Pro Deacs: Week Seven
10/21/2025 11:21:00 AM | Football
Justin Strnad’s fourth quarter interception helped spark a comeback for the Denver Broncos, while two former Demon Deacons faced off on Sunday Night Football to highlight this week of Pro Deacs.
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – Pro Deacs made its return during week seven of the 2025 NFL season, highlighted by a pivotal interception by Justin Strnad during the Denver Broncos' fourth quarter comeback, two former Demon Deacons facing off in primetime on Sunday Night Football and another solid performance by Kenneth Walker III on Monday Night Football.
Strnad Helps Spark Broncos' Improbable Comeback
Linebacker Justin Strnad recorded a game-changing interception to help spark an improbable comeback for the Denver Broncos, as Denver came back from 19 points down to pull off the 33-32 victory over the New York Giants. Trailing 26-16 with under five minutes remaining, Strnad stepped in front of a Jaxson Dart pass and returned his first career interception 21 yards to set the Broncos up in the red zone. Denver would score a touchdown on the ensuing drive before eventually completing the comeback on a last second field goal.
In total, Strnad ended the game with five tackles, including two solo efforts, a pass defense, a quarterback hurry and the aforementioned interception. He also finished with a team-best 83.2 PFF rating, as well as an 83.3 coverage rating.
Strnad has continued progressing into one of the best linebackers in the NFL, as the six-year pro is on his way to surpassing his previous career highs that he set last season. The Palm Harbor, Fla., native has recorded 30 tackles with 10 solo efforts through the first seven games of the season. Strnad has also already set a new career high in sacks, having recorded 3.5 sacks thus far.
Bates and Mustapha Face Off on Sunday Night Football
Two former Demon Deacon safeties faced off against each other in primetime action this week, as Malik Mustapha and the San Francisco 49ers defeated Jessie Bates III and the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday Night Football, 20-10. After returning from injury last week, Mustapha notched six tackles with three solo tackles to help the 49ers move to 5-2 and keep pace in a tight race in the NFC West. In his first two games of his sophomore campaign, Mustapha has recorded eight tackles with four solo efforts.
Meanwhile, despite the loss, Bates logged another solid performance for the Falcons this season, adding a team-high ten tackles. Thus far, Bates has totaled 39 tackles with 17 solo efforts, helping him earn an 87.2 tackling rating by Pro Football Focus, which ranks sixth among all eligible safeties.
Walker Continues Solid Start to the Season on Monday Night Football
Running back Kenneth Walker III continued his solid start to the season with another consistent performance on Monday Night Football, as he and the Seattle Seahawks came away with the victory over the Houston Texans. Walker averaged 3.9 yards per carry as he totaled 66 rushing yards on 17 attempts.
Through the first seven games of the season, Walker has recorded 430 yards and three touchdowns on the ground, leading him to average 61.4 yards per game and 4.5 yards per carry. He has also added eight receptions and 61 yards.
Williams Making Plays in Return Game for Pittsburgh
After being called up from the practice squad last week, wide receiver Ke'Shawn Williams has been making plays in the return game for the Pittsburgh Steelers. During Pittsburgh's 33-31 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals, Williams recorded 118 total return yards, including 91 yards across three kick returns. Through his first two games of his rookie season, Williams has totaled almost 200 total return yards, with 141 of those yards coming on kickoff returns.
Beef Boys Update
Offensive lineman Zach Tom recorded another solid game this past weekend as he and the Green Bay Packers picked up a 27-23 win over the Arizona Cardinals. Tom played a total of 56 offensive snaps en route to holding a team-best 74.3 offensive rating by PFF. This included a team-high 70.6 run blocking grade, as well as a 75.3 pass blocking grade.
#ProDeacs Week Eight Slate (All times eastern)
Strnad Helps Spark Broncos' Improbable Comeback
Linebacker Justin Strnad recorded a game-changing interception to help spark an improbable comeback for the Denver Broncos, as Denver came back from 19 points down to pull off the 33-32 victory over the New York Giants. Trailing 26-16 with under five minutes remaining, Strnad stepped in front of a Jaxson Dart pass and returned his first career interception 21 yards to set the Broncos up in the red zone. Denver would score a touchdown on the ensuing drive before eventually completing the comeback on a last second field goal.
In total, Strnad ended the game with five tackles, including two solo efforts, a pass defense, a quarterback hurry and the aforementioned interception. He also finished with a team-best 83.2 PFF rating, as well as an 83.3 coverage rating.
Strnad has continued progressing into one of the best linebackers in the NFL, as the six-year pro is on his way to surpassing his previous career highs that he set last season. The Palm Harbor, Fla., native has recorded 30 tackles with 10 solo efforts through the first seven games of the season. Strnad has also already set a new career high in sacks, having recorded 3.5 sacks thus far.
Bates and Mustapha Face Off on Sunday Night Football
Two former Demon Deacon safeties faced off against each other in primetime action this week, as Malik Mustapha and the San Francisco 49ers defeated Jessie Bates III and the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday Night Football, 20-10. After returning from injury last week, Mustapha notched six tackles with three solo tackles to help the 49ers move to 5-2 and keep pace in a tight race in the NFC West. In his first two games of his sophomore campaign, Mustapha has recorded eight tackles with four solo efforts.
Meanwhile, despite the loss, Bates logged another solid performance for the Falcons this season, adding a team-high ten tackles. Thus far, Bates has totaled 39 tackles with 17 solo efforts, helping him earn an 87.2 tackling rating by Pro Football Focus, which ranks sixth among all eligible safeties.
