UTEP Professional Athletes

UTEP in the NFL | Week of Oct. 25–31, 2026

The most significant UTEP storyline in the NFL this week wasn't a highlight — it was a sideline cart.

Aaron Jones Sr. exits early, future carries in question

Minnesota Vikings running back Aaron Jones Sr. went down late in Sunday's Week 7 contest against the Indianapolis Colts, exiting with a scary-looking leg injury that immediately cast a shadow over the team's backfield going forward. The Vikings won the game 16–10, but the victory came with a cost. Jones had managed 26 rushing yards and one reception before the injury ended his afternoon.

The good news, at least initially: per Sports Illustrated, Jones avoided what could have been a devastating outcome. But "avoided devastating" is not the same as healthy, and the incident was enough to shift Minnesota's backfield calculus. Jordan Mason, back in the lineup and impressing on Sunday, figures to see a significantly elevated role moving forward. For UTEP fans hoping to track Jones's contributions through the stretch run of the season, the next few weeks of injury reports will be worth monitoring closely.

Jones has been one of the more durable and productive backs in the league across his career, but this marks the kind of moment that can quietly reshape a running back's role — either temporarily or for the remainder of a season. With Mason performing well in relief, the Vikings have an option. That's not great news for Jones's carries, even when he returns.

Tyrice Knight and the Seahawks' dominant Sunday

On the other side of the country, UTEP linebacker Tyrice Knight was part of a Seattle Seahawks squad that throttled the Kansas City Chiefs 20–3 on Sunday — a result that will turn heads across the league. The Chiefs, perennial AFC contenders, were held to a field goal. Individual defensive stats for Knight were not available in the box score breakdown, but being part of a unit that shuts down Kansas City's offense is a storyline worth noting for any Miners fan keeping tabs on the linebacker.

The broader UTEP footprint

The Miners continue to punch above their weight in terms of NFL representation. Will Hernandez anchors the Cardinals' offensive line at guard. Roy Robertson-Harris holds down a rotation spot on the Giants' defensive front. Nik Needham is on the Jets' secondary. Elijah Klein is part of a Lions team that has been one of the league's better stories this season. Jacob Cowing is on the 49ers roster at receiver. The collective presence is a quiet point of pride for a program that doesn't always make national recruiting headlines.

But this week, the spotlight belongs to Jones — and not in the way anyone in El Paso was hoping for. The UTEP product's health will be the number to watch as the Vikings navigate the back half of their schedule.

UTEP Alumni Report: NFL Week of Oct. 11–17, 2026

Two Miners are making noise in the NFL this week — one with his legs, one by sheer necessity.

Aaron Jones Sr. Is Carrying the Vikings' Offense

If Minnesota needed a reminder of what Aaron Jones Sr. can still do, he delivered it in emphatic fashion. The veteran running back racked up 113 rushing yards and a touchdown in the Vikings' 23–13 win over the New Orleans Saints on Oct. 11, adding three receptions for four yards to round out a complete performance. It was the kind of workhorse outing that has defined his 2026 season — through five weeks, Jones has been the engine keeping Minnesota's ground game functional.

The performance has also sparked a larger conversation around the Vikings' backfield. Despite Jones' consistency, analysts and front-office observers have floated the idea of pairing him with a more explosive option — with Eagles star Saquon Barkley's name surfacing in trade speculation. The logic isn't a knock on Jones so much as an acknowledgment that the Vikings' offense, which is beginning to flash real potential, may want a dynamic dual-threat complement to their passing game. For now, though, Jones isn't just holding the fort — he's fortifying it.

Tyrice Knight's Moment Under the Lights

In Seattle, opportunity is knocking for UTEP linebacker Tyrice Knight — though it arrives under unfortunate circumstances. Seahawks starter Drake Thomas was ruled out for the team's Thursday night game against the Broncos on Oct. 15, thrusting Knight into an elevated role in Seattle's linebacker corps.

Knight appeared in both of Seattle's games during the period — a 29–32 loss to the 49ers on Oct. 11 and the Thursday matchup against Denver — but specific stat lines weren't available for the week. What is clear is that the Seahawks are leaning on him to fill a meaningful gap. Whether Knight can seize the moment and hold onto expanded snaps beyond Thomas's absence will be worth monitoring as the Seattle season unfolds.

The Rest of the Miners

No other UTEP alumni — Jacob Cowing (49ers), Will Hernandez (Cardinals), Nik Needham (Jets), Roy Robertson-Harris (Giants), or the rest of the active roster — generated notable headlines during the Oct. 11–17 window. But with Jones producing at a high level and Knight suddenly in the mix for real playing time, El Paso has two genuine storylines worth following as the NFL season hits its midpoint stretch.