It’s been a couple of weeks since the last edition of Tigers in the NFL, and in that time, several former Clemson standouts hit their strides as they push into the final stretch of the 2025 season.
Three of the four former Tigers on this week’s list have been frequent returners, while the other is making his debut after a strong stretch in his young career. With that, here’s a look at how the Clemson Tigers in the NFL performed over the past three weeks.
Travis Etienne — running back, Jacksonville Jaguars
Etienne has been on a heater this year and has shown no sign of slowing down. In Week 10, the versatile back had 16 carries for 58 yards and one touchdown as the Jaguars fell, 36-29, to the Houston Texans. He also tallied two receptions for 19 yards.
The following week, Etienne helped his squad steamroll the Los Angeles Chargers at home, 35-6, recording 19 carries for 73 yards and a season-high two rushing touchdowns — his most in a single game since 2023.
Most recently, in a 27-24 overtime win against the Arizona Cardinals, the 215-pound back struck on the ground and through the air, carrying the ball 15 times for 86 yards along with three receptions for 30 yards and one touchdown.
The Clemson all-time rushing leader is on pace for a career year on the ground with totals of 169 carries for 815 yards and five touchdowns. He’s also been a threat in the passing game, catching 24 balls for 160 yards and two touchdowns.
Tee Higgins — wide receiver, Cincinnati Bengals
Like Etienne, Higgins’ name has been commonplace on the list this year, and for good reason. Since the Joe Flacco trade, the deep threat has rediscovered his rhythm, reminding everyone why he belongs in the conversation as one of the league’s top receivers.
The Bengals had a bye in Week 10, but came back the following week for a date with the Pittsburgh Steelers at Acrisure Stadium. While they may have lost by over 20 points, Higgins had a stellar performance, catching three passes for 63 yards and one touchdown.
Cincinnati looked to bounce back against the New England Patriots this past week, and it started well for Higgins as he caught 5-of-6 targets for 31 yards. But unfortunately, he was carted off the field with just over four minutes left in the fourth quarter after hitting his head on the ground following an attempt to catch a deep ball down the right sideline.
The 6-foot-4 wideout is on pace for a career-high 11 touchdowns this season, but reaching that mark just got tougher as he’ll miss the Bengals’ upcoming Week 13 Thanksgiving contest versus the Baltimore Ravens.
Nate Wiggins — cornerback, Baltimore Ravens
Since he was drafted in the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft, Wiggins has been one of the best young players at his position, and that trend has continued in his sophomore campaign.
In a 27-19 win over the Minnesota Vikings in Week 10, the lanky corner had a solid outing, recording seven tackles and one pass deflection. However, he did allow six catches for 69 yards and one touchdown — only his second all season.
The former Clemson star bounced back with a huge performance in the Ravens’ Week 11 divisional game against the Cleveland Browns, logging four tackles, one pass deflection and an interception. He allowed two receptions for a minimal 12 yards in the 23-16 victory.
The 6-foot-1 defensive back’s strong coverage carried over to Week 12’s contest against the New York Jets, locking down anyone who stepped in front of him. He surrendered just 1-of-4 targets for 19 yards in the 23-10 win. Wiggins and Baltimore are now on a five-game winning streak after starting the season with a dreadful 1-5 record.
RJ Mickens — safety, Los Angeles Chargers
The rookie safety played sparingly to start the season, unsurprisingly for a sixth-round pick. But once injuries hit the secondary in Week 7, the Chargers threw him into the fire and haven’t brought him out of it since, realizing they might have found a diamond in the rough.
In a Week 10 win over the Steelers, Mickens played the most single-game coverage snaps, 30, of his young career, and he delivered. He registered four tackles, one pass deflection and an interception that helped secure the 25-10 victory. He allowed just one reception for two yards.
In Week 11, the 6-foot safety played a career-high 53 snaps on his way to recording five tackles and surrendering one catch for nine yards. The Jaguars dominated the Chargers from start to finish, losing 35-6.
Through eight games played in 2025, Mickens has totaled 23 tackles, two pass deflections and two interceptions — tied for second-highest among rookies.