Walker Continues Solid Start to the Season on Monday Night Football
Running back Kenneth Walker III continued his solid start to the season with another consistent performance on Monday Night Football, as he and the Seattle Seahawks came away with the victory over the Houston Texans. Walker averaged 3.9 yards per carry as he totaled 66 rushing yards on 17 attempts.
Through the first seven games of the season, Walker has recorded 430 yards and three touchdowns on the ground, leading him to average 61.4 yards per game and 4.5 yards per carry. He has also added eight receptions and 61 yards.
Williams Making Plays in Return Game for Pittsburgh
After being called up from the practice squad last week, wide receiver Ke'Shawn Williams has been making plays in the return game for the Pittsburgh Steelers. During Pittsburgh's 33-31 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals, Williams recorded 118 total return yards, including 91 yards across three kick returns. Through his first two games of his rookie season, Williams has totaled almost 200 total return yards, with 141 of those yards coming on kickoff returns.
Beef Boys Update
Offensive lineman Zach Tom recorded another solid game this past weekend as he and the Green Bay Packers picked up a 27-23 win over the Arizona Cardinals. Tom played a total of 56 offensive snaps en route to holding a team-best 74.3 offensive rating by PFF. This included a team-high 70.6 run blocking grade, as well as a 75.3 pass blocking grade.
#ProDeacs Week Eight Slate (All times eastern)
- Greg Dortch (ARI)
- Last Week: Green Bay Packers 27 defeated Arizona Cardinals 23
- This Week: Bye Week
- Jessie Bates III (ATL)
- Last Week: San Francisco 49ers 20 defeated Atlanta Falcons 10
- This Week: Miami Dolphins vs. Atlanta Falcons (Sunday, 1:00 p.m., CBS)
- Casey Washington (ATL)
- Last Week: San Francisco 49ers 20 defeated Atlanta Falcons 10
- This Week: Miami Dolphins vs. Atlanta Falcons (Sunday, 1:00 p.m., CBS)
- Boogie Basham (CAR- PS)
- Last Week: Carolina Panthers 13 defeated New York Jets 6
- This Week: Buffalo Bills vs. Carolina Panthers (Sunday, 1:00 p.m., FOX)
- Blake Whiteheart (CLE)
- Last Week: Cleveland Browns 31 defeated Miami Dolphins 6
- This Week: Cleveland Browns vs. New England Patriots (Sunday, 1:00 p.m., FOX)
- Ahmani Marshall (CLE - PS)
- Last Week: Cleveland Browns 31 defeated Miami Dolphins 6
- This Week: Cleveland Browns vs. New England Patriots (Sunday, 1:00 p.m., FOX)
- Caelen Carson (DAL - IR)
- Last Week: Dallas Cowboys 44 defeated Washington Commanders 22
- This Week: Dallas Cowboys vs. Denver Broncos (Sunday, 4:25 p.m., CBS)
- Justin Strnad (DEN)
- Last Week: Denver Broncos 33 defeated New York Giants 32
- This Week: Dallas Cowboys vs. Denver Broncos (Sunday, 4:25 p.m., CBS)
- Justin Herron (DET - IR)
- Last Week: Detroit Lions 24 defeated Tampa Bay Buccaneers 9
- This Week: Bye Week
- Zach Tom (GB)
- Last Week: Green Bay Packers 27 defeated Arizona Cardinals 23
- This Week: Green Bay Packers vs. Pittsburgh Steelers (Sunday, 8:20 p.m., NBC)
- Branson Combs (JAX - PS)
- Last Week: Los Angeles Rams 35 defeated Jacksonville Jaguars 7
- This Week: Bye Week
- Alex Bachman (LV)
- Last Week: Kansas City Chiefs 31 defeated Las Vegas Raiders 0
- This Week: Bye Week
- Ja'Sir Taylor (LAC)
- Last Week: Indianapolis Colts 38 defeated Los Angeles Chargers 24
- This Week: Minnesota Vikings vs. Los Angeles Chargers (Thursday, 8:15 p.m., Prime Video)
- Kobie Turner (LAR)
- Last Week: Los Angeles Rams 35 defeated Jacksonville Jaguars 7
- This Week: Bye Week
- Michael Jurgens (MIN)
- Last Week: Philadelphia Eagles 28 defeated Minnesota Vikings 22
- This Week: Minnesota Vikings vs. Los Angeles Chargers (Thursday, 8:15 p.m., Prime Video)
- Ke'Shawn Williams (PIT)
- Last Week: Cincinnati Bengals 33 defeated Pittsburgh Steelers 31
- This Week: Green Bay Packers vs. Pittsburgh Steelers (Sunday, 8:20 p.m., NBC)
- Malik Mustapha (SF)
- Last Week: San Francisco 49ers 20 defeated Atlanta Falcons 10
- This Week: San Francisco 49ers vs. Houston Texans (Sunday, 1:00 p.m., FOX)
- Kenneth Walker III (SEA)
- Last Week: Seattle Seahawks 27 defeated Houston Texans 19
- This Week: Bye Week
- J.J. Roberts (TB - IR)
- Last Week: Detroit Lions 24 defeated Tampa Bay Buccaneers 9
- This Week: Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. New Orleans Saints (Sunday, 4:05 p.m., FOX)
- Sam Hartman (WAS - PS)
- Last Week: Dallas Cowboys 44 defeated Washington Commanders 22
- This Week: Washington Commanders vs. Kansas City Chiefs (Monday, 8:15 p.m., ESPN)
Players Mentioned
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