Missouri Professional Athletes

The Lock Show

Missouri's Drew Lock didn't just fill in for an injured starter in Seattle this week — he started a conversation the entire NFL is having. In the Seahawks' 31-7 demolition of the Arizona Cardinals on Sept. 20, the former Mizzou Tiger threw for 235 yards and three touchdowns, piloting a performance so complete that Seattle is now 2-0 without Sam Darnold and climbing power rankings as if nothing happened.

Lock connected with Jaxon Smith-Njigba for a jaw-dropping 82-yard touchdown strike that encapsulated everything going right for this unlikely pairing. Smith-Njigba didn't mince words afterward, publicly declaring his full trust in the veteran backup — a ringing endorsement from a receiver who has options in how he frames his quarterback's limitations. Lock, for his part, deflected credit to the defense in his postgame comments, a detail that tells you something about how he's carrying himself through this moment.

The win also pushed Seattle past a 21-year franchise record for consecutive wins — a record Lock had to actually finish, not just inherit. That's no small footnote.

The Trade Buzz and the Rookie Cards

Good play in the NFL generates noise fast. Within days of the Cardinals win, trade speculation surfaced from multiple directions: could Lock be moved if Darnold returns healthy? Could Seattle's QB3, Jalen Milroe, be a trade chip elsewhere? Yahoo Sports examined why shipping Lock out doesn't actually make sense for Seattle's front office — and the argument is compelling when you consider what continuity costs to rebuild.

Meanwhile, the memorabilia market moved faster than any front office could. Lock's rookie card surged 300% — effectively quadrupling from its baseline — as collectors bet on his momentum continuing. It's a niche data point, but a telling one: the speculative market on Lock had been dormant for years. It isn't anymore.

Richard Sherman noticed too. His public reaction to Lock's 3-TD outing was flagged widely, made more pointed by the context of Lock's current contract situation. When a Super Bowl cornerback is watching your tape closely enough to comment, you've entered a new tier of visibility.

Sports Illustrated's backup QB rankings placed Lock among the handful of reserves who have genuinely seized a moment through the first two weeks of the season. That's a list that usually gets ignored. This year, it's required reading.

Around the League

The Lock story dominated the Missouri-to-NFL storyline this week, but a few other Tigers were in the mix. Luther Burden III caught three passes for 32 yards for the Bears in a 9-3 loss to the Vikings — modest production in a game Chicago's offense couldn't get going. Tyler Badie contributed 28 receiving yards and a pair of catches for Denver in a 20-13 win over Jacksonville. Nick Bolton's Chiefs edged the Colts 33-30, with fellow Tiger Jaylon Carlies on the losing side of that one for Indianapolis. And Josiah Trotter was ruled out for the Buccaneers before their Week 2 matchup against Cleveland, where Isaiah McGuire and the Browns picked up a 23-19 win.

But make no mistake: this is Drew Lock's week. The Missouri quarterback who spent years as a punchline for draft bust discourse is, at minimum, forcing a reset of that narrative — one touchdown at a time.

Josiah Trotter didn't ease into the NFL. The Missouri linebacker announced himself with one of the most remarkable debut performances in league history, and Baker Mayfield is already drawing comparisons to last year's Defensive Rookie of the Year.

Trotter Rewrites the Record Books

In Tampa Bay's Week 1 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals — a 33-27 defeat — Trotter did something no rookie has ever done in NFL history: record a sack and a pick-six in the same game. He finished with 10 tackles alongside those two signature plays, becoming the first player in Buccaneers franchise history to accomplish the feat in any game, let alone a debut.

The historical footnote is striking on its own. That it came from a first-year player, in his very first regular-season appearance, elevates it further. Defensive rookies typically take weeks — sometimes months — to find their footing in the NFL. Trotter skipped that adjustment period entirely.

Mayfield's reaction after reviewing film told its own story. The Buccaneers quarterback said he saw flashes of former Defensive Rookie of the Year Carson Schwesinger while watching tape of Tampa Bay's Week 2 opponent — and that Trotter's football intelligence is what stood out most. "What a smart player he is, for a rookie," Mayfield said. That kind of endorsement from the team's offensive leader, unprompted, carries weight.

The loss stings for Tampa Bay, but Trotter's emergence offers a genuine reason for optimism on the defensive side of the ball. The Mizzou product looks like a foundational piece.

Drew Lock Steps Into the Spotlight

Across the NFC West, another Missouri alum is navigating a high-stakes moment. Drew Lock finds himself as Seattle's starting quarterback after Sam Darnold was ruled out with an injury sustained in Week 1. Lock stepped in during that opener and helped lead the Seahawks to a victory over the New England Patriots, and now faces the Arizona Cardinals in a divisional road game on Sept. 20.

The pressure is real. Lock has made 28 starts across eight NFL seasons with Denver, the Giants, and Seattle, and the general consensus around the league is that this stretch of starts doubles as an extended audition for quarterback-needy teams. Seahawks teammates and wide receiver Cooper Kupp have publicly expressed confidence in Lock, while Darnold has remained heavily involved in preparation despite his injury, with Lock saying he's been "leaning on him pretty heavy" heading into the Cardinals game.

Whether Lock can sustain his performance beyond a favorable opener remains the central question.

Luther Burden III Keeps Rolling

In Chicago, wide receiver Luther Burden III had a productive afternoon in the Bears' blowout 59-37 win over the Carolina Panthers — catching 5 passes for 63 yards and adding 2 rushing yards. With Chicago's offense clicking at a high level in Week 1, the former Missouri standout is carving out a real role in a crowded receiving corps.

Three Missouri alumni, three different storylines — but the week unquestionably belonged to Trotter. History tends to have that effect.