Commanders as the final score suggests.

The headline week, though, belongs to Higgins — both the brilliance and the aftermath. Eleven catches and 157 yards against a legitimate NFL defense is a reminder of what he's capable of at full health. Whether he takes the field in Week 5 will be the most-watched Clemson storyline heading into the weekend.