Oct. 17—Week 6 of the NFL season kicked off Thursday night with the Broncos delivering a 17-14 overtime victory against the Seahawks in Denver. Ahead of Sunday's games, JOE VOZZELLI checks in once again on how the former Illini on active NFL rosters are currently performing so far this season:
Isaiah Adams Arizona Cardinals
What happened: The offensive lineman was placed on injured reserve and will miss at least a month with an ankle injury that sidelined him for last Sunday's 45-21 home loss by the Cardinals to the Lions.
What's next: Arizona (1-4) will face the Los Angeles Rams (2-3) at 3:05 p.m. on Sunday at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, Calif.
Tony Adams Tennessee Titans
What happened: The defensive back started at safety and posted a team-leading nine tackles in the Titans' 26-3 home loss to the Texans this past Sunday. Adams did so while playing 64 of 66 defensive snaps.
What's next: Tennessee (0-5) is still searching for its first win of the 2026 season against the Colts (2-3) at noon on Sunday at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.
Nick Allegretti Washington Commanders
What happened: The offensive lineman participated on four snaps on special teams, as the Commanders played to a 27-all tie after overtime against the Giants last Sunday in Landover, Md.
What's next: Washington (1-3-1) makes a cross-country trip ahead of a 7:15 p.m. Monday kick against the 49ers (5-0) at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif.
Tanner Arkin New England Patriots
What happened: The tight end logged 15 snaps on offense and another three snaps on special teams in the Patriots' 45-17 home rout of the Las Vegas Raiders last Sunday.
What's next: New England (3-2) plays host to the New York Jets (2-3) at noon on Sunday from Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Mass.
Chase Brown Cincinnati Bengals
What happened: The starting running back finished with 13 carries for 39 yards — but did lose a fumble — and also caught three passes for 21 yards out of the backfield, as the Bengals got back on track with a 31-24 road victory this past Sunday against the Dolphins. Brown was on the field for 39 offensive snaps.
What's next: Cincinnati (3-2) has its scheduled bye week.
Sydney Brown Atlanta Falcons
What happened: Brown started at defensive back and forced a fumble that led directly to Jessie Bates III's 36-yard defensive touchdown in Atlanta's 30-23 home loss in overtime to the Ravens last Sunday. Brown added three tackles on defense while playing 24 snaps, and he also produced one tackle and assisted on another tackle on special teams during his 21 snaps with that unit.
What's next: The Falcons (2-3) will host the Bears (3-2) at noon on Sunday from Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta.
Pat Bryant Denver Broncos
What happened: The wide receiver landed on IR for a right-ankle sprain and will miss a minimum of four games.
What's next: Denver (4-2) will have the weekend off after a 17-14 overtime win at home against the Seahawks on Thursday night.
J.C. Davis New York Giants
What happened: Davis was on the inactive list before the Giants' 27-27 road tie against the Commanders this past Sunday after neither team scored in overtime.
What's next: New York (3-1-1) is set to face the Saints (1-4) at noon on Sunday at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J.
Tommy DeVito New England Patriots
What happened: The backup quarterback did not play in the Patriots' 45-17 home victory last Sunday against the Las Vegas Raiders.
What's next: New England (3-2) plays another home game with an AFC East showdown against the Jets (2-3) on tap for a noon kick on Sunday.
TeRah Edwards Carolina Panthers
What happened: The defensive tackle and his Panthers' teammates had their scheduled bye week.
What's next: Carolina (2-2) will travel to Philadelphia and play the Eagles (2-3) at noon on Sunday at Lincoln Financial Field.
Jake Hansen Houston Texans
What happened: The starting linebacker had another strong game, as Hansen intercepted a Cam Ward pass and returned it 19 yards while also delivering six tackles, including one for loss, along with two passes defended in the Texans' first victory of the season, a 26-3 win against the host Titans this past Sunday. Hansen played a 65 combined snaps in the 23-point victory.
What's next: Houston (1-4) has a shot at its first winning streak of the season but will have to get past the AFC South rival Jaguars (4-1) at 8:30 a.m. on Sunday from Wembley Stadium in London.
Gabe Jacas New England Patriots
What happened: The outside linebacker netted two tackles, one of which was for a loss, and also had a quarterback hit while playing a total of 39 snaps on defense and registering an additional seven snaps on special teams in New England's 45-17 blowout victory at home against the Raiders last Sunday.
