Southern Illinois doesn't produce NFL talent at the volume of a Clemson or Alabama, but this week, one Saluki is at the center of one of the league's most compelling individual matchups — and the national media has taken notice.
Chinn vs. Kelce: The Assignment
Jeremy Chinn, the Raiders' safety, has been identified as Las Vegas's best weapon for slowing down Travis Kelce when the Raiders host the Kansas City Chiefs in a high-profile Week 4 showdown. Yahoo Sports flagged the Chinn–Kelce battle as one of the top individual duels to watch in the matchup, a distinction that speaks to the respect Chinn has earned as a versatile defensive playmaker at the NFL level.
Chinn's value to Las Vegas stems from exactly the skill set that made him a standout at SIU — the ability to play in space, close on targets quickly, and match up against receiving threats that beat traditional linebackers and crowd cornerbacks. Kelce, now in his prime as arguably the most dangerous tight end in NFL history, represents the ultimate stress test for that profile. The Raiders are betting Chinn can pass it.
His Week 4 stakes come on the heels of an active Week 3 performance: Chinn recorded a sack in Las Vegas's 35-27 victory over the New Orleans Saints on September 27, a result that kept the Raiders competitive in the AFC West early in the season. A win over Kansas City would be a legitimate statement — and Chinn's role in engineering it would put Southern Illinois on the map in conversations that don't usually include mid-major programs.
Around the League
Elsewhere among Saluki alumni, PJ Jules suited up for the Cincinnati Bengals in their Week 3 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers, 27-30, though no individual stats were recorded for Jules. The Bengals' tight defeat will keep pressure on Cincinnati's defense heading into the next stretch of the schedule.
The rest of the SIU contingent — Je'Quan Burton (Dolphins), Branson Combs (Jaguars), Kyle Dixon (Patriots), Ryan Neal (Buccaneers), Rico Payton (Giants), MyCole Pruitt (Steelers), and Craig James (Jets) — remain active on NFL rosters, a quiet but genuine testament to what the program in Carbondale continues to develop.
For now, though, all eyes point to Las Vegas and one Saluki with a very specific and very public job to do against the Chiefs. How Chinn handles Kelce on Sunday could be the defining moment of his 2026 season — and a memorable chapter in Southern Illinois football history.
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