Georgia Professional Athletes

History in Los Angeles, Drama in Pittsburgh

Matthew Stafford did something no quarterback has ever done. By throwing three touchdown passes in the Rams' 35-21 win over the Las Vegas Raiders on Sunday, the former Georgia Bulldog became the all-time passing touchdown leader for two separate franchises — the Rams and the Detroit Lions — a feat that has never been accomplished in NFL history. Stafford finished the day completing passes for 195 yards alongside that historic trio of scores, cementing a legacy that spans two eras and two cities.

It's a remarkable footnote for a quarterback who spent his first 12 seasons in Detroit before winning a Super Bowl with Los Angeles. No player in league history had ever led two different franchises in all-time passing touchdowns simultaneously. Now Stafford owns both record books.

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Washington Scores, Then Pays for It

Darnell Washington had a week that captured the full range of NFL life — glory and consequences in the same 48-hour window. The Steelers tight end caught a touchdown pass from Aaron Rodgers during Pittsburgh's Week 7 win over the New Orleans Saints, part of a game in which Rodgers made his own history with the first TD pass ever thrown in Paris. Washington celebrated the score with what the NFL later classified as "illegal celebrations and vulgar acts" — and the league handed him a $14,926 fine for his trouble. Washington takes the fine and the memory.

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Carter Fined, Pickens Produces, and the Rest of the Dawgs

Georgia alumni were busy across the league in other directions.

Eagles defensive tackle Jalen Carter was hit with a $12,537 fine for unnecessary roughness after striking a Cowboys tight end during Philadelphia's 38-21 Monday night loss to Dallas. It was a rough week all around for Carter and the Eagles.

George Pickens, now in Dallas after his offseason move to the Cowboys, had a productive showing in that same Monday night game — hauling in four catches for 57 yards and a touchdown. Pickens had drawn mild criticism from the coaching staff the week prior, making his TD performance a timely response.

On Sunday, Brock Bowers continued his steady season for the Raiders in the loss to the Rams, posting six catches for 73 yards. Nakobe Dean, also on the Raiders' defense, came up with an interception in that game. Devonte Wyatt notched a sack as the Packers defeated the Panthers 27-19 on Thursday night, while Tykee Smith picked off a pass for Tampa Bay in a blowout win over Carolina. Kamari Lassiter added a sack for Houston.

The Falcons got contributions from Charlie Woerner (one catch, nine yards) and Zachariah Branch (one catch, nine yards, plus eight rushing yards) in Atlanta's 29-20 upset of the previously undefeated San Francisco 49ers — a win that shook up the NFC standings heading into Week 8.

It was a week Georgia fans won't forget quickly. Stafford's name is in the history books. Washington's name is in the fine report. Both, in their own way, very on-brand.

Georgia's NFL alumni had one of their busiest weeks of the season, spanning a scary concussion exit, a coach-versus-player feud, a potential trade, and a pair of running backs reminding the league why Athens produces elite backfield talent.

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Ladd McConkey Carted Into the Concussion Protocol

The most concerning Georgia headline came out of Kansas City. Chargers wide receiver Ladd McConkey was ruled out early in Los Angeles's 6-22 loss to the Chiefs after taking an awkward tackle that triggered the NFL's concussion protocol. He managed just one catch for 17 yards before exiting, leaving a depleted Chargers offense with even less to work with. The Chargers have yet to find their footing this season, and losing their most dynamic pass-catcher — even briefly — makes that climb steeper.

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George Pickens: Trade Rumors, Coach Beef, and a Quiet Sunday

George Pickens's stint with the Dallas Cowboys continues to generate more noise off the field than on it. In a Week 7 loss to the Green Bay Packers, Pickens caught 6 passes for 73 yards — respectable numbers in a losing effort, but not the splash play production Dallas needs from its top-dollar receiver.

The real fireworks came mid-week. Head coach Brian Schottenheimer publicly challenged Pickens on his effort in the run game, prompting the former Steeler to push back — deflecting the criticism and redirecting focus toward the team's broader struggles. Former NFL receiver Chad Ochocinco sided with Pickens, calling Schottenheimer a "puppet" in a pointed public rebuke. Former All-Pro Roddy White, meanwhile, argued the Cowboys need to get Pickens involved earlier in games rather than letting him disappear for stretches.

Then came the trade angle: ESPN's Ben Solak raised the possibility of Dallas moving Pickens to help free up cap space to extend cornerback Joey Porter Jr. Pickens did clear an injury designation (shoulder) heading into Monday Night Football against Philadelphia, so at least he was available — but the cloud hanging over his Cowboys tenure just keeps darkening.

