Missouri Professional Athletes

Ty'Ron Hopper Delivers for Green Bay

The best week for a Missouri alumni in the NFL belonged to Ty'Ron Hopper, and it wasn't particularly close. The Packers linebacker recorded both an interception and a sack in Green Bay's 27-19 win over Carolina on Thursday Night Football in Week 8 — a two-way performance that underscored why he's carved out a real role in Matt LaFleur's defense. Hopper had also suited up the previous Sunday in the Packers' narrow 20-17 loss to Detroit, giving him back-to-back weeks of meaningful snaps.

The Carolina game had an added layer of Mizzou intrigue: the Panthers were without cornerback Akayleb Evans, who had been placed on injured reserve prior to the matchup. Head coach Dave Canales confirmed Evans would not be available, and Marco Wilson stepped into the starting CB role in his absence. Evans had appeared in Carolina's Week 7 loss at Tampa Bay before landing on IR, ending what had been a rough stretch for the Panthers secondary.

Harrison Mevis Auditions for Kansas City

Harrison Mevis, released by the Rams earlier this season, drew significant interest this week with an "impressive" workout for the Kansas City Chiefs, per reports. Mevis — the former Missouri kicker who set program records in Columbia before making his way to the NFL — remains unsigned, but the Chiefs workout keeps his candidacy alive. Kansas City has been one of the league's most stable franchises in recent years, making any kicker opportunity there a genuine shot at a long-term role.

Elsewhere Around the League

The Missouri alumni footprint extended well beyond those three headliners. In Detroit, cornerback Ennis Rakestraw Jr. exited the Lions' Week 7 win over Green Bay with an ankle injury and was unable to return — a concerning development for a young corner trying to cement his spot in Dan Campbell's secondary.

Drew Lock's week was largely defined by what he couldn't do: the Seahawks QB was limited in practice all week with an elbow injury and was inactive for Seattle's Week 6 matchup against Kansas City, with Jalen Milroe sliding up the depth chart as backup behind Sam Darnold.

On the bright side, Cody Schrader got an opportunity with Denver, as the Broncos elevated the running back from the practice squad ahead of their rematch with the Chiefs. Schrader — described by Heavy Sports as "fearless" — got the call as Denver leaned on familiar faces for a high-stakes AFC West clash.

Josiah Trotter showed up on Tampa Bay's injury report mid-week with an illness but was upgraded to full participation by Thursday, clearing him for the Buccaneers' Week 8 game against Atlanta. And Darius Robinson continued to contribute in Arizona, recording a sack in the Cardinals' Week 7 loss to Denver.

Between Hopper's breakout performance, Evans' IR designation, and Mevis' high-profile audition, Missouri alumni gave NFL fans plenty to track — on both sides of the ledger — in a busy week across the league.

Missouri's NFL alumni delivered a week of contrasts — a receiver announcing himself to the league, a linebacker cementing a franchise legacy, and a defensive tackle whose career may never recover.

Luther Burden III: The Bears' New Headache (in the Best Way)

Thursday night's Bears-Patriots game doubled as a coming-out party for Luther Burden III. The second-year receiver torched New England for 130 yards and a touchdown on just four catches, adding seven rushing yards in Chicago's 30-24 win. It wasn't just the production — it was the manner of it. Caleb Williams was effusive afterward, and head coach Ben Johnson now faces the enviable puzzle of finding more ways to get Burden III the football.

The performance capped a strong week for the Mizzou wideout. In the prior Sunday's 31-23 win over Atlanta, Burden had hauled in eight catches for 95 yards. Back-to-back standout games in the same week put him firmly in the conversation as one of the Bears' most dangerous weapons — and one of the more quietly dangerous young receivers in the NFC.

Nick Bolton: A Chiefs Legend in the Making

While Burden was busy creating problems in Chicago, Nick Bolton was quietly etching his name into Kansas City history. The Chiefs linebacker now owns the franchise record for most career games with 10 or more tackles — a milestone that speaks to his consistency as one of the more reliable run-stuffers and field-cleaners in the AFC. Bolton's record came in Kansas City's 22-6 dismantling of the Chargers on Sunday, a performance that underscored why the Chiefs have built their defensive identity around him.

