Iowa Professional Athletes

The Gut Punch: Erick All Jr.'s Season Is Over — Again

It was supposed to be a comeback story. Instead, it became a cautionary tale about how cruel football can be.

Erick All Jr. had already spent a season and a half working his way back from a torn ACL when he finally returned to the field for Cincinnati this fall. On Sunday, October 25 — the same day the Bengals beat the Baltimore Ravens 35-13 — All caught three passes for 26 yards. Then the news broke: the Bengals placed him on injured reserve, fearing another torn ACL. The same knee. The same nightmare.

For Iowa fans who watched All develop into one of the Hawkeyes' most electric tight ends, the devastation is compounded. He managed three catches in what may have been his only healthy game of the year. The football world took notice, and the outpouring of support was immediate — but no amount of goodwill changes the reality of another lost season.

The Good Stuff: Kittle and Hockenson Deliver

While All's week ended in heartbreak, two other Hawkeye tight ends reminded the NFL why that Iowa pipeline is elite.

George Kittle put together the kind of performance that keeps him in the conversation with the game's best. In San Francisco's 29-20 loss to the Atlanta Falcons, Kittle posted eight receptions for 88 yards — nearly single-handedly keeping the 49ers' offense afloat on a rough day that included four turnovers. He was characteristically blunt afterward, telling reporters there were "no excuses" despite a depleted roster. The Niners fell to 6-1, but Kittle's effort was the last thing anyone could fault.

Up in Minnesota, T.J. Hockenson continues to build chemistry with quarterback Kyler Murray. The Vikings moved to 6-0 with a 16-10 win over the Indianapolis Colts, and Hockenson was a key piece — hauling in four catches for 35 yards and a touchdown. Post-game, Hockenson was candid about the growing connection with Murray, a pairing that's quietly become one of the more reliable tight end situations in the NFC. The Vikings are undefeated and Hockenson is a big reason why.

DeJean: Trade Buzz and a Rough Monday Night

Cooper DeJean had a week that pulled in two very different directions. On Monday Night Football, the Eagles dropped a 38-21 blowout to the Cowboys — a loss that was ugly across the board. Philadelphia surrendered 416 yards, including 204 on the ground, and couldn't generate a single sack or quarterback hit. DeJean sounded off after the game, but the real intrigue came from outside the building: a proposed trade surfaced pitching DeJean to the Buffalo Bills in exchange for a first-round pick. The Eagles currently have DeJean alongside Quinyon Mitchell at cornerback, and the trade pitch leans into that depth as leverage.

Nothing has materialized, but with the NFL trade deadline looming, the buzz is worth watching.

Around the Rest of the Roster

A few other Hawkeyes quietly checked in during the week. Lukas Van Ness recorded a sack for the Packers in their Thursday night win over Carolina (27-19). Tyler Goodson contributed 38 rushing yards for Dallas in that Monday night blowout of Philly. Noah Fant caught two passes for 11 yards in New Orleans' loss to Pittsburgh. And Sam LaPorta added one reception for 18 yards as Detroit edged Green Bay 20-17 in a tight NFC North battle — his contract situation with the Lions remains an unresolved storyline heading into the offseason.

It was a week that had everything: triumph, tragedy, trade rumors, and a reminder that Iowa keeps sending players to Sundays.

Iowa's NFL week had everything: a viral postgame brawl with consequences, a standout tight end performance in Detroit, and a health scare threatening Minnesota's offense at the worst possible time.

Alaric Jackson's Punch Heard Round the League

The biggest Hawkeye story of the week didn't happen on the field — it happened after the whistle. Rams left tackle Alaric Jackson is facing a multi-game suspension after video circulated showing him sucker-punching Bills edge rusher Bradley Chubb following Los Angeles' 37-34 overtime loss on Monday Night Football in Week 5.

Chubb has since revealed what he said to provoke Jackson, and the NFL fined the Bills edge rusher $14,329 for taunting — acknowledging he played a role in the escalation. But Jackson threw the punch, and the league's response was unambiguous. With Jackson sidelined, the Rams moved quickly to open the practice window for rookie offensive lineman Keagen Trost, underscoring just how significant a void the Iowa alum leaves up front.

For a Rams offensive line already navigating a tough schedule, losing a starting tackle to self-inflicted discipline is a costly blow — and one Jackson will have to live down long after the suspension ends.

LaPorta Shines in Detroit's Blowout

While Jackson made news for the wrong reasons, Sam LaPorta gave Hawkeye fans something to celebrate. The Lions tight end turned in the week's best Iowa performance with 5 catches for 88 yards and a touchdown in Detroit's dominant 45-21 victory over Arizona on Sunday. LaPorta was a consistent presence in the passing game throughout, and the Lions' offense looked every bit like a championship-caliber unit. Jack Campbell was also active for Detroit in the win, continuing to anchor the linebacker corps.

