Washington State Professional Athletes

Jaylen Watson Headlines a Busy Week for Cougar Alumni

Washington State's most prominent NFL story in Week 7 came out of Inglewood, where cornerback Jaylen Watson earned a "winner" designation in the Rams' commanding 35-21 victory over the Las Vegas Raiders. Watson was singled out alongside quarterback Matthew Stafford and running back Blake Corum as one of the standout performers in a game that wasn't particularly close after the first half. For a Cougars secondary product continuing to carve out a starting role in Los Angeles, it's the kind of performance that builds a case for long-term roster security.

Fellow Ram Cam Lampkin (LB) is also on the roster, though the focus of the LA spotlight this week belonged squarely to Watson.

Trade Winds and Injury Questions Elsewhere

Two other WSU alumni found themselves in the news cycle for reasons that had nothing to do with Sunday highlight reels.

Daiyan Henley, the Chargers linebacker out of Pullman, surfaced in trade speculation as the NFL deadline approaches. The Cincinnati Bengals have been identified as a potential suitor, with The Athletic's Daniel Popper flagging Henley as a name to watch. Henley is a pending free agent, which makes him an affordable deadline target — a Day 3 pick could reportedly get a deal done. Whether the Chargers move him or hold pat, Henley's name in trade conversations is a signal that he's viewed as a legitimate NFL contributor, not just a depth piece.

Meanwhile, Cowboys safety Jalen Thompson — the $33 million free agency addition — remains in a holding pattern in Dallas. The Cowboys have been deliberately slow in making an injury designation decision on the former Cougar, leaving his Week 8 status uncertain. Thompson's absence has been a point of concern for a Dallas defense that's dealing with widespread roster attrition. No timeline has been announced, and the Cowboys appear to be monitoring him on a week-to-week basis.

Kyle Williams: A Sleeper Worth Watching

Out in New England, wide receiver Kyle Williams is generating fantasy football buzz as a potential beneficiary of the Eagles-related injury situation involving AJ Brown. If Brown is held out of Week 8 action, Williams is among the Patriots pass-catchers being flagged as sleeper options — a testament to the former top-100 pick's ability to find opportunities on an offense that has been thinned out by injuries. Williams hasn't broken through as a consistent producer yet, but the pieces are in place for a breakout moment if the targets come his way.

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It was a week that reinforced how widely WSU alumni are distributed across the league — from Rams starters making plays in prime time to trade-deadline chips in Los Angeles to injury questions in Dallas. Watson's performance is the headline, but the Coug footprint in the NFL remains broad and, for several players, at a genuine inflection point heading into November.

Washington State's most-talked-about Coug in the NFL this week isn't a skill player making highlight-reel catches — it's linebacker Daiyan Henley, who may soon be writing a very expensive check to the league office.

The Hit Heard Across the League

Henley, now in his second season with the Los Angeles Chargers, was at the center of one of the week's biggest controversies after a tackle on Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce during Sunday's 22–6 Chiefs victory drew immediate scrutiny. The hit was flagged by fans and analysts as potentially illegal, and the NFL is actively reviewing tape of the play. According to Heavy Sports, Henley is expected to face a five-figure fine — a significant financial consequence even by NFL standards.

Chiefs fans weren't waiting on the league to weigh in. Social media lit up with calls for punishment almost immediately after the game, with many viewing the tackle as a deliberate cheap shot on one of the sport's most recognizable names. Whether the NFL classifies it as a late hit, unnecessary roughness, or something else entirely, the outcome is unlikely to favor Henley's wallet.

For a Chargers team that lost by 16, the optics are doubly rough — not only did the offense struggle to generate any momentum against Kansas City's defense, but the game's most memorable moment came from a play that could result in disciplinary action. Henley, a standout at WSU who was drafted by the Chargers in the third round of the 2023 draft, has built a reputation as a physical, high-motor linebacker. That physicality now has him under the NFL's microscope.

Other Cougs Around the League

Henley wasn't the only WSU alum with a stake in Sunday's Chiefs-Chargers matchup. Safety Jaden Hicks, now on the Kansas City roster, was on the winning side as the Chiefs controlled the game from start to finish. Hicks, an undrafted free agent find out of Pullman, is carving out a role on one of the league's most successful rosters.

Meanwhile, wide receiver Kyle Williams remains in the mix for the New England Patriots. Williams hauled in one reception for 12 yards in New England's 26–19 win over the Jets on Sunday, and his name appeared again in prop discussion ahead of the Patriots' Thursday Night Football matchup against the Bears — a sign that the analytics community is at least paying attention to what the former Coug brings to the offense.

Frankie Luvu, the hard-hitting linebacker who has long been a fan favorite among WSU alumni, was in uniform for the Washington Commanders in their 17–23 loss to San Francisco on Monday night. No individual stats were available from that game, but Luvu's role as a core defensive piece in Washington continues.

The Week in Review

It was a mixed week for the Coug diaspora: one player in the NFL's crosshairs, one on a Super Bowl contender riding high, and others grinding through the gruel of a long season. But make no mistake — the story of this week belongs to Daiyan Henley. Whether the league's ruling vindicates him or costs him, the Pullman product just became the most Googled Coug in the country.

