Tulane Professional Athletes

The Incident Everyone's Talking About

Tulane's most-discussed alumnus this week isn't a quarterback or a skill player — it's a kicker. Cairo Santos, the Chicago Bears' veteran placekicker, found himself at the center of one of the NFL's uglier sideline controversies after video emerged appearing to show him attempting to trip Green Bay Packers wide receiver Matthew Golden during Chicago's lopsided 31-7 Week 5 loss.

Golden didn't let it slide quietly. The Packers wideout publicly called out Santos over the incident, and Packers fans amplified the outrage, labeling it a "dirty play" during what was already a demoralizing blowout for the Bears. The clip spread fast, and the verdict on social media was swift and harsh.

Santos has since responded publicly, addressing Golden's accusations directly. According to Sports Illustrated's coverage, Santos acknowledged the sideline moment but pushed back on the characterization — offering context for why he moved the way he did. Whether that explanation lands depends heavily on who you ask, but Santos is clearly not content to let the narrative sit uncontested.

The NFL has not announced any discipline as of this writing. For a kicker — a position rarely associated with on-field altercations — the attention is unusual, and the story isn't fully resolved. Santos and the Bears have a short week to put it behind them.

Around the Rest of the Green Wave

Santos wasn't the only Tulane alum in uniform during a rough stretch of results for his team. In Tennessee, running back Tyjae Spears was one of the few bright spots in a brutal 26-3 Titans home loss to the Houston Texans — a defeat that left Tennessee winless through five weeks. Spears was active in the passing game, hauling in 9 receptions for 28 yards, making him one of the team's most reliable outlets even as the offense sputtered badly. Snap count analysis from the game noted Spears' continued value as a pass-catching back in an offense still searching for an identity.

Cornerback Micah Robinson was also on the field for Tennessee in that same loss, though no individual stats were recorded for him in the blowout.

In New York, Darnell Mooney and the Giants managed a 27-27 draw against Washington — a result that feels like a missed opportunity given the Giants' position in the standings. Mooney caught 2 passes for 14 yards, a quiet afternoon in a game that ultimately went nowhere for either team.

Ryan Wright suited up for the Saints in their 23-13 home loss to Minnesota, while Dorian Williams and the Bills edged the Rams 37-34 in a Monday night thriller — one of the week's most competitive games, even if Williams' individual contributions weren't reflected in the box score.

The throughline for most Tulane alumni this week: tough team results, with Santos' sideline moment grabbing the headlines none of them wanted. The kicker who rarely makes news for anything other than made field goals is, for now, the story — and he's fighting to define it on his own terms.

Tulane NFL Alumni: Week of Oct. 4–10, 2026

It was a week of injury news bookending both ends of the spectrum for Tulane's NFL alumni — one player gutted it out, another wasn't so fortunate.

Spears Suits Up, Titans Fall Short

The biggest pre-game headline out of the Tulane alumni pool was Tyjae Spears' status in Tennessee. The Titans RB had been nursing an ankle injury all week, sitting on the injury report as questionable heading into Sunday's matchup against the Baltimore Ravens. NFL insider Ian Rapoport reported he was expected to play, and Spears delivered on that front — suiting up and taking the field.

His stat line was modest: 7 rushing yards and one reception for a loss of one yard in the passing game. But the real story was availability. Spears' willingness to play through a questionable ankle for a team still searching for answers at running back matters beyond the box score. Tennessee dropped the game 18–24, so the positive injury news couldn't translate into a win, but Spears' toughness heading into a midseason stretch is a note worth filing.

Ransaw's Season in Jeopardy

On the other end of the spectrum, Jacksonville Jaguars safety Caleb Ransaw was placed on injured reserve Tuesday — a procedural move that carries real consequences. Landing on IR typically sidelines a player for at least four games, and for a Jaguars secondary already navigating roster shuffling after Week 4, Ransaw's absence creates a meaningful gap. Jacksonville had been making moves in the defensive backfield, and Ransaw's placement on IR only accelerates the need for solutions.

Fleming Finds a Home in New York

Away from the injury wire, wide receiver Dontae Fleming — listed as an LB in the alumni roster but operating as a WR — quietly landed on the New York Giants' practice squad. The Giants signed Fleming following Braxton Berrios' season-ending injury, with Fleming having made an impression against New York in the preseason, catching three passes as a member of the Vikings. It's a foothold, not a feature role, but practice squad spots can evolve quickly when injuries strike — as this very signing proves.

Around the League

Other Tulane alumni were in action Sunday with varying degrees of impact. Darnell Mooney suited up for the Giants in their 36–24 win over Arizona, while Cairo Santos handled kicking duties in Chicago's 23–12 victory over the Jets. Patrick Johnson was on the field for Las Vegas in a 27–30 loss to Kansas City, and Dorian Williams played in Buffalo's 26–29 setback against New England. Ryan Wright punted for New Orleans in a Monday night 24–45 loss to Atlanta.

None of those performances generated individual headlines from the week's coverage, but the sheer number of Tulane products logging NFL snaps across the league — from the AFC North to the NFC South — reflects a pipeline that keeps producing contributors at every level of a roster.

The Ransaw IR news is the one that stings. Spears pushing through is the one that inspires. That's the week in a sentence for the Green Wave's NFL contingent.

