Texas Tech Professional Athletes

Texas Tech's NFL alumni had a week of sharp contrasts — a rookie edge rusher sidelined, a dynasty QB humbled, and a wide receiver quietly torching a division rival.

Bailey's Injury Clouds Jets' Pass Rush

The biggest Texas Tech story heading into Week 8 has nothing to do with what happened on the field Sunday — it's what might not happen on it. Jets rookie linebacker David Bailey, the team's sacks leader, is listed as doubtful against the Las Vegas Raiders after suffering a groin injury. The timing is brutal: Las Vegas running back Ashton Jeanty publicly called out New York's defense this week, and now the Jets may have to answer without their most disruptive edge presence.

Multiple outlets have flagged Bailey's absence as a genuine crisis for Aaron Glenn's defense. Sports Illustrated noted his injury uncertainty shifts the Week 8 spotlight to a less-proven pass rusher, while Heavy Sports described the Jets as being in a "desperate situation." CBS Sports, revisiting Bailey's 2026 draft pedigree, acknowledged he's been producing on the edge even as New York's season has stumbled — making his potential absence all the more costly.

Bailey did suit up in Week 7, with New York falling 28-25 to Miami. Fellow Red Raider Sam Eguavoen is also on the Jets' roster and figures into the defensive picture if Bailey can't go.

Mahomes and the Chiefs Hit a Wall in Seattle

It was not a banner Sunday for Patrick Mahomes. The Chiefs' QB was held to just 165 passing yards and threw an interception in a lopsided 20-3 loss to the Seattle Seahawks in Week 7 — one of the more shocking results of the season. Kansas City managed only 213 total yards as Seattle's defense suffocated the league's most decorated offense.

The fallout extended into the week. A horse-collar tackle on Mahomes by Seahawks linebacker Uchenna Nwosu drew an NFL fine, keeping the play in the news cycle. Meanwhile, Kansas City is now reportedly eyeing trade deadline options to bolster Mahomes' receiver corps, with names like Josh Downs and Jaguars wideout Brian Thomas Jr. surfacing in speculation. Mahomes also made headlines off the field, announcing a $1 million giveaway ahead of the Broncos game and joining wife Brittany to launch a new community venture in Kansas City.

Despite the rough week on the field, the Chiefs' injury report heading into their Week 8 matchup against Denver carried some encouraging news for several key starters.

Douglas Delivers a Gem for Miami

While Bailey's situation dominated Texas Tech's NFL headlines, Caleb Douglas quietly authored the best individual performance of any Red Raider in Week 7. Douglas hauled in 2 receptions for 70 yards and 2 touchdowns in Miami's 28-25 win over the Jets, playing a direct role in the outcome of a divisional game. It was the kind of efficient, high-impact outing that tends to get overshadowed by bigger roster narratives — but Red Raider fans should take note.

The win kept Miami in the mix in the AFC East, and Jordyn Brooks and Jacob Rodriguez were also on the roster for the Dolphins in that contest.

Elsewhere, Tahj Brooks carried for 6 yards in Cincinnati's dominant 35-13 win over Baltimore, and Romello Height was active for San Francisco in their 20-29 loss to Atlanta.

It was a week that captured the Texas Tech NFL experience in full: one rookie fighting for his health, one legend absorbing a rare beating, and one under-the-radar performer reminding everyone why Lubbock keeps producing pros.

The Record That Got Brady Talking

Patrick Mahomes did something last week that nobody had done in 16 years — and the man whose record he tied noticed immediately.

By dispatching the Los Angeles Chargers 22-6 on Sunday, Mahomes became the fastest quarterback in NFL history to reach 100 wins, matching the mark Tom Brady set over a decade and a half ago. The milestone prompted Brady to reach out personally, sending Mahomes a message that the Chiefs QB later shared publicly. For a Texas Tech product who grew up watching Brady define the quarterback position, it was a moment that transcended stats.

The numbers on the day were efficient rather than spectacular — 272 passing yards, one interception, and 16 rushing yards — but Mahomes and the Chiefs didn't need to be spectacular. Kansas City is now undefeated on the season, and Mahomes' overall record, including the postseason, sits at 117-35. That kind of winning percentage isn't a coincidence; per The Sporting News, Mahomes is currently doing something at his position better than anyone else in the NFL.

Now comes Sunday Night Football against the Seattle Seahawks at Lumen Field, and Mahomes has already flagged it as a game that demands full attention. He acknowledged this week that the matchup carries genuine danger, citing respect for Seattle's defense and the emotional weight of the game — former Chief Kenneth Walker III returns to the city where he won a Super Bowl. "It'll be special for him," Mahomes said of Walker, while making clear the Chiefs will not be easing up on a sentimental reunion.

Other Red Raiders in the Mix

Mahomes isn't the only Texas Tech alum with something to prove this week. A pair of storylines elsewhere in the league deserve attention.

Terence Steele, the Cowboys' starting tackle, is facing heat in Dallas. Per Heavy Sports, the Cowboys are weighing a potential demotion for the $33 million starter amid struggles along the offensive line — a development that puts Steele's grip on his job in real jeopardy heading into the second half of the season.

Caleb Douglas, the wide receiver for the 0-5 Miami Dolphins, got an injury update following Miami's bye week. The Dolphins, one of just two winless teams remaining in the NFL, are hopeful Douglas can contribute as they attempt to salvage a lost season — but the update itself underscored just how much has gone wrong in South Beach.

On the defensive side, David Bailey and the Jets defense earned a top-five ranking in Week 7 fantasy team defense standings, thanks to a favorable matchup against those same struggling Dolphins. Bailey and fellow Red Raider Austin McNamara (punter) were both on the field Sunday as the Jets fell to New England 26-19, a loss that makes a tough week even tougher.

The Bottom Line

This is Mahomes' moment — the kind of career marker that reframes how a player's legacy gets written in real time. Brady reached out. The NFL is watching. And Sunday night in Seattle, with a record already secured and a marquee stage set, Mahomes will have every reason to remind the league why 100 wins was never the ceiling.