Derrick Brown forced a game-clinching fumble to keep the Panthers’ playoff hopes alive, while Darius Slayton broke through would-be tacklers on his way to the end zone for his first touchdown of the season on Monday Night Football.
That and more on this week’s Auburn Made NFL Rundown.
Derrick Brown, DT, Carolina Panthers
Brown delivered in the clutch during the Panthers’ 31–28 win over the Rams, sealing the game with a late strip-sack. With 2:34 left in the game, Brown brought down Matthew Stafford at the Carolina 31-yard line, forcing a fumble that ended Los Angeles’ drive near the red zone and preserved the Panthers’ late lead. The play marked the sixth-year veteran’s career-best fourth sack of the season and first career forced fumble. He added a tackle and pass defended in the contest, matching a career high and leading defensive linemen with seven on the season. Through week 13, the team captain ranks 11th among 129 NFL interior defenders in PFF overall grade (75.6) and 18th in pass rush grade (73.3). Brown’s impact has propelled Carolina to second place in the NFC South and to seven wins, which is their most through Week 13 since 2017.
Carlton Davis III, CB, New England Patriots
Davis and the Patriots’ defense held the Giants to just 128 passing yards and 238 total yards of offense, their lowest output since week one. The eighth-year pro totaled five tackles, including a tackle for loss on a third-down stop, marking the 15th TFL of his career. The Super Bowl LV champion also broke up two passes in 33 coverage snaps, giving him eight passes defended on the season. He earned a PFF overall grade of 77.1 and coverage grade of 77.0, both his second-best marks of the year. The former second-round pick also boosted his run defense grade to 80.9, ranking seventh among 110 NFL corners.
Noah Igbinoghene, CB, Washington Commanders
Igbinoghene matched a career high with six total tackles, including a season-high three solo stops, in the Commanders’ overtime loss to the Broncos on Sunday Night Football. Playing a season-best 46 snaps, he also recorded his third pass defended of the year, helping the former first-round pick earn a PFF overall grade of 68.0 and a coverage grade of 69.1. Through 13 weeks, Igbinoghene has also returned seven kickoffs for 191 yards, good for a 27.3-yard average, including a career-long 46-yard return earlier this season.
Jonathan Jones, CB, Washington Commanders
Alongside his fellow former Tiger, Jones matched a season high with six tackles for the second straight week, including a season-high five solo stops, against the Broncos on Sunday Night Football. The two-time Super Bowl champion also logged a season-high 69 snaps, including 49 in coverage, and posted season-best PFF grades with a 70.2 overall mark and a 72.9 coverage grade in the contest. In his last four games at full strength after only playing in two of the first six games of the season, Jones has totaled 19 tackles, including a sack. A 10th-year NFL veteran, Jones is Auburn’s second-longest tenured active NFL player, trailing only Josh Harris (14 years).
Darius Slayton, WR, New York Giants
Slayton hauled in his first touchdown of the season during the Giants’ Monday Night Football matchup against the Patriots. The 2025 team captain led the team in receiving yards for the fourth time this season and converted a two-point attempt early in the third quarter to go along with his touchdown reception. He finished with two receptions for 41 yards, including a 30-yard touchdown with 25 yards coming after the catch. The former fifth-round pick earned a PFF overall grade of 74.4 and a receiving grade of 73.0 for his efforts. Slayton now averages 15.7 yards per catch on the season and has 21 receiving touchdowns in his seven-year career.
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
Josh Harris, LS, Los Angeles Chargers
Jarquez Hunter, RB, Los Angeles Rams
Austin Keys, LB, Minnesota Vikings
KeAndre Lambert-Smith, WR, Los Angeles Chargers
Dorian Mausi, LB, Tennessee Titans
Roger McCreary, CB, Los Angeles Rams
Bo Nix*, QB, Denver Broncos
Owen Pappoe, LB, Arizona Cardinals
JJ Pegues*, DL, Las Vegas Raiders
Nehemiah Pritchett, CB, Seattle Seahawks
Jamien Sherwood, LB, New York Jets
Braden Smith, OL, Indianapolis Colts
Jarrett Stidham, QB, Denver Broncos
Daniel Thomas, S, Detroit Lions
Malik Willis*, QB, Green Bay Packers
Colby Wooden, DT, Green Bay Packers
DNP (Injured Reserve)
Byron Cowart*, DT, New York Jets
Jalen McLeod, LB, Jacksonville Jaguars
Practice Squad
Eugene Asante, LB, Cleveland Browns
Sal Cannella, TE, Cleveland Browns
Rivaldo Fairweather, TE, Dallas Cowboys
Shedrick Jackson, WR, Las Vegas Raiders
Jayson Jones, DT, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Carl Lawson, DE, Baltimore Ravens
Eku Leota, LB, New Orleans Saints
Jaylin Simpson, S, Green Bay Packers
Killian Zierer, OL, Jacksonville Jaguars