Nehemiah Pritchett hauled in his first career interception, while fellow cornerbacks Jamel Dean and Roger McCreary forced fumbles and made crucial stops to help their teams secure week 1 victories.
That and more on this week’s Auburn Made NFL Rundown.
Jamel Dean, CB, Pittsburgh Steelers
Dean and the Steelers started the 2026 season with a bang, securing a 20-13 victory over the Atlanta Falcons. After spending the first seven years of his career in Tampa Bay, Dean made an immediate impact in his Pittsburgh debut, recording five total tackles, three of which were solo stops. The Super Bowl LV champion also registered the fourth forced fumble of his career early in the second quarter and allowed just two receptions in 28 coverage snaps. Dean earned an overall PFF grade of 78.6 and posted a career-best run defense grade of 92.2, ranking first out of 85 NFL Cornerbacks.
Derick Hall, LB, Seattle Seahawks
Hall recorded the 11th sack of his career in the Seahawks’ 13-10 victory over the Patriots in a Super Bowl rematch to open the 2026 season Wednesday night. The former second-round pick totaled two solo tackles, including a clutch sack of Drake Maye in the waning seconds of the fourth quarter to help secure Seattle’s comeback win. The sack marked his third against New England in his career after also registering two in Super Bowl XX. The fourth-year pro posted a career best 73.3 tackling grade in 44 snaps played and recorded two total pressures.
Roger McCreary, CB, Detroit Lions
McCreary made an immediate impact in his Lions debut, recording a strip sack in Detroit's thrilling 31-30 overtime victory over the Saints Sunday. The former second-round pick sacked New Orleans quarterback Tyler Shough early in the third quarter, knocking the ball out to set up a Detroit touchdown. The sixth-year pro recorded his fourth career sack and second forced fumble, adding four solo tackles and three pressures while earning a 70.0 overall PFF grade. McCreary posted career-best pass rush grade (78.7), which ranked third out of 85 NFL Cornerbacks.
Nehemiah Pritchett, CB, Seattle Seahawks
Pritchett was a standout in the secondary as the third-year pro hauled in his first career interception during the Seahawks’ comeback victory over the Patriots. The former fifth-round pick registered a career-high six total tackles, including five solo stops, and two passes defended in Wednesday night’s season-opening action. Pritchett picked off Drake Maye at the start of the fourth quarter to end a Patriots scoring threat, returning the interception 30 yards to set up Seattle’s game-tying touchdown. The former Tiger posted an overall PFF grade of 81.0 to begin the season, ranking sixth among 85 eligible cornerbacks.
Other Tigers in the NFL
Tank Bigsby, RB, Philadelphia Eagles
Derrick Brown, DL, Carolina Panthers
Daniel Carlson, K, New Orleans Saints
Carlton Davis III, CB, New England Patriots
Keldric Faulk, DE, Tennessee Titans
Josh Harris, LS, Los Angeles Chargers
Marcus Harris, DT, Kansas City Chiefs
Noah Igbinoghene, CB, Cleveland Browns
Bobby Jamison-Travis, DL, New York Giants
Jonathan Jones, CB, Philadelphia Eagles
KeAndre Lambert-Smith, WR, Los Angeles Chargers
Eku Leota, OLB, Arizona Cardinals
Connor Lew, OL, Cincinnati Bengals
Mason Murphy, OL, New Orleans Saints
Bo Nix*, QB, Denver Broncos
Owen Pappoe, LB, Tennessee Titans
J.J. Pegues*, DL Las Vegas Raiders
Jamien Sherwood, LB, New York Jets
Jarrett Stidham, QB, Denver Broncos
Daniel Thomas, S, Cleveland Browns
Malik Willis*, QB, Miami Dolphins
Colby Wooden, DT, New Orleans Saints
Jeremiah Wright, OL, New Orleans Saints
DNP (Injured Reserve)
Keyron Crawford, DE, Las Vegas Raiders
Jack Driscol, OL, Pittsburgh Steelers
Dorian Mausi, LB, Tennessee Titans
Braden Smith, OL, Houston Texans
Jahquez Robinson, S, Baltimore Ravens
Practice Squad
Eugene Asante, LB, Arizona Cardinals
K.J. Britt, LB, New England Patriots
Byron Cowart*, DT, Washington Commanders
Jarquez Hunter, RB, Miami Dolphins
Jayson Jones, DT, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Jalen McLeod, LB, Jacksonville Jaguars
Jaylin Simpson, S, Miami Dolphins
Dillion Wade, OL, Green Bay Packers
Kilian Zierer, OT, Jacksonville Jaguars
*Completed eligibility at another institution