Daniel Thomas and Noah Igbinoghene set season highs in tackles, while Sal Cannella made the most of his NFL debut with two catches against the Steelers.
That and more on this week’s Auburn Made NFL Rundown.
Derrick Brown, DL, Carolina Panthers
Brown tallied six tackles, including three solo stops, and a QB hit against the Seahawks in the Panthers’ final home game of the season. The 2025 team captain posted his highest PFF defensive grade (75.4) since week seven and his highest tackling grade of the season (73.1). Brown recorded his sixth QB hit of the year and totaled four pressures on the day. He improved his overall PFF grade (74.0) and pass rush grade (71.8), which rank 17th and 26th, respectively, out of 130 qualifying interior defensive linemen. The Panthers travel to Tampa Bay for week 18 with a chance to win the NFC South for the first time since 2015 and their first winning season and playoff berth since 2017.
Sal Cannella, TE, Cleveland Browns
Cannella made his NFL debut against the Steelers, recording two catches for 11 yards. After spending the past six years working his way up through the TSL, USFL, XFL, and UFL, he finally earned his opportunity and made the most of it in the Browns’ 13–6 upset victory. The former Tiger’s first career reception came on a six-yard catch that converted a third down on the Brown’s first drive of the second half. Over his professional career since college, Cannella has earned All-USFL, All-XFL, and All-UFL honors.
Noah Igbinoghene, CB, Washington Commanders
Igbinoghene tied his season and career high with six tackles, including three solo stops, and recorded a pass defended on Christmas Day against the Cowboys. The former first-round pick played a season high 47 snaps and earned a run defense grade of 73.3, his second-highest mark of the year. The sixth-year pro allowed just two receptions on five targets and has yet to surrender a touchdown this season. Through 17 weeks, Igbinoghene has also returned seven kickoffs for 191 yards, a 27.3-yard average, highlighted by a career-long 46-yard return earlier in the year.
Daniel Thomas, S, Detroit Lions
Thomas led the Lions in tackles for the first time this season and recorded a season-best seven tackles, which was his highest mark in a game since week 17 of the 2021 season (Jacksonville). The sixth-year pro played a season-high 51 snaps in the contest and earned a season-best PFF defensive grade (77.9) and pass rush grade (75.7), which rank 11th and seventh, respectively, out of 99 safeties in action this week. Thomas also finished with three solo stops and recorded the first tackle for loss of his career, raising his overall PFF grade to 68.7.
Colby Wooden, DL, Green Bay Packer
Wooden recorded his highest tackle total since week seven with three of his seven tackles coming as solo stops in the Packers’ contest against the Ravens. The 2023 fourth-round pick matched his career high in tackles, a mark he first reached in week one against the Lions. Wooden has started all 16 games for Green Bay this season and played a season high 52 snaps in the contest. The third-year pro now has 50 total tackles on the season and 24 solo stops, including 6.0 tackles for loss. Wooden is set for his third postseason appearance in as many years as the Packers are locked in as the seven seed in the NFL playoffs.
Other Tigers in the NFL
Tank Bigsby, RB, Philadelphia Eagles
KJ Britt, LB, Miami Dolphins
Daniel Carlson, K, Las Vegas Raiders
Carlton Davis III, New England Patriots
Jamel Dean, CB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Jack Driscoll, OL, Pittsburgh Steelers
Derick Hall, LB, Seattle Seahawks
Josh Harris, LS, Los Angeles Chargers
Jarquez Hunter, RB, Los Angeles Rams
Shedrick Jackson, WR, Las Vegas Raiders
Jonathan Jones, CB, Washington Commanders
Austin Keys, LB, Minnesota Vikings
Keandre Lambert-Smith, WR, Los Angeles Chargers
Dorian Mausi, LB, Tennessee Titans
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
Darius Slayton, WR, New York Giants
Jarrett Stidham, QB, Denver Broncos
Malik Willis*, QB, Green Bay Packers
DNP (Injured Reserve)
Roger McCreary, CB, Los Angeles Rams
Jalen McLeod, LB, Jacksonville Jaguars
Braden Smith, OL, Indianapolis Colts
Practice Squad
Rivaldo Fairweather, TE, Dallas Cowboys
Jayson Jones, DT, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Eku Leota, LB, Arizona Cardinals
Jaylin Simpson, S, Green Bay Packers
Killian Zierer, OL, Jacksonville Jaguars