What's next: The Patriots (3-2) turn their attention to the Jets (2-3) with a noon kick set for Sunday at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Mass.
Ted Karras Cincinnati Bengals
What happened: Karras started at center and played all 65 offensive snaps, plus another five snaps on special teams, as the Bengals rebounded for a 31-24 road victory against the Dolphins this past Sunday.
What's next: Cincinnati (3-2) has its scheduled bye week.
Vederian Lowe San Francisco 49ers
What happened: The offensive lineman participated on five snaps on the special teams unit, as the 49ers remained undefeated with a 32-29 road win against the Seahawks last Sunday.
What's next: San Francisco (5-0) will host the Commanders (1-3-1) for a prime-time matchup at 7:15 p.m. on Monday at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif.
Quan Martin Washington Commanders
What happened: The defensive back started at safety and ended the game with eight tackles, but the Commanders had to settle for a 27-all tie against Giants this past Sunday in Landover, Md., after Jayden Daniels and Co. had a major clock-management gaffe late in overtime and Washington missed out on attempting a potential game-winning field goal. Martin played close to 100 snaps, with 88 snaps on defense and another eight with special teams.
What's next: Washington (1-3-1) will try to knock the 49ers (5-0) from the ranks of the unbeaten at 7:15 p.m. on Monday in Santa Clara, Calif.
Chase McLaughlin Tampa Bay Buccaneers
What happened: McLaughlin and the Buccaneers had the weekend off after a 24-16 road victory against the Dallas Cowboys on Oct. 8.
What's next: Tampa Bay (1-4) hosts the Steelers (3-2) at noon on Sunday from Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Fla.
Alex Palczewski Denver Broncos
What happened: On Thursday night, Palczewski played a total of four snaps in Denver's 17-14 victory against the Seahawks in overtime. In a Week 5 game, the offensive lineman was on the field for 14 combined snaps in Denver's 23-17 win at the Los Angeles Chargers last Sunday.
What's next: The Broncos (4-2) have this weekend off and next play the Cardinals on Oct. 25 in Glendale, Ariz.
Del'Shawn Phillips Los Angeles Chargers
What happened: The starting linebacker had six tackles and one quarterback hit, but the Chargers came up short in a 23-17 home loss to the Broncos this past Sunday as Phillips played 53 combined snaps.
What's next: Los Angeles (0-5) hits the road for a 3:25 p.m. game on Sunday against the Chiefs (4-0) at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Mo.
James Thompson Jr. San Francisco 49ers
What happened: The defensive tackle stayed on the inactive list as Thompson has been sidelined since suffering a high-ankle sprain in Week 2 with the 49ers earning the 32-29 win against the host Seahawks last Sunday.
What's next: San Francisco (5-0) is one of three remaining unbeaten teams ahead of a 7:15 p.m. home game on Monday against the Commanders (1-3-1).
Isaiah Williams New York Jets
What happened: The starting wide receiver again did a bit of everything for the Jets this past Sunday as Williams had one rushing attempt for three yards and caught one pass for 16 yards while playing 43 snaps on offense in a 17-12 victory by the Jets at home against the Cleveland Browns. During his 10 snaps on special teams, Williams returned four punts for 67 yards and had one kick return for 36 yards.
What's next: New York (2-3) will play an AFC East game against the Patriots (3-2) at noon on Sunday in Foxborough, Mass.
Devon Witherspoon Seattle Seahawks
What happened: On Thursday night, Witherspoon started at cornerback and amassed five tackles and defended two passes in Seattle's 17-14 overtime loss at the Broncos. Earlier in the week, Witherspoon had four tackles, including one for a loss, and had one pass defended while playing 59 defensive snaps in a 32-29 loss by the reigning champion Seahawks against the 49ers last Sunday in Seattle.
What's next: The Seahawks (3-3) have the weekend off and won't play again until an Oct. 25 home game against the Chiefs.
Other notables
Injured reserve:
Milo Eifler (Tennessee Titans), Nate Hobbs (San Francisco 49ers) and Jer'Zhan Newton (Washington Commanders).
Physically unable to perform (PUP) list: Kerby Joseph (Detroit Lions) and Tip Reiman (Arizona Cardinals).