Washington State's NFL alumni had a Week 5 to remember, with two Cougars making legitimate cases for the best performances at their respective positions.

Kyle Williams Finds His Joy — and the End Zone

The Patriots' wide receiver room has been a revolving door of uncertainty, but Kyle Williams used Week 5 to stake his claim as a legitimate weapon in New England's offense. Against a Raiders defense that had no answers, Williams hauled in 3 catches for 91 yards and a touchdown in a dominant 45–17 Patriot blowout — a performance that turned heads inside and outside of Foxborough.

The numbers alone tell a strong story, but the context makes it richer. With veteran Mack Hollins sidelined, Williams stepped into an expanded role alongside quarterback Drake Maye and delivered. Boston.com reported this week that Williams has described getting his "joy" back, suggesting a player who has rediscovered his footing after what had been a fitful early career. Based on his Week 5 effort, that joy is translating directly onto the field.

Sports Illustrated flagged Williams as a standout among Patriots pass-catchers in what it described as a "lopsided offensive performance," and Yahoo Sports named him among the clear winners from the win. For a team still searching for offensive identity, a breakout from a Washington State product could be exactly the spark the receiver corps needs.

Jaylen Watson Earns His Stripes — Even in Defeat

On the other side of the country, Jaylen Watson was one of the few bright spots in a tough 34–37 Rams loss to the Bills. The cornerback registered an interception and earned a top PFF grade on the afternoon — a notable individual achievement on a day when Los Angeles couldn't quite hold off Buffalo.

Watson's standout grade came in a game where the Rams' broader roster decisions were being scrutinized. Yahoo Sports published a pointed piece questioning whether the Rams should have pursued Mike Evans rather than committing resources to Watson — but Watson's Week 5 tape appears to offer a rebuttal. Earning a top defensive mark against a Bills offense that has been firing on all cylinders is no small feat.

Fellow Cougar and Rams LB Cam Lampkin was part of some roster shuffling in Los Angeles this week, moving between the active roster and practice squad ahead of a Cardinals game, per Heavy Sports.

Around the Rest of the Alumni Network

DT Daniel Ekuale, who spent time with the Steelers, worked out for the Washington Commanders this week as he looks to secure a roster spot, according to Heavy Sports. The 300-pound lineman isn't done making his case in the league.

Elsewhere, LB Frankie Luvu suited up for Washington in a 27–27 tie with the Giants, and LB Daiyan Henley was active for the Chargers in a 17–23 loss to the Broncos, though neither generated notable statistical headlines.

Week 5 belonged to Williams and Watson — two Cougars reminding the NFL that Pullman produces.

Jaylen Watson's Return Headlines a Big Week for Cougar Alumni

Washington State's most compelling NFL story this week isn't happening in a stadium yet — it's happening in a Rams training facility, where cornerback Jaylen Watson is doing everything he can to suit up for Monday Night Football.

Watson, sidelined with a shoulder injury, revealed he's been working with a protective shoulder harness that could allow him to take the field when Los Angeles hosts the Buffalo Bills on Monday Night Football. The device is Watson's self-described "secret weapon" — a solution that would return one of the Rams' key defensive backs to a lineup that badly needs him facing Josh Allen and a high-powered Buffalo offense. Watson also sent a cryptic message to fans and reporters ahead of the game, stopping just short of confirming his status but signaling he has every intention of playing.

The optimism isn't unfounded. Watson returned to practice Thursday alongside defensive tackle Aaron Donald, giving Los Angeles legitimate hope that its defense can show up whole for one of the marquee matchups of Week 5. The Rams' final injury report confirmed the expectation: Watson, Donald, and tight end Colby Parkinson are all anticipated to play against the Bills. That's a significant reinforcement for a team sitting at 2-2 after a gutsy 24-20 comeback win over the Philadelphia Eagles.

For Watson, a Pullman product who has developed into a reliable starter in LA's secondary, playing through injury with a harness speaks to the kind of high-stakes moment that can define a player's reputation. A strong performance against Allen — one of the NFL's most dangerous passers — would do exactly that.

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Around the League: Other Cougars in Action

Watson wasn't the only WSU alum with something to show for in Week 5. In Foxborough, wide receiver Kyle Williams suited up for New England in a stunner — the Patriots knocked off the Buffalo Bills 29-26 in a season-saving performance led by quarterback Drake Maye. Williams was part of a Patriots passing attack that found a way to grind out a win against one of the AFC's best teams.

Daiyan Henley and the Los Angeles Chargers dropped a 23-30 decision to the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday, a tough result for the Wazzu linebacker in a divisional matchup that carries playoff implications. Fellow Cougar Frankie Luvu had a rough Sunday as well — his Washington Commanders fell 13-30 to the Indianapolis Colts, a lopsided loss that raises questions about Washington's early-season trajectory.

On the positive side, Jaden Hicks was part of a Kansas City Chiefs team that edged the Las Vegas Raiders 30-27, keeping the reigning champions near the top of the AFC West. And Chau Smith-Wade played in a competitive Carolina-Detroit clash that saw the Lions edge the Panthers 32-26, with Smith-Wade's Panthers making a game of it before falling short.

The week ahead belongs to Watson, though. Monday Night Football, prime time, the Bills. If that harness holds up, it's the kind of moment that Cougar fans will be watching closely.