The Williams Watch in Buffalo

The most pressing storyline for Tulane alumni in the NFL this week isn't on the field — it's in the front office. The Buffalo Bills signed linebacker Joe Andreessen to a two-year, $5 million extension with $3 million guaranteed, a move that immediately cast a shadow over the depth-chart futures of Dorian Williams, Sam Franklin, and Keonta Jenkins. Williams, the Green Wave's most prominent NFL product at linebacker, now faces a more crowded and expensive room heading into the stretch of the 2026 season. Buffalo's investment in Andreessen signals organizational confidence in him as a core piece — a signal that Williams and others will need to answer on the practice field and in game action to hold their spots.

Williams was on the active roster for Buffalo's Week 4 win over the Los Angeles Chargers (24-16) on September 27, though he did not register notable statistical output in the box score. The Bills are 4-0 and riding a defense-first identity — meaning roster decisions at linebacker will be calculated, not sentimental.

Spears Battles Through Injury in Tennessee

Tyjae Spears' week was defined by uncertainty. The Titans running back did not practice Wednesday alongside starter Tony Pollard, was listed as questionable heading into their Week 4 matchup against the New York Giants, and ultimately played — but was limited, logging just 5 rushing yards in Tennessee's 12-7 loss. Reports through the week indicated Spears was trending toward inactive, and the performance bore that out. With Nick Singleton waiting in the wings and Pollard's workload expanding, Spears' role in the offense remains something to monitor week-to-week. He's talented enough to reclaim his spot in the backfield, but the injury situation is keeping the door open for others.

Keys Finds His Way Back to Detroit

Lawrence Keys, the speedy wide receiver out of Tulane, quietly resurfaced in the NFL transaction wire this week. The Detroit Lions held a tryout for Keys on Tuesday before signing him to their practice squad on Wednesday — a reunion with a franchise he's had previous ties to. With the Lions facing the Panthers, adding a practice-squad option with familiarity in the system makes roster sense for Detroit. Keys won't move fantasy needles from the P-squad, but his re-signing keeps him in the league conversation.

Around the Rest of the Alumni

Darnell Mooney had a respectable Week 4 performance for the New York Giants in their 12-7 win over the Titans — catching 2 passes for 20 yards and adding 9 rushing yards, a sign that the Giants are finding creative ways to deploy him. With New York winning ugly, every yard mattered.

Adin Huntington continued to make noise for the Cleveland Browns, recording a sack in their Thursday night 27-24 win over Pittsburgh on October 1 — his second active game of the week after also appearing in Cleveland's 21-18 win over Carolina on September 27.

Cairo Santos handled kicking duties for the Chicago Bears in their blowout 27-7 win over the Eagles on Monday Night Football. Ryan Wright punted for New Orleans in the Saints' 35-27 loss to Las Vegas, while Patrick Johnson registered time for the Raiders in the same game.

For Tulane alumni across the NFL, the week of Sept. 20–26 carried a familiar mix of contributions and concerns — but no story dominated quite like the one unfolding in Chicago, where Green Wave kicker Cairo Santos found himself at the center of an injury scare with real playoff-race implications.

Santos on the Mend — But Bears Are Watching Closely

Santos landed on the Bears' injury report with a hip issue after missing two consecutive practices, casting doubt on his availability as Chicago's starting kicker heading into Week 3. The Bears' decision not to sign a replacement kicker or bring one in for a tryout on Thursday offered a quiet signal that the organization expects Santos to be available — but the situation remained fluid enough that outside voices floated a contingency plan, with former kicker Jake Moody surfacing as a potential short-term solution if Santos couldn't go.

The timing is notable. Santos appeared in Chicago's Week 2 loss to Minnesota (3–9), a game the Bears' offense struggled to generate much of anything. His health is a low-margin concern — kicker depth rarely gets headline treatment until it suddenly matters — and the Bears appear to be threading the needle between caution and confidence in their veteran specialist.

Spears Contributes in Titans' Narrow Loss

In Nashville, Tulane running back Tyjae Spears showed his dual-threat value in the Titans' 20–24 loss to Philadelphia. Spears rushed for 41 yards and added two receptions for 29 yards out of the backfield — a quietly efficient performance for a back who has carved out a complementary role in Tennessee's offense. His Week 3 status drew some attention as well: Spears was listed as questionable heading into the following week, adding another layer of concern for Tulane fans tracking the Titans' backfield.

Mooney Delivers for New York

Over in East Rutherford, Darnell Mooney gave the Giants something to work with on Monday night. The former Tulane wideout hauled in 2 receptions for 48 yards against the Rams — not a stat line that dominates a box score, but a reminder that Mooney remains a legitimate NFL weapon capable of moving the chains when targeted. New York fell to Los Angeles 6–28, so the individual bright spots were few, but Mooney's per-catch efficiency stood out.

Around the League

Ryan Wright, the Green Wave's punter on the Saints' roster, suited up in New Orleans' 24–17 win over Baltimore on Sept. 20 — a result that will have Saints fans feeling considerably better about their Week 3 outlook. Defensive end Adin Huntington was part of a Cleveland Browns squad that edged Tampa Bay 23–19, a gritty win for a team still searching for its identity early in the season. Cornerback Micah Robinson also saw action for Tennessee in the loss to the Eagles.

The broader takeaway from Week 3 for Tulane's NFL contingent: the Santos situation is the one worth monitoring. A healthy Santos means business as usual in Chicago. A prolonged absence would force the Bears into uncomfortable roster decisions at one of the game's most specialized positions — and put the spotlight squarely on a Green Wave alum at exactly the wrong moment.