Hockenson's Concussion Clouds Vikings' Outlook

T.J. Hockenson's Week 6 situation is more troubling than a simple box score entry suggests. The Iowa alum started against the Saints but was ruled out after the first drive with a concussion, finishing with just 1 catch for 7 yards in Minnesota's 23-13 win. Hockenson remained in concussion protocol through the bye week, raising legitimate depth concerns for a Vikings team that also lost TE Josh Oliver for the season to a torn bicep. Minnesota is being urged to explore trade or free-agent options at the position — a sign of how seriously the organization is treating Hockenson's status heading into the back half of the season.

Around the Rest of the Hawkeye Alumni

Elsewhere, Riley Moss navigated an injury-plagued week before suiting up for Denver in Thursday Night Football against Seattle (Broncos won 17-14), active after being listed as questionable with Pat Surtain II and Talanoa Hufanga ruled out. Dane Belton recorded a sack for the Jets in New York's 17-12 win over Cleveland. Noah Fant caught 1 pass for 7 yards in New Orleans' loss to Minnesota. Kaleb Johnson rushed for 26 yards as the Packers rolled past the Bears 31-7 — a game that was rough viewing for Tory Taylor, whose Bears were overmatched. Erick All Jr. had 3 catches for 25 yards for Cincinnati in a 31-24 loss to Miami. And George Kittle, battling illness, suited up and caught 5 passes for 24 yards as San Francisco edged Seattle 32-29, keeping the 49ers unbeaten at 5-0.

It was a week that showcased the full range of what Iowa produces in the NFL — and, in Jackson's case, a reminder that what happens after the final whistle can matter just as much as what happens during the game.

Iowa's NFL alumni delivered one of their more eventful weeks of the 2026 season, with two tight ends turning heads in the right direction and a starting cornerback turning ankles — or rather, ribs — in the wrong one.

Hockenson Is the Viking Who Can't Be Stopped

T.J. Hockenson put on a clinic in Minnesota's Week 4 win over the Miami Dolphins, hauling in all 13 of his targets for 119 receiving yards in a 15-10 Vikings victory. With Justin Jefferson sidelined, Hockenson became Kyler Murray's security blanket — and Murray leaned on him hard. Hockenson has since spoken openly about the chemistry he's building with his new QB, calling it a genuine bright spot in what has been a transitional season in Minnesota. For Hawkeye fans who watched Hockenson become one of the most technically polished tight ends in Iowa history, this was a performance that felt like a statement.

LaPorta Delivers, Then Raises Eyebrows

Sam LaPorta was nearly as impressive in Detroit's 26-32 loss to the Carolina Panthers, catching 8 passes for 84 yards and a touchdown. The second-year tight end continues to assert himself as a legitimate focal point of the Lions' passing game. The wrinkle: LaPorta has been guarded in his public comments about a contract extension with Detroit, offering a notably muted one-word description of the situation this week that did little to inspire confidence about his long-term future with the franchise. On the field, he's making the case for a big payday. Off it, the situation bears watching.

Moss Can't Stay Healthy

Riley Moss's season is becoming defined by the injury report. The Broncos cornerback — already banged up heading into Week 4 — suffered a rib injury against the San Francisco 49ers and was ruled out of that game. He then missed the subsequent matchup against the Los Angeles Chargers as well, with Denver officially ruling him out alongside All-Pro Pat Surtain II. The Broncos are now navigating their secondary without both starting corners, and Moss's absence has stretched across multiple games with no firm return timeline in sight.

The Rest of the Hawkeye Board

Beyond the top three storylines, it was a solid week for Iowa alumni scattered across the league. Cooper DeJean picked off a pass for the Eagles in a 20-24 loss to the Rams — a bright spot in a disappointing result. George Kittle caught 4 passes for 70 yards and a touchdown as the 49ers beat Denver 24-14, then spent the week heaping praise on the Seahawks' defense ahead of a Week 5 road trip. Xavier Nwankpa snagged an interception for the Chiefs in their 30-27 win over Las Vegas. Chauncey Golston, however, ended the week on a grim note: the Giants defensive end left New York's win over Arizona with a neck injury and was subsequently placed on injured reserve. Jack Campbell was fined by the NFL for an incident in the same Lions-Panthers game where LaPorta scored.

It was, in short, a week that captured the full spectrum of an Iowa alumni base that is wide, productive, and occasionally bruised.