Linebacker Payton Wilson for the 2nd straight week set a new career high in tackles, this week tallying 9 tackles in Pittsburgh’s 17-20 loss to Dallas. Wilson played a career high 44 snaps, and posted a PFF grade of 61.8.

Seeing Payton Wilson use his instincts and lateral explosiveness to make the run stop is awesome.

Third-round pick out of NC State would have been the top LB selected if not for injuries. pic.twitter.com/NyZMW3ED7I

— Bobby Football (@Rob__Paul) October 7, 2024

Linebacker Germaine Pratt (starter) tied for the team lead with 9 tackles in Cincinnati’s 38-41 loss to Baltimore. He also had 1 QB Hit and a Fumble Recovery. Pratt’s PFF grade was 43.8, which is his lowest grade of the season.

Wide Receiver Jakobi Meyers (starter) had 6 receptions for 72 yards in Las Vegas’ 18-34 loss to the Broncos. He was targeted 9 times, and his PFF grade was 67.5.

Linebacker James Smith-Williams had 5 tackles and 1 tackle for loss in Atlanta’s 36-30 win over Tampa Bay. Smith-Williams played in 25 snaps, and his PFF grade was 61.0.

Defensive Tackle BJ Hill (starter) had 5 tackles, 1 pass breakup and 1 QB Hit in the Bengals’ 38-41 loss to the Ravens. His PFF grade was 78.8, which was the highest on Cincy’s defense, and his highest grade this year.

Quarterback Jacoby Brissett (starter) was 18 of 34 for 160 yards in New England’s 10-15 loss to the Dolphins. His QB Rating was 65.8, and his PFF grade was 58.1.

Cornerback Nick McCloud (starter) had 2 tackles in the Giants’ 29-20 win over the Seahawks. He posted a PFF grade of 53.9.

Center Garrett Bradbury (starter) played ever snap in Minnesota’s 23-17 win over the Jets. His PFF grade was 60.2.

Place Kicker Brayden Narveson (starter) made his only field goal attempt (46 yards) in Green Bay’s 24-19 win over the Rams. He was also perfect on 3 point after attempts.

Punter AJ Cole (starter) averaged 53.4 yards per punt on 5 punts in the Raiders’ 18-34 loss to the Broncos.

Left Tackle Ikem Ekwonu (starter) played every snap in the Panthers’ 10-36 loss to the Bears. His PFF grade was 70.0, which was the highest of any of Carolina’s starters on offense.

Left Guard Joe Thuney (starter) played every snap in Kansas City’s 26-13 win over New Orleans last night.

Linebacker Drake Thomas had 1 special teams tackle in Seattle’s 20-29 loss to the Giants.

Left Guard Chandler Zavala played 2 snaps in reserve in Carolina’s 10-36 loss to Chicago.

Inactive

Defensive Tackle Kentavius Street – Falcons

Bye

Defensive Tackle Alim McNeill – Lions

Center Dylan McMahon – Eagles

Injury

Linebacker Bradley Chubb – Dolphins

Running Back Nyheim Hines – Browns

Defensive Tackle Larrell Murchison – Rams

Quarterback Russell Wilson – Steelers

Defensive Tackle Justin Jones – Cardinals

Former NC State ACC Player of the Year TJ Warren has signed an Exhibit 10 deal with the Knicks.

Knicks are signing veteran wing TJ Warren to an Exhibit 10 deal, per SNY sources

— Ian Begley (@IanBegley) October 2, 2024

What is an Exhibit 10 deal?

Here’s what Google’s AI cooked up:

An Exhibit 10 contract is a one-year, minimum salary, non-guaranteed NBA contract that teams can use to bring in players for Summer League competition. The contract can include an optional bonus of up to $75,000 if the player spends at least 60 days with the team’s G League affiliate after being waived.

Conversion to two-way contract: Teams can convert an Exhibit 10 contract into a two-way contract before the regular season begins. This guarantees the bonus and makes the contract a two-way contract.

Maximum number of contracts: Each team can have up to six Exhibit 10 contracts at a time.

Roster spot: If a player is kept on the 15-man roster after the regular season begins, their contract becomes a standard minimum deal.

Compensation protection: Exhibit 10 contracts don’t come with compensation protection.

When the contract becomes fully guaranteed: If the team doesn’t guarantee the deal, it becomes fully guaranteed on January 10. However, in reality, contracts become fully guaranteed on January 7 because players must clear waivers by January 10 to avoid this.

Warren is looking to find a new NBA home as he approaches his 10th NBA season. Last year, TJ played in only 11 games for the Minnesota Timberwolves, averaging 3.7 points in 11.4 minutes per game. In 2022-23, Warren played in 42 games split between Brooklyn and Phoenix, averaging 7.5 points in 16.4 minutes per game. Prior to that, TJ missed the entire 2021-22 due to a foot injury, which also caused him to miss all but 4 games of the 2020-21 season.

It’s been a rough couple of years for the former ACC Player of the Year (2014), but prior to that, Warren had been a starter in the NBA for 5 straight seasons, averaging 14+ points per game in each of those seasons.

Former NC State Tight End Trent Pennix has been signed to the Indianapolis Colts Practice Squad.

Glory to God! Blessed to be back Indy! 🤝🏾 https://t.co/ZZ2f4bqyKj

— Trent Pennix (@TeePenn6) October 1, 2024

After going undrafted in April, Indianapolis signed Pennix to an Undrafted Free Agent deal. In the first game of the 2024 NFL Preseason, Pennix suffered a groin injury, and was waived. When Pennix wasn’t claimed off of waivers, Indy put him on their IR.

Pennix was being used as a Running Back with the Colts, instead of Tight End, which is where he ended his career at NC State. Originally, NC State recruited Pennix out of Sanderson High School as a Running Back, and that was his position with the Wolfpack his first couple of seasons.

In his final year in Raleigh, Pennix had 15 receptions for 190 yards and 3 touchdowns. He also rushed the ball 2 times for 67 yards and a touchdown.

This is a great opportunity for Pennix, and lucrative one at that. People might not realize that players on an NFL Practice Squad make $12,500 per week in 2024. If you are in your first year in the NFL, and are on the Practice Squad for the full 18 weeks, you would make $225,000.

Pennix joins a handful of other players on NFL Practice Squads.

NC State Players on NFL Practice Squads

RB Trent Pennix – Colts

WR Thayer Thomas – Vikings

DT TY McGill – 49ers

S Tanner Ingle – Rams

DT Cory Durden – Rams

LB Vi Jones – Bucs

WR Kelvin Harmon – Cowboys

The New York Yankees will open up their AL Division Series matchup against either the Royals or the Orioles on Sunday. They will obviously be going with their ace, Gerrit Cole. However, they announced on Wednesday that they will be going with former NC State pitcher, Carlos Rodon, for Game 2 on Monday.

He was in contention to start Game 2 with Luis Gil and Clarke Schmidt, but Schmidt is just coming back off of inury and Gil has been erratic down the stretch. Meanwhile, Rodon has been solid.

Rodon hasn’t given up more than 2 runs in any of his previous 5 starts and has 34 strikeouts over that span.

Rodon finishd the season with a 3.96 ERA and 195 Ks. That’s the second most strikeouts in his career (best was 237 with San Francisco in 2022). It was his 4th best season in terms of ERA over his 10 year career.

But, the former Wolfpacker hasn’t fared very well against Baltimore this season. Over 2 starts he has a 9.00 ERA. However, he has dominated Kansas City. In those 2 starts he has a 2.08 ERA and 12ks over 13 innings.

Let’s hope he’s matched up against KC in this one!