Top LSU, Louisiana performers in NFL Week 9

This weekend of NFL action will be remembered in Louisiana primarily for the Saints’ loss at Carolina officially punctuating the frustrating Dennis Allen era.

But Week 9 included some bright spots elsewhere around the league for fans of former LSU standouts and Louisiana natives.

The Tigers’ recent Heisman-winning quarterbacks and their star wide receivers have headlined this feature the bulk of this season.

But a pair of defensive standouts — a former all-conference leader at LSU and a Louisiana native once committed to the Tigers — deserve particular spotlight following encouraging performances Sunday as they continue to return to form following 2023 injuries.

Kwon Alexander (LSU)

The former All-SEC linebacker, now in his first season in Denver, had his best game thus far this season as he works back from an Achilles injury that cut short his 2023 season in Pittsburgh. Alexander played 31 snaps in the Broncos’ loss to Baltimore and recorded five tackles, both his highest totals in more than a year, and forced a fumble. His overall defensive grade from Pro Football Focus was his highest in nearly two years and ranked third among all players this weekend. And his grade specifically for his 26 run defense snaps was the highest among all players this weekend and the highest of Alexander’s 10-season NFL career.

Ar’Darius Washington (Evangel Christian)

The Shreveport native was another of the week’s top-graded defenders, according to Pro Football Focus, highlighted by his work in coverage. Washington, a one-time LSU commit before playing his college ball at TCU, didn’t allow a catch in two passes his way. He intercepted one, the second play from scrimmage, and deflected the other in the Baltimore Ravens’ 41-10 win against Denver. He also wrapped up four tackles as he continues to see his role ramp back up after missing most of last season with a chest injury.

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

Burrow had his best game in several weeks in the Bengals’ 41-24 defeat of the Las Vegas Raiders. The former Heisman and national championship quarterback completed 27 of his 39 passes for 251 yards and five touchdowns, matching his season high, to just one interception. A team-high seven of those completions went to his fellow former Tiger for 43 yards.

Jayden Daniels (LSU)

Last year’s Heisman winner continued his impressive rookie campaign with a 15-for-22 performance for 209 yards and two touchdowns to help lead the Washington Commanders past the New York Giants, 27-22. He also rushed eight times for 35 yards in the victory.

Justin Jefferson (Destrehan, LSU)

Jefferson had the league’s second-highest receiving total, 137 yards on seven catches, to help highlight the Vikings’ 21-13 win against the Indianapolis Colts. He also completed a 22-yard pass to convert a third-and-16.

Dak Prescott (Haughton)

The Dallas Cowboys’ polarizing quarterback was having one of his most efficient games of the season Sunday before suffering a hamstring injury in a 27-21 loss at Atlanta. Prescott completed 18 of his 24 passes for 133 yards and a touchdown. The game marked his first in more than a month without throwing an interception, and his 75% completion rate and Pro Football Focus passing and overall offensive grades were all his second-best of the season. He also rushed three times for 30 yards, both second-best for the team on the day.

DeVonta Smith (Amite)

The Tangipahoa Parish native and 2020 Heisman winner caught four passes for a season-high 87 yards and a touchdown in his Eagles’ 28-23 win against the Jaguars. His 21.8 yards per catch marked one of the highest averages of his career, and he has now found the end zone in back-to-back weeks for the first time since a productive midseason stretch last year in which he did so in four out of five games.

Kevin Dotson (Plaquemine, Ragin’ Cajuns)

The Los Angeles Rams’ right guard earned his highest Pro Football focus grades of this season for overall offense and run-blocking in a 26-20 win against NFC West rival Seattle.

KaVontae Turpin (Neville)

The speedy Monroe native was again among the league’s top return men for the week with three punt returns for 37 yards and a 28-yard kickoff return. And Turpin also had one of his more productive receiving afternoons of the season with three catches for 36 yards working primarily out of the slot.

Arden Key (LSU)

The Tigers’ single-season sack leader earned the most extensive playing time of his seven-season NFL career Sunday with 60 snaps in the Tennessee Titans’ 20-17 overtime defeat of the Patriots. And Key was disruptive in the opportunity with five hurries, matching the second-highest total of his career, and his second straight contest with a forced fumble.

Jordan Jefferson (LSU)

The Jacksonville rookie played just 16 snaps in the Jaguars’ 28-23 loss in Philadelphia, but recorded the first sack of his NFL career.

Derius Davis (West Feliciana)

The second-year return specialist returned from a hamstring injury and had his most-effective game of the season thus far with two punt returns for 64 yards in the Chargers’ 27-10 win at Cleveland.