TCU Professional Athletes

The Red Rifle's Run in Philly Is Over

Andy Dalton's time as a Philadelphia Eagle lasted less than a month, and it ended without much ceremony. The Eagles released the TCU product on October 9 — the day before the team departed for London to face Jacksonville — cutting their QB room down to Jalen Hurts, Tanner McKee, and a third option. Eagles GM Howie Roseman acknowledged the move was essentially an admission that signing Dalton in the first place hadn't worked out.

The circumstances were messy. Dalton had entered camp as the presumptive No. 2 behind Hurts, surviving a training camp competition with McKee. But the Eagles' broader roster reshuffling — including the trade of center Cam Jurgens and the retirement of offensive tackle Lane Johnson — created space pressures that ultimately cost Dalton his spot. He reportedly attempted just one pass for Philadelphia all season, leaving him on the doorstep of an unusual NFL footnote: finishing a career with a sub-50% completion rate by the slimmest of margins, per Bleacher Report.

The release caps a years-long tour for the three-time Pro Bowler, who has suited up for the Bengals, Cowboys, Bears, Saints, Giants, Panthers, and now Eagles. CBS Sports reported that the Vikings and Titans emerged as early potential landing spots. For Fort Worth faithful, Dalton remains one of TCU's most accomplished NFL products — but at 38, the next chapter is far from guaranteed.

Another Horned Frog Loses His Roster Spot

Dalton wasn't the only TCU alum dealt a tough hand this week. Running back Emari Demercado was waived by the Dallas Cowboys after appearing in just two games, with the team activating starting guard Tyler Smith off injured reserve ahead of their Week 4 matchup against Tampa Bay. Demercado, 27, entered the week with minimal usage and exits having never found sustained footing in Big D.

Cowboys Win, but Frogs Contribute Quietly

The Cowboys beat Houston 34-30 on Sunday — and again topped Tampa Bay 24-16 on Thursday — with a pair of TCU alumni on the active roster the whole time. KaVontae Turpin recorded two receptions for 22 yards against the Buccaneers on Thursday, flashing the quickness that made him a gadget weapon of note. Linebacker Dee Winters was active for both contests, though his stat line didn't jump off the page.

Scattered Frogs, Scattered Results

Elsewhere around the league, Quentin Johnston had the most notable receiving performance among TCU alumni in Week 4, hauling in one catch for 44 yards as the Chargers fell to Seattle 23-30. Ladd McConkey's foot injury opened up opportunity for Johnston going forward, according to Sports Illustrated's fantasy analysis. Derius Davis also played in that game but managed just six yards on one reception.

Savion Williams provided some optimism in Green Bay, returning to Packers practice after missing the first four games with an ankle injury. The second-year wideout hadn't appeared in a game yet this season, but his return was a welcome sign for a TCU receiver who showed flashes in prior seasons.

The Giants' Ar'Darius Washington was listed as inactive for New York's Week 4 win over Arizona — a quiet week for a safety who has been working to carve out a consistent role.

All told, it was a week that mirrored Dalton's own arc: flashes of promise, roster volatility, and the unforgiving math of NFL depth charts doing what they always do.

Two TCU alumni delivered the most talked-about moments of Week 3 — neither for reasons they'd want.

Jack Bech: Emotional Return, Brutal Exit

Jack Bech had already carried more weight into Sunday's Raiders-Saints game than any player should have to. The former TCU wideout returned to New Orleans — where his brother, Martin "Tiger" Bech, was killed in the 2025 New Year's Day attack — and spoke openly about what the trip meant to him before kickoff. The Raiders won, 35-27. Bech didn't make it out healthy.

During the game, Bech suffered a fractured forearm and was ruled out. Reports from Ian Rapoport confirmed the severity of the break, and Las Vegas wasted no time placing him on injured reserve. The Raiders subsequently signed wide receiver Cody White and added speedster Tyler Scott to fill the void. At 3-0, Las Vegas is rolling — but doing it now without one of the more emotionally significant players on their roster.

The injury immediately sparked speculation about whether the Silver and Black might look to the veteran free-agent market, with Odell Beckham Jr.'s name surfacing in the aftermath.