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James Cook III and D'Andre Swift Do the Heavy Lifting

While the drama unfolded elsewhere, two Georgia running backs quietly put up the week's best Georgia stat lines.

James Cook III was the engine in Buffalo's 33-30 win over the Raiders, rushing for 95 yards and a touchdown while adding 3 catches for 58 more yards. That's 153 total yards from scrimmage in a division-relevant victory — the kind of performance that reminds everyone why the Bills made him their featured back.

D'Andre Swift had an even bigger two-game stretch. On Sunday he torched Atlanta for 44 rushing yards and 2 touchdowns in Chicago's 31-23 win. Then on Thursday, he carried the Bears again in a 30-24 victory over New England, adding 78 rushing yards, another score, and 4 receptions for 12 yards. Three touchdowns in five days. Swift is quietly becoming one of the more consistent rushing forces in the NFC — doing it for a Bears team that needs him every snap.

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Around the Rest of the Dawg Nation

Brock Bowers continued his reliable production despite Vegas's 30-33 loss to Buffalo, hauling in 4 catches for 70 yards. Darnell Washington caught 4 passes for 25 yards and a touchdown in Pittsburgh's 26-19 win over Tampa Bay. Daylen Everette added an interception in the same game. Matthew Stafford threw for 222 yards and 2 touchdowns in the Rams' narrow 16-18 loss to the Cardinals. Andrew Thomas was a limited practice participant for the Giants as they manage their injury situation heading into their next matchup. And in Green Bay's win over Dallas, both Javon Bullard and Devonte Wyatt were on the field for a Packers defense that held firm.

Two Bulldogs Steal the Monday Night Show

Georgia didn't just have alumni in the Bills-Rams Monday Night Football showdown — it owned the game's biggest moments, on both sides of the ball.

Matthew Stafford became the first quarterback in NFL history to throw 150 or more touchdown passes with two different franchises, hitting the milestone during Los Angeles' wild overtime loss to Buffalo (37-34). Stafford finished with 383 passing yards and 3 touchdowns in a game billed as a potential Super Bowl LXI preview — a fitting stage for a record that underscores just how sustained Stafford's excellence has been across two franchises. The loss stings, but the legacy moment belongs to him alone.

On the other sideline, James Cook III made sure the night belonged to the Bulldogs collectively. The Bills running back shredded the Rams defense for 111 rushing yards and 2 touchdowns, adding a reception for 7 more yards as Buffalo held on in OT. Cook was the engine that kept Buffalo's offense humming when it mattered most.

Bowers, Wyatt Shine Elsewhere

It wasn't just the primetime duo turning heads. In Las Vegas, tight end Brock Bowers put together another elite performance in a losing effort, hauling in 8 receptions for 110 yards and a touchdown as the Raiders fell to the Patriots 45-17. Bowers' contract situation is drawing increasing attention around the league — insiders suggest he could command significantly more than initially expected on his next deal — but on the field, there's no debate: he remains one of the premier players at his position.

In Green Bay, defensive tackle Devonte Wyatt continued his resurgence with a 2-sack outing against the Bears in a 31-7 Packers blowout. Wyatt, who fractured his fibula late last season, looked every bit the $57 million defender the Packers invested in. D'Andre Swift managed 43 rushing yards, a touchdown, and 30 receiving yards for Chicago in the loss, providing a rare bright spot in an otherwise forgettable afternoon for the Bears.

The Deeper Roster

Georgia's fingerprints were across the league's Sunday slate. In Baltimore's 30-23 win over Atlanta, Roquan Smith anchored the Ravens' linebacker corps while safety Malaki Starks contributed on the back end — the Falcons' Zachariah Branch and Charlie Woerner combined for modest numbers in the defeat.

Darnell Washington caught 2 passes for 12 yards as Pittsburgh rolled past Indianapolis 34-22, with rookie cornerback Daylen Everette making his first NFL start in the same game. Steelers defensive coordinator Patrick Graham offered encouraging remarks on Everette's debut, a notable development for a Georgia defensive back making his way in the league.

Mykel Williams made his 2026 debut for San Francisco in a 32-29 win over Seattle, with 49ers coaches sounding optimistic about an expanded role ahead. And Trevor Etienne was activated off the Panthers' roster ahead of Carolina's game, returning from a stint away from the active lineup.

Thirty-plus Georgia alumni suited up across the NFL this week. The headliners played on the same field under the Monday lights — and history got made on both benches.