WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – The NFL season progressed through Week 14 with six Pro Boilers active and a trio of former Boilers on the NFL's final bye week of the season.
Derrick Barnes recorded his first regular season interception on the first play of the second half and returned it 23 yards to set the Lions up at the Dallas 14-yard line. Detroit scored a touchdown two plays later to open a 27-9 lead before its eventual 44-30 victory on Thursday Night Football.
TNF PICK FOR @derrickbarnes21 🔥#DALvsDET 📺 Prime Video pic.twitter.com/5y1hRb4kC9
— Purdue Football (@BoilerFootball) December 5, 2025
The interception is the second of Barnes' career after he picked off a pass in a 31-23 playoff victory over the Buccaneers on Jan. 21, 2024.
With adding the interception to his stats for the season, Barnes became the first Lions linebacker to record four sacks and an interception in a season since Chris Claiborne in 2002, according to Detroit Lions PR.
Gotta love it!@derrickbarnes21 | #ProBowlVote pic.twitter.com/W09cZ9iahz
— Detroit Lions (@Lions) December 5, 2025
Barnes is the only player this season and one of 11 players in the last 20 seasons to record at least 60 tackles, four sacks, one interception and one safety in a season.
George Karlaftis turned in a strong performance on Sunday Night Football with five tackles, one sack and two quarterback hurries against Houston. He raised his team-high sack total to six this season. He now has at least six sacks in all four of his NFL campaigns.
.@TheGK3 with his sixth sack of the season!pic.twitter.com/3NvlwFLGRr
— Purdue Football (@BoilerFootball) December 8, 2025
BOILERMAKERS AROUND THE NFL
• Derrick Barnes (Detroit) – Picked off the first pass of the second half and totaled two tackles in a 44-30 Thursday Night Football win over Dallas.
• George Karlaftis (Kansas City) – Totaled five tackles, one sack and two quarterback hurries on Sunday Night Football vs. Houston.
• Charlie Jones (Cincinnati) – Returned five kicks for 138 yards (27.6-yard average) with a game long of 35 yards at Buffalo.
• Raheem Mostert (Las Vegas) – Had one catch for two yards and two kick returns for 55 yards vs. Denver.
• Payne Durham (Tampa Bay) – Played in 31 percent of the offensive snaps and 39 percent of the special teams snaps vs. New Orleans.
• Sanoussi Kane (Baltimore) – Activated from the practice squad and played in 24 special teams snaps vs. Pittsburgh.
• Aidan O'Connell (Las Vegas) – Inactive and served as Las Vegas' emergeny third quarterback vs. Denver
• Reese Taylor (Denver) – Inactive at Las Vegas.
• Jalen Graham (San Francisco) – Bye Week
• Marcus Mbow (N.Y. Giants) – Bye Week
• Tyrone Tracy Jr. (N.Y. Giants) – Bye Week
• Cory Trice Jr. (Pittsburgh) – Injured Reserve
• Rondale Moore (Minnesota) – Injured Reserve (out for season)