Andy Dalton: Wrong Moment, Glaring Mistake

Monday Night Football gave Andy Dalton one of the highest-profile opportunities of his backup career — and it didn't go well. With Jalen Hurts sidelined for a concussion evaluation against the Chicago Bears, Dalton stepped in and promptly threw a red-zone interception on 3rd-and-goal that killed a critical Eagles drive. Philadelphia went on to lose 27-7 in its first defeat of the season.

The moment drew immediate national attention — both for the pick itself and for the footage of Hurts visibly frustrated on the sideline during the evaluation. Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni was asked directly about Dalton's performance and remained noncommittal on whether Dalton had secured his hold on the QB2 role going forward. Sports Illustrated's coverage was blunt: the interception was evidence "why he shouldn't be QB2."

It's the kind of night that defines a backup's standing. For Dalton, the margin for error was always thin. It got thinner.

Around the Rest of the Horned Frog NFL Roster

Elsewhere, TCU alumni had quieter weeks with scattered contributions. Quentin Johnston hauled in 3 catches for 40 yards in the Chargers' 24-16 loss to the Bills, though calls for a change of scenery grew louder after another game with costly errors. KaVontae Turpin flashed in Dallas's 34-31 loss to Baltimore, rushing for 9 yards including a touchdown and adding a reception for 9 yards. Kendre Miller played a modest role in New Orleans' defeat, carrying for 14 yards and catching two passes for 5 in a game that will be remembered more for what happened to Bech than anything the Saints did offensively.

Matt Pryor also made a transaction-wire move of note, as the Patriots officially poached the veteran offensive lineman off the Cardinals' practice squad amid mounting injury concerns in New England.

It was a week that reminded Horned Frog fans just how much can change in the span of 60 minutes — or one play.

TCU Horned Frogs in the NFL — Week 1 Roundup

The TCU alumni network made noise in the opening week of the 2026 NFL season, with a pair of skill-position players stealing headlines and a linebacker's injury drawing attention in Kansas City.

Bech Delivers in Las Vegas

Jack Bech had the most emphatic Week 1 moment of any Horned Frog. The Raiders wide receiver hauled in 3 catches for 23 yards and punched in a receiving touchdown as Las Vegas downed the Miami Dolphins 27–13. It's the kind of debut performance that cements a role — Bech was a reliable target in a game the Raiders controlled, and his touchdown was the exclamation point on an otherwise measured outing. For a receiver still carving out his place in a competitive depth chart, Week 1 offered a compelling argument.

Miller Steals Saints' Backfield Spotlight

The more complicated — and arguably more intriguing — TCU story came out of New Orleans. Kendre Miller rushed for 30 yards and a touchdown against the Detroit Lions despite being listed behind Travis Etienne on the Saints' depth chart. Context matters here: Alvin Kamara was out, and Etienne, who signed a four-year, $52 million deal this offseason, was expected to absorb the lion's share of the workload. Instead, Miller carved out a meaningful role, raising real questions about how the Saints plan to deploy their backfield going forward. New Orleans fell to Detroit 31–30, so the win didn't come — but Miller's fantasy and on-field relevance is suddenly a live conversation headed into Week 2.

McDonald's Injury a Blow for Chiefs' Special Teams

TCU linebacker Cooper McDonald exited Kansas City's 31–10 season-opening win over the Denver Broncos with an injury and did not return. He was subsequently placed on injured reserve, ending his season before it really began. McDonald had been one of the Chiefs' standout special-teams contributors, and his absence leaves Kansas City searching for linebacker depth behind the starters. Andy Reid's postgame comments were described as ominous regarding the severity, and the IR designation confirmed the worst.

Around the Rest of the Roster

Elsewhere, Cowboys receiver KaVontae Turpin caught 1 pass for 8 yards in Dallas's 28–20 loss to the New York Giants, while running back Emari Demercado added 7 rushing yards. Neither could help the Cowboys avoid the defeat. Quentin Johnston managed 2 catches for 17 yards in the Chargers' 26–14 loss to Arizona — a quiet game for a receiver expected to take a step forward in 2026. On the offensive line, Brandon Coleman suited up at tackle for Washington as the Commanders faced the Eagles, where veteran TCU quarterback Andy Dalton was active as Philadelphia's backup — game-day confirmation of a role Nick Sirianni had deliberately kept under wraps all week.

Week 1 provided a clear hierarchy among active TCU alumni: Bech is producing, Miller is ascending, and the depth of the Horned Frogs' NFL footprint remains as wide as any program in the country.