Top LSU, Louisiana performers in NFL Week 8

The NFL season is nearing the midway mark of its marathon, and several familiar LSU – and Louisiana – faces were again among the top storylines around the league.

For a second straight week, one of the most notable developments was a rib injury to one of LSU’s talented rookies. Fortunately, the early reports from Jacksonville are that Brian Thomas Jr. should be back sooner than initially feared.

And the former multisport Walker High star was — once again — among the top performers on the field this week before exiting, as was his former college quarterback, Jayden Daniels, who had been shaken up the previous week.

In fact, in terms of the Week 8 highlights for LSU alumni and Louisiana natives, there was only one place to start.

That. Kid.

Hail Mary

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— LSU Football (@LSUfootball) October 27, 2024

Jayden Daniels (LSU)

The Commanders’ rookie quarterback capped a career day with the highlight of the weekend, a 52-yard Hail-Mary as time expired to upend the Bears. Last year’s Heisman winner completed 21 of his 38 passes for his new-best 326 yards and rushed eight times for 52 yards in the victory to maintain Washington’s lead in the NFC East race.

Justin Jefferson (Destrehan, LSU)

The Vikings’ star hauled in a season-high eight catches on nine targets to once again be among the league’s leading receivers with 115 yards, his second-highest total of the season.

Joe Burrow (LSU) and Ja’Marr Chase (Rummel, LSU)

Burrow was among the weekend’s highest-graded passers with his 26-for-37 performance for 235 yards, one touchdown and one interception. The score went to his running mate, Chase, who caught nine passes for 54 yards, the most by any of the Bengals’ wide receivers.

DeVonta Smith (Amite)

Another former Heisman winner helped the Eagles spoil Burrow, Chase and company’s day. Smith caught a team-high six of Jalen Hurts’ passes for a game-high 85 yards and the go-ahead touchdown in the third quarter that helped kick-start Philadelphia’s 20 unanswered points to close a 37-17 victory in Cincinnati.

Brian Thomas Jr. (Walker, LSU)

Thomas made the most of his opportunities before his exit Sunday as he caught three of four targets for 60 yards and a 14-yard touchdown in the third quarter that gave Jacksonville its only, brief lead against the Packers.

Danielle Hunter (LSU)

The Texans’ defensive end was the league’s highest-graded defensive player out of LSU or Louisiana this weekend with his eight pressures, including two sacks, another quarterback hit and five other hurries in a 23-20 defeat of the Colts.

Derek Stingley Jr. (Dunham, LSU)

The Texans’ other former LSU star had a solid stat line in coverage, as the Dunham product didn’t allow a completion in five passes his direction, according to Pro Football Focus, and also finished with a pass break-up and three tackles.

Arden Key (LSU)

LSU’s single-season sack leader notched the first two-sack game of his seven-year NFL career Sunday in the Titans’ loss to the Lions. Key also forced his first fumble of the season and finished with six tackles, among Tennessee’s leaders on the day.

KaVontae Turpin (Neville)

The speedster from Monroe was once again a bright spot in the return game on a tough day for his Cowboys. Turpin returned five kicks for 115 yards and a punt for 13 yards. This week moved his season totals to 416 kick return yards, third-most in the league, and 525 combined kick and punt return yards, second-most in the league.

Malik Nabers (Comeaux, Southside, LSU)

Daniels and Thomas’ fellow first-round pick had a solid performance in his second game back from injury. Nabers caught seven passes for 71 yards in his Monday Night Football debut for the Giants.

Edgerrin Cooper (Covington)

The former Covington star led Green Bay with a career-high nine tackles, a sack, a forced fumble and a pass breakup in the 30-27 defeat of Jacksonville. The rookie had entered the week with 1.5 sacks on the season, one previous pass break-up and now previous forced fumbles and had his most high-impact performance yet of his young career in the tight victory.