Tigers in the NFL: Theo Wease Jr. records two catches in debut for Dolphins
After helping spark a new era of Missouri football, Theo Wease Jr. finally got his opportunity in the NFL.
While spending the majority of the 2025 season on the practice squad, the rookie wide receiver was elevated for the Miami Dolphins’ Week 16 bout with Cincinnati Bengals. The Dolphins — who started rookie quarterback Quinn Ewers of Texas — lost 45-21.
Wease notched two receptions on four targets in his debut. The 6-foot-2, 210-pound wideout totaled 32 yards with a long of 18 on a deep pass over the middle in the fourth quarter. Wease recorded both of his catches on back-to-back plays on the final drive of the game.
During a 22-16 walk-off win Saturday against the Green Bay Packers, the Chicago Bears were without Wease’s former teammate. Rookie Luther Burden III suffered an ankle injury the prior weekend. The two faced off against each other in Week 1 of the preseason.
How other Tigers performed in Week 16
In his second straight start for the New York Jets, Brady Cook went 22-for-35 with 188 yards and one interception. The rookie quarterback carried the ball for two yards as well in a 29-6 loss to the New Orleans Saints.
For the first time in his NFL career, Harrison Mevis missed a kick for the Los Angeles Rams. Mevis was wide right on a go-ahead, 48-yard field goal with 2 minutes, 11 seconds left in the fourth quarter. The kicker went 3-for-4 on field goals and 4-for-4 on extra points in a 38-37 overtime loss to the Seattle Seahawks on Thursday.
After being waived by the Houston Texans, Cody Schrader was claimed by the Denver Broncos, joining former Tigers Kris Abrams-Draine, Tyler Badie and Johnny Walker Jr., who is on injured reserve. It marked Schrader’s fourth team of the year after starting 2025 with the Rams and Jacksonville Jaguars, who beat the Broncos, 34-20, on Sunday. Badie reeled in one of three targets for two yards and returned one kickoff for 31 yards.
Even without an opportunity to compete for the postseason, Nick Bolton loaded up the box score. In a 26-9 loss to the Tennessee Titans, the Kansas City Chiefs linebacker recored 10 total tackles, one by himself and one for loss while logging one sack and one quarterback hit.
Arizona Cardinals defensive lineman Darius Robinson also had a busy day with seven tackles (two solo), one tackle for loss and one fumble recovery in a 26-19 loss to the Atlanta Falcons. Carolina Panthers cornerback Akayleb Evans had four tackles (two solo) in a 23-20 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.