Michigan State Professional Athletes

Michigan State alumni were impossible to ignore across the NFL this week — from a franchise-history moment in Las Vegas to a quiet but significant roster cut in New England.

Kirk Cousins: Record-Setter in a Storm

Kirk Cousins did something no Raiders quarterback had done before in Sunday's 35-21 loss to the Rams, crossing a franchise passing milestone that underscored just how productive he's been in Las Vegas — even as the team skids to 3-4. Cousins finished with 295 passing yards and two touchdowns, numbers that look fine on paper but haven't been enough to quiet a mounting quarterback controversy.

With the Nov. 10 trade deadline looming, speculation about Cousins' future has gone national. The Panthers have been floated as a potential trade destination. Analysts ranging from Eli Manning to Raiders legend Rich Gannon have weighed in on whether rookie Fernando Mendoza should take over. Cousins himself addressed the noise directly, and head coach Klint Kubiak publicly committed to his starter, declaring there's "no controversy" at quarterback — while acknowledging Mendoza will see the field at some point this season. Whether Cousins is still a Raider when the deadline passes is an open question.

What's not in question: three other Spartans suited up alongside him Sunday. Wideout Jalen Nailor caught two passes for 14 yards, Cody White added a reception for 4 yards, and fullback Connor Heyward hauled in a 13-yard catch. Four Michigan State alumni on the same NFL roster in the same game is a remarkable confluence, and all four saw the field.

Bryce Baringer's Quiet Exit in New England

While Cousins dominated the headlines, Bryce Baringer's NFL tenure with New England came to an abrupt end. The Patriots released the punter off injured reserve on Oct. 26, ending a three-year run that made him one of the most accomplished specialists in franchise history. Baringer had been sidelined to start the 2026 season, and the Patriots — famously moving on from Bill Belichick draft picks one by one — opted to cut ties rather than wait out his recovery.

Head coach Mike Vrabel offered a heartfelt send-off and notably left the door open for a reunion, suggesting this may not be the last chapter. For now, though, Baringer — a record-holder in the Patriots' punting annals — hits the open market.

Kenneth Walker III: Stumble Against His Former Team

Over in Kansas City, Kenneth Walker III had a week to forget in a game that had all the narrative ingredients. The Super Bowl MVP faced his old Seattle Seahawks for the first time on Sunday Night Football — and the Chiefs lost 20-3. Walker managed just 36 rushing yards and 21 receiving yards on four catches as Kansas City's offense stalled. The rough outing earned him a "danger zone" designation heading into Week 8 against the Broncos, a label that reflects both his performance and lingering health questions.

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It was a week that captured everything Michigan State's NFL footprint looks like at full volume: a quarterback rewriting record books while fighting for his job, four Spartans sharing a huddle in Las Vegas, a special teams standout quietly departing in New England, and a Super Bowl MVP in a high-profile stumble. East Lansing sent them all. The league is still sorting out what to do with them.

The Homecoming Nobody in Seattle Wanted

Kenneth Walker III left Lumen Field. Now he's coming back to burn it down.

The Michigan State alum and reigning Super Bowl LX MVP headlines the biggest NFL storyline of the week — and arguably the season. Walker returns to Seattle on Sunday Night Football in Week 7 as the centerpiece of the last undefeated team in football, leading the Kansas City Chiefs into a primetime revenge game against the franchise that let him walk.

The numbers back up every word of the hype. Walker ran for 128 yards and two touchdowns in Kansas City's 22–6 demolition of the Chargers on Sunday, extending his lead atop the NFL rushing charts. Per reporting from Yahoo Sports, Walker has outrushed the entire Seattle offense by himself this season — a staggering indictment of the Seahawks' decision to move on from him. An NFL legend — unnamed in the sourcing — publicly endorsed Walker for MVP honors this week, arguing his historic start deserves far more recognition than it's received, according to Heavy Sports.

The backstory adds fuel to an already combustible matchup. Bleacher Report, citing ESPN's Nate Taylor and Brady Henderson, reported that Seattle's reluctance to re-sign Walker stemmed partly from concerns over his injury history. The Sporting News, meanwhile, revealed the Seahawks had been considering a reduced role for Walker before he departed — a detail that, in hindsight, made his choice to sign a three-year, $43.05 million deal with Kansas City look prescient. Sports Illustrated confirmed Walker has been "making history" with the Chiefs, while the team's offense has leaned heavily on him as its engine all season.

