Penn State Sports Magazine
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1482664
N O V E M B E R 2 0 2 2 6 5 W W W . B L U E W H I T E O N L I N E . C O M kings: The receiver has appeared in one game for the Vikings, making a tackle on special teams against Chicago in Week 5. Jahan Dotson (2019-2021), WR, Washington Commanders: Dotson missed Washington's games against Tennessee, Chicago and Green Bay with a lingering hamstring injury. He was doing well before getting hurt, ranking as one of only 11 players in the league with 4 or more touchdown catches through the season's first six weeks. Arnold Ebiketie (2021), DE, Atlanta Falcons: Ebik- etie has been solid for the Falcons, getting 6 quarter- back hits through seven games this year. That figure is tied for 13th among edge rushers in the NFL. Sam Ficken (2011-14), K, Detroit Lions: Ficken joined Detroit's practice squad in October. Pat Freiermuth (2018-20), TE, Pittsburgh Steelers: Freiermuth ranks seventh in receiving among NFL tight ends, with 310 yards through seven games. He's done that while missing a game due to a concussion and playing with a carousel of quarterbacks to start the year. Will Fries (2016-20), OL, Indianapolis Colts: Fries played against Tennessee in Week 4 but has only seen one snap since. Mike Gesicki (2014-17), TE, Miami Dolphins: Ge- sicki's integration into new head coach Mike McDan- iel's run-oriented system is an ongoing issue. He's seen 25 targets, with 14 coming in Weeks 6 and 7. They're not correlated, but Miami struggled offen- sively, losing both games. He ranks third on the team with 18 catches for 197 yards and 3 touchdowns. Blake Gillikin (2016-19), P, New Orleans Saints: Gillikin is averaging 48.3 yards per punt to rank 13th in the league. However, he has struggled on kickoffs, allowing 61.3 percent of his attempts to be returned, which is the fourth-most in the NFL. Kevin Givens (2016-18), DT, San Francisco 49ers: Injuries to the 49ers' defensive line have pushed Giv- ens into a starting role for several games this season. He has responded with a sack and 7 solo tackles. Chris Godwin (2014-16), WR, Tampa Bay Bucca- neers: Godwin has at least 6 targets in every game except one in which he exited with an injury. Since his return, he's been one of Tom Brady's go-to receivers, with 26 receptions for 258 yards. Robbie Gould (2001-04), K, San Francisco 49ers: Gould has hit 9 of 12 field goals through the first seven games of the season and is a perfect 15 of 15 on extra points. Yetur Gross-Matos (2017-19), DE, Carolina Panthers: The Panthers have looked to take advantage of Gross- Matos' size and length by playing the former Nittany Lion all over the formation. However, that hasn't trans- lated into sacks or pressures; for the season, he has only 1 QB hit to his name. Grant Haley (2014-17), CB, Los Angeles Rams: Injuries have hampered Haley, who began the season as the Rams' starting nickel cornerback. He played well in three games to open the year, allowing no touchdowns and breaking up 3 passes. However, he sprained his ACL in a win against the Panthers in Week 6 and was placed on the short-term injured reserve. KJ Hamler (2017-19), WR, Denver Broncos: The Bron- cos haven't made the offensive strides they expected after acquiring quarterback Russell Wilson from Seattle in the offseason. Through seven games, Hamler has only 5 catches for 115 yards. He was visibly frustrated after Wilson failed to spot him open in the end zone in a 12-9 overtime loss to Indianapolis in Week 5. Jesse James (2012-14), TE, Cleveland Browns: James landed on the Browns' injured reserve list after Week 2 due to a biceps problem and hasn't played since. Austin Johnson (2012-15), DT, Los Angeles Chargers: Johnson has amassed 19 tackles for the Chargers. He had his best afternoon of the season in Los Angeles' 37-23 loss to Seattle in Week 7, totaling 5 tackles and a sack. DaQuan Jones (2010-13), DL, Buffalo Bills: Jones has 13 tackles for the Bills, with a season-best 3 stops in games against the Los Angeles Rams and Miami. John Lovett (2021), RB, Carolina Panthers: Lovett was cut from the Panthers' practice squad on Oct. 18. Jesse Luketa (2018-21), LB, Arizona Cardinals: Luketa was elevated from the practice squad on Sept. 27. He made his first NFL tackle