DALLAS – Former Conference USA standouts made significant contributions across the NFL in week five, highlighted by a 113-yard rushing performance from former UTEP standout Aaron Jones Sr. and standout defensive efforts from former CUSA players across the league.
 
Jones helped the Vikings to a 23-13 victory over New Orleans, rushing for 113 yards and a touchdown on 25 carries. His eight-yard score in the fourth quarter gave the Vikings the lead for good. Former Florida Atlantic standout James Pierre added three solo tackles for the Vikings.
 
Houston linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair led the team with 11 tackles, including five solo stops, and added a pass deflection and a quarterback hit in the Texans' 26-3 victory over Tennessee. Former MTSU standout Kevin Byard recorded three tackles and a quarterback hit for New England in the Patriots' 45-17 win over Las Vegas. Byard ranks third in the NFL in PFF tackling grade (90.2) and has yet to miss a tackle this season.
 
Philadelphia cornerback Riq Woolen (UTSA) recorded six tackles, including three solo stops, and a pass deflection in the Eagles' 19-17 loss to Jacksonville. Woolen broke up a pass on second-and-goal from the nine-yard line, helping Philadelphia force a turnover on downs and preserve a 14-10 lead. He posted season-best PFF defensive (78.5) and coverage (77.5) grades and allowed just two catches for 31 yards on five targets.
 
Former Louisiana Tech standout Amik Robertson recorded seven tackles, including six solo stops, and a pass deflection for Washington in a 27-27 tie with the New York Giants. Robertson broke up a pass on third-and-eight in overtime to force a field-goal attempt, which the Giants missed from 46 yards.
 
Pittsburgh kicker Chris Boswell (Rice) converted both field-goal attempts, connecting from 54 and 48 yards, and all four extra-point attempts in Pittsburgh's 34-22 victory over Indianapolis. Fellow former Rice standout Jack Fox also delivered a strong special teams performance, averaging 50.0 yards on four punts for Detroit, including two inside the 20-yard line and a long of 65 yards in the Lions' 45-21 win over Arizona.
 
Former WKU tight end Tyler Higbee caught five passes for 83 yards for the Los Angeles Rams in a 37-34 loss to Buffalo. Former FIU standout Travis Burke earned his first career NFL start at left tackle for the Los Angeles Chargers and posted the team's highest PFF run-blocking grade (84.9) in a 23-17 loss to Denver.
 
Other former CUSA players making contributions in Week Five included former MTSU standout Charvarius Ward, who recorded four tackles for Indianapolis; former New Mexico State standout Seth McGowan, who totaled 84 kickoff-return yards on three attempts for the Colts; former MTSU standout Quincy Riley, who recorded four tackles, including three solo stops, for New Orleans; former WKU standout Malachi Corley, who returned three kickoffs for 74 yards for Cleveland; and former WKU standout Jordan Meredith, who earned his second consecutive start at left guard for the New York Jets.
 
Click here for a complete list of the 80 former CUSA players featured on NFL rosters for the 2026 season.