Jordan Elliott: A Career in Crisis

The week's most alarming Missouri headline arrived Tuesday, when the Tennessee Titans released defensive tackle Jordan Elliott following what the team initially described only as "an incident at our team facility." Details emerged swiftly and were damning: Elliott, according to multiple reports, went to retrieve a gun from his vehicle during or after a dispute at practice, reportedly in a confrontation involving offensive lineman JC Latham. Another player intervened before the situation escalated further.

Titans coach Robert Saleh confirmed the firearm incident Wednesday, describing it as "a terrible lapse in judgment that I recognize as a call for help more than a criminal act." The NFL was made aware of the situation, and the decision to release Elliott was reportedly unanimous within the organization. Elliott had appeared in all five Titans games this season after joining Tennessee from San Francisco, where Saleh had previously coached him. He lasted just weeks into his fresh start.

The incident overshadows what was shaping up as a redemption arc. Now Elliott faces far more serious questions about his future in the league — and beyond it.

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Elsewhere, Missouri's footprint remained visible across the league: Isaiah McGuire notched a sack for the Browns in their 13-10 win over Baltimore, and Theo Wease Jr. caught two passes for 21 yards for the Chargers. Tyler Badie was trending toward inactive for Denver's Week 7 game with a thumb injury, per reports.

It was a week that captured the full spectrum of the NFL life — breakthrough moments, historic milestones, and a reminder that careers can unravel in a parking lot.

It was a week of polar opposites for Missouri alumni in the NFL — one earning a bronze plaque, another cleaning out his locker.

Nick Bolton Gets His Flowers in Kansas City

Nick Bolton's week had nothing to do with tackles or blitz packages — it was about legacy. The Kansas City Chiefs linebacker was inducted into the University of Missouri Intercollegiate Athletics Hall of Fame, and the Chiefs made sure to celebrate the moment publicly, delivering a congratulatory message to their defensive captain. The honor adds institutional weight to a career that has already made Bolton one of the most recognizable names to come out of Columbia. It's not a bad place to be, even if Sports Illustrated noted this week that fellow LB Drue Tranquill may be outplaying Bolton through the first four games of the 2026 season. The Chiefs aren't concerned — and neither, apparently, is anyone handing out Hall of Fame plaques.

Harrison Mevis: End of the Line in LA

If Bolton's week was a celebration, Harrison Mevis's was a reckoning. The second-year kicker was released by the Los Angeles Rams following a Monday night overtime loss to the Buffalo Bills — a game that effectively became his audition tape for unemployment. Mevis missed one field goal attempt and had another blocked, a kick that coach Sean McVay suggested would have missed anyway. That kind of vote of non-confidence from your own head coach tends to precede a pink slip, and it did. On the season, Mevis had converted just 55.6% of his field goal attempts, last in the NFL. The Rams moved swiftly, signing Blake Grupe off the New York Jets' practice squad. A former Rams Super Bowl champion publicly blasted Mevis following the release, underscoring how little goodwill remained. Mevis's departure also creates roster movement on the LA side — fellow Mizzou alum Keagen Trost, an offensive lineman, was activated and could see his Rams debut in the coming days.

The Rest of the Tiger Pack

Elsewhere around the league, the week produced a few bright spots. Kevin Coleman Jr. hauled in three catches for 30 yards and a touchdown for the Dolphins in a loss to the Bengals — a promising flash for the young receiver. Luther Burden III continued to show up in Chicago's passing game despite a lopsided 31-7 loss to Green Bay, catching four passes for 47 yards. Theo Wease Jr. chipped in 16 yards on one reception for the Chargers in their loss to Denver, where Kris Abrams-Draine picked off a pass in Thursday night's 17-14 Broncos win over Seattle.

That Broncos-Seahawks game also kept Drew Lock's name in the news — not because he played, but because backup pressure is building in Seattle. Sam Darnold struggled badly, and multiple outlets called for Lock to take over after the Week 6 defeat. Lock has posted solid numbers in two starts this season, and the drumbeat isn't going away.

Missouri's NFL footprint remains sprawling. This week just happened to feature one alumni moment that will be remembered for all the right reasons — and one that won't be forgotten for the wrong ones.