DALLAS – Former Conference USA standouts made significant contributions across the NFL in Week Seven, highlighted by a career-best field goal from former Tulane standout Cairo Santos, 188 all-purpose yards from former New Mexico State standout Seth McGowan and a walk-off touchdown by CUSA Hall of Famer Devin Singletary (Florida Atlantic).
 
Santos scored 12 points for Chicago in the Bears' 30-24 victory over New England, converting three field goals and all three extra-point attempts. He connected from 43, 31 and 58 yards, with his 58-yard field goal marking a career long and putting the game out of reach for the Patriots.
 
McGowan delivered a productive performance against Minnesota, rushing 11 times for 46 yards, adding a two-yard reception and returning five kickoffs for 140 yards in the Colts' 16-10 loss. He averaged 28.0 yards per kickoff return and now ranks fourth in the NFL with 566 kickoff-return yards this season.
 
Singletary delivered the decisive play in the New York Giants' 27-21 overtime victory over Houston, rushing for 41 yards and a touchdown on five carries while adding three receptions for 14 yards. His 30-yard rushing touchdown in overtime secured the win. Fellow former FAU standout Azeez Al-Shaair recorded nine tackles, including two solo stops, for the Texans.
 
Former Rice standout Chris Boswell added 10 points in Pittsburgh's 16-10 victory over New Orleans, converting all three field-goal attempts from 28, 47 and 39 yards and his lone extra-point attempt. Fellow former Owl Jack Fox averaged 52.0 yards on two punts for Detroit with one punt inside the 20-yard line in the Lions' 20-17 win over Green Bay.
 
Seattle’s Tyrice Knight (UTEP) recorded eight tackles, including four solo stops, and a tackle for loss for Seattle in the Seahawks' 20-3 victory over Kansas City. Former FAU standout James Pierre contributed five solo tackles for Minnesota and ranks fourth among NFL cornerbacks in PFF tackling grade (85.7), with no missed tackles this season.
 
Former MTSU standout Kevin Byard totaled seven tackles, including three solo stops, for New England, while former Louisiana Tech standout Milton Williams added two tackles and a tackle for loss. Las Vegas’ Hezekiah Masses (FIU) recorded six tackles, including five solo stops, for the Raiders, and Philadelphia’s Riq Woolen (UTSA) contributed three tackles and two pass deflections for the Eagles.
 
Other former CUSA players making contributions in Week Seven included former UTSA standout Jacob Cowing, who totaled 76 all-purpose yards for San Francisco; former MTSU standout Charvarius Ward, who recorded three tackles and a pass deflection for Indianapolis; former FAU standout Trey Hendrickson, who registered three pressures and two quarterback hits for Baltimore; former Rice standout Elijah Garcia, who recorded two solo tackles for Dallas; former Charlotte standout Alex Highsmith, who added two tackles and a quarterback hit for Pittsburgh; former WKU standout Devon Key, who recorded a tackle and a pass deflection for Denver; former UTEP standout Aaron Jones Sr., who rushed for 26 yards for Minnesota; former WKU standout Tyler Higbee, who caught two passes for 14 yards for the Rams; former NM State standout Mike Washington Jr., who rushed for 27 yards for Las Vegas and former Marshall standout Rasheen Ali, who carried four times for 19 yards for Baltimore.
 
Click here for a complete list of the 79 former CUSA players featured on NFL rosters for the 2026 season.