in the Cardinals' 42-34 victory over New Orleans in Week 7. Connor McGovern (2016-18), OL, Dallas Cowboys: McGovern played his best game of the season in the Cowboys' 26-6 victory over Detroit in Week 7. The for - mer Nittany Lion allowed zero pressures on 28 pass- blocking attempts, while also helping pave the way for 139 yards rushing. Trace McSorley (2014-18), QB, Arizona Cardinals: McSorley hasn't attempted any passes since hitting 2 of 4 attempts for 12 yards in the Cardinals' loss to Kansas City in Week 1. Carl Nassib (2011-15), DE, Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Nassib has played a limited role since joining the Buc - caneers ahead of the 2022 season, recording 11 tackles and 2 sacks. Amani Oruwariye (2014-18), CB, Detroit Lions: Oru- wariye has 23 tackles but no interceptions for a Detroit defense that has struggled all season. Through their first six games, the Lions are allowing a league-worst 412.2 yards per game. Odafe Oweh (2018-20), DE, Baltimore Ravens: Sacks have been elusive for Oweh. He didn't get one in the Ravens' 23-20 win over the Browns in Week 7 but did manage 2 quarterback hits and 5 total pressures. Oweh is a curious player in that regard. He's 16th in the NFL among edge rushers with 23 pressures but has by far the fewest sacks in that group with only 1. John Reid (2015-19), CB, Seattle Seahawks: Reid started the season on the Seahawks' injured reserve. He was released on Oct. 13 and has not signed elsewhere. Allen Robinson II (2011-13), WR, Los Angeles Rams: There was a strong belief that Robinson landing with the Rams would catapult his career. That has not been the case. He has just 17 catches on 29 targets this season for 170 yards and 2 touchdowns. Robinson is not a primary target in the Rams' offense. Miles Sanders (2016-18), RB, Philadelphia Eagles: Sanders has had a terrific season in the Eagles' multifac - eted rushing attack, even if his stats — 105 carries, 485 yards, 4 touchdowns — are not eye-popping. Nick Scott (2014-18), S, Los Angeles Rams: Scott has played almost every snap in each of the Rams' games this season. He has 16 tackles, an interception and a forced fumble. Brandon Smith (2019-21), LB, Carolina Panthers: Smith has carved out a special teams role as a rookie. He has been active in six of Carolina's seven games but has played just 2 defensive snaps to date. He is playing on about 70 percent of the team's special teams snaps. Donovan Smith (2011-14), OT, Tampa Bay Bucca - neers: Smith started the season with an injury in Week 1 that kept him out for two games. However, he has played 100 percent of Tampa Bay's snaps at left tackle each of the past four weeks. Jordan Stout (2019-21), P, Baltimore Ravens: Stout continues to be the Ravens' starting punter. He has 21 attempts so far for an average of 48.2 yards. Only 9 have been returned. Derrick Tangelo (2021), DT, Atlanta Falcons: Tangelo is on the Falcons' practice squad and has yet to see any game action. Shaka Toney (2016-20), DE, Washington Command - ers: Toney has played in just one game through October 24, logging 32 snaps and making 4 tackles in Washing- ton's 24-8 loss to Philadelphia in Week 3. Rasheed Walker (2018-21), OT, Green Bay Packers: Walker is on the Packers' active roster but has yet to play this season. ■ Nate Bauer, Thomas Frank Carr and Greg Pickel contributed to this report. Lamar Stevens Begins Third NBA Season Cleveland Cavaliers forward Lamar Stevens is Penn State's lone representative on NBA rosters as the 2022-23 season gets underway. Stevens, the second-leading scorer in Nittany Lion basketball history with 2,207 points, is playing his third season in the league. He appeared in 63 games for the Cavaliers last year, averaging 6.1 points and 2.6 rebounds while playing 16.1 minutes per game. The 6-foot-6, 230-pound Stevens signed a multiyear deal with the Cavaliers in April and saw action in one of their first three games, pulling down a rebound in a 128-96 win against Chicago. Two other Nittany Lion alumni are in prominent off-the-court roles. Calvin Booth signed a multiyear extension in October to stay on as general manager of the Denver Nuggets, while Andrew Jones is beginning his second season with the Detroit Pistons as assistant coach of player development. — Matt Herb