Derrick Brown recorded his first sack of the season in a come-from-behind win, while Jamien Sherwood led the Jets in tackles for the fourth straight week and continues to climb the league ranks in the category.
That and more in this week’s Auburn Made NFL rundown.
Derrick Brown, DL, Carolina Panthers
Brown turned in a sack and three tackles in the Panthers’ thrilling 27-24 victory over the Dolphins. It was Brown’s ninth sack of his career and first since week 18 of 2023, earning him his highest PFF pass rush grade by more than 12 points this season. The 2023 Pro Bowler improved his PFF overall grade to an 89.6, which ranks fifth out of 186 interior defenders and leads all Carolina defenders. Brown is one of two interior defenders in the league to be ranked top 10 in pass defense (82.6) and rush defense (80.6) at fourth and seventh in the categories, respectively.
Carlton Davis III, CB, New England Patriots
Davis and the Patriots' defense turned its best performance of the season in a 23-20 win at Buffalo on Sunday Night Football, holding one of the NFL’s best offenses to 13 points under its season average and snapping the Bills’ 13-game home winning streak. Davis tallied four tackles, including three solo stops, and one QB hit in the contest. The 2020 Super Bowl Champion turned in his highest PFF run defense grade of the season (72.5) to improve his season-long grade to 68.2. Through five weeks, he has only allowed 13 receptions in 289 snaps played.
Jamien Sherwood, LB, New York Jets
Sherwood turned in an impressive performance in the Jets' game against the Cowboys, tallying a team-high seven total tackles and tying for the most solo tackles (five). The contest marked the fourth straight in which the 2025 team captain has led the Jets in tackles. After a season in which he led the NFL in solo tackles (98) and total tackles (158) and was named the Jets MVP, Sherwood ranks seventh in the league with 47 total tackles through five weeks. He ranks ninth out of 132 linebackers with a PFF run defense grade of 83.6 while having 23 solo stops and 14 assisted tackles.
Braden Smith, OL, Indianapolis Colts
Smith aided the Colts to another dominating offensive performance in a 40-6 win over the Raiders. He and the offensive line have yet to allow a sack all season and have paved the way for the fourth-ranked offense in the NFL, averaging 32.6 points and 381.2 yards per game and trailing only the Lions in points scored (163). After falling behind early in the contest, the Colts tied a team record of six touchdowns on six consecutive possessions, accomplishing the feat for the first time since week two of the 2001. Smith, who has now started in 97 of 99 games played and has played the third most snaps (308) on the team this season, turned in a season-high PFF grade of 68.1.
Other Tigers in the NFL
Tank Bigsby, RB, Philadelphia Eagles
KJ Britt, LB, Miami Dolphins
Daniel Carlson, K, Las Vegas Raiders
Jamel Dean, CB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Derick Hall, LB, Seattle Seahawks
Jarquez Hunter, RB, Los Angeles Rams
Noah Igbinoghene, CB, Washington Commanders
Austin Keys, LB, Minnesota Vikings
KeAndre Lambert-Smith, WR, Los Angeles Chargers
Eku Leota, LB, New Orleans Saints
Dorian Mausi, LB, Tennessee Titans
Roger McCreary, CB, Tennessee Titans
Bo Nix*, QB, Denver Broncos
Owen Pappoe, LB, Arizona Cardinals
JJ Pegues*, DL, Las Vegas Raiders
Nehemiah Pritchett, CB, Seattle Seahawks
Darius Slayton, WR, New York Giants
Jarrett Stidham, QB, Denver Broncos
Malik Willis*, QB, Green Bay Packers
Colby Wooden, DT, Green Bay Packers
DNP (Injured Reserve)
Byron Cowart*, DT, New York Jets
Josh Harris, LS, Los Angeles Chargers
Jonathan Jones, CB, Washington Commanders
Jalen McLeod, LB, Jacksonville Jaguars
Daniel Thomas, S, Detroit Lions
Practice Squad
Sal Cannella, TE, Cleveland Browns
Rivaldo Fairweather, TE, Dallas Cowboys
Shedrick Jackson, WR, Las Vegas Raiders
Jayson Jones, DT, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Jaylin Simpson, S, Green Bay Packers
Killian Zierer, OT, San Francisco 49ers
*Completed eligibility at another institution