Patrick Mahomes isn't pretending the game is just another Week 7 matchup. Heavy Sports reported Mahomes acknowledged the deep personal significance Sunday holds for Walker, essentially directing the Seahawks to brace for the emotions he'll bring. The Chiefs are also reportedly mining Walker for intel on the Seattle defense — particularly around Zach Charbonnet, whom the Seahawks activated off the PUP list this week specifically to prepare for the moment.

There's a human dimension underneath the football story, too. Walker — a blood clot survivor — made headlines this week for sending a personal message of support to Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts amid Hurts' own health scare, a reminder of the resilience that defines his story both on and off the field.

Cousins Keeps Mendoza Waiting in Vegas

Three time zones west of all the Walker noise, fellow Spartan Kirk Cousins is quietly making a case of his own. The Raiders quarterback threw for 313 yards and two touchdowns in a 33–30 loss to the Bills on Sunday — a competitive performance against a legitimate AFC contender that keeps Las Vegas at 3–3.

Cousins outlined his blueprint for Silver and Black success in comments reported by Sports Illustrated this week. More pressingly, Pro Football Talk confirmed that the Raiders' No. 1 overall pick, Fernando Mendoza, has been doing extra work behind the scenes — but Cousins' play has kept the rookie comfortably on the sideline for now. Jalen Nailor hauled in one catch for nine yards in the loss.

Spartan Shuffle: Foster Out in Seattle

One more MSU note with bitter irony attached: Montorie Foster Jr., the Seahawks wide receiver who became a fan favorite during Hard Knocks, was waived by Seattle ahead of the Chiefs game, per Heavy Sports. The Spartans connection now fully runs through Kansas City — and Walker is making sure everyone knows it.

Michigan State alumni are making noise across the NFL, and the headliner isn't hard to find: Kenneth Walker III is playing like the best player in football right now.

The Walker Show

The former Spartan running back posted 177 rushing yards and two touchdowns in the Chiefs' 30-27 win over the Raiders on Sunday, pushing his season total to a league-leading 537 rushing yards through four games. That's not just a hot start — it's historically rare. Walker has been predicted to accomplish a feat not seen in 14 years, and after CBS Sports unseated Josh Allen to place him atop its NFL MVP rankings this week, the conversation around Walker is no longer hyperbole.

Walker also leads the league in total yards from scrimmage (621) on 99 touches and was named AFC Offensive Player of the Month for September. He has also set a Chiefs franchise rushing record with his four-game haul. Dez Bryant publicly declared that the Seahawks — who let Walker walk in free agency this past offseason — effectively "gave" Kansas City the Super Bowl. ESPN backed that sentiment up with a ranking that put Walker above Seahawks wideout Jaxon Smith-Njigba, a pointed comparison for Seattle fans still processing the loss.

The Chiefs are 4-0. Walker is the engine.

Cousins and the Raiders' Surprise Run

While Walker dominated at Arrowhead, fellow Spartan Kirk Cousins was doing something no one expected on the other sideline. The Raiders fell 30-27, but Cousins threw for 365 yards and two touchdowns — and Las Vegas remains one of the more credible surprise stories of the early season. An anonymous NFL general manager weighed in this week with a bold prediction about Cousins and the Raiders being legitimate contenders, a reflection of how seriously the league is taking Las Vegas's hot start.

Cousins faces a tough test in the coming week against the Patriots, with analysts noting particular challenges that matchup presents. But the broader point stands: no one projected the Raiders to be in this conversation after four weeks, and Cousins is a central reason why.

The Other Spartans in Silver and Black

The Raiders storyline doesn't end with Cousins. Undrafted wide receiver Cody White — a Michigan State product who entered 2026 on the practice squad — has quietly become one of the team's most effective weapons. White has hauled in three touchdowns on just five catches through four games, earning praise from the Raiders' front office. His trajectory from practice squad afterthought to red-zone threat is one of the more compelling under-the-radar stories of the young season.

Fullback Connor Heyward also saw action in Sunday's Chiefs-Raiders game, logging a reception for nine yards.

Around the League

Packers wide receiver Jayden Reed is sidelined for the season, a significant blow for Green Bay's passing game. The Packers are reportedly exploring trade options to replace his production, with reports linking them to Jacksonville's Brian Thomas Jr. and Tennessee's Calvin Ridley.

Cowboys cornerback Ameer Speed, another Spartan, is drawing attention in Dallas. Despite a Cowboys secondary that has struggled overall, Sports Illustrated flagged Speed as a potential hidden gem lifted from the UFL — a player who is quietly outperforming his roster standing.

Four games in, the Spartans are well-represented. But make no mistake — Walker III is the story, and right now, he may be the story of the entire league.