Penn State Sports Magazine
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1511150
D E C E M B E R 2 0 2 3 6 3 W W W . B L U E W H I T E O N L I N E . C O M FORMER NITTANY LIONS IN THE NFL As of Nov. 7 Adrian Amos (Played at Penn State from 2011- 14), S, New York Jets: Amos had 17 tackles (15 solo) in eight games played through Week 9. Troy Apke (2014-17), S, Washington Command- ers: Apke was placed on injured reserve in August with a shoulder problem. He is expected to miss the season. Saquon Barkley (2015-17), RB, New York Giants: Barkley had been the subject of trade speculation, but he's still with the Giants, trying to help them reverse course after a 2-7 start and the loss of starting quarterback Daniel Jones to a season- ending knee injury. Barkley was New York's leading rusher with 412 yards and 1 touchdown on 151 carries through nine games. He had 128 yards on a career-high 36 carries in a 13-10 loss to the Jets in Week 8. Ryan Bates (2015-19), G/C, Buffalo Bills: Bates continues to back up Mitch Morse at center for the Bills, who were third in the league in total offense with an average of 376.9 yards per game through nine weeks. Nick Bowers (2015-19), TE, Miami Dolphins: Bowers was signed to the Dolphins' practice squad in August and has not seen action this year. Jaquan Brisker (2019-21), S, Chicago Bears: Brisker was in the concussion protocol after be- ing hit on a two-point conversion attempt against the Raiders in Week 7. He missed the Bears' next two games but was still fourth on the team with 45 tackles. Cam Brown (2016-19), LB, New York Giants: A special teams contributor and third-team Will linebacker, Brown played in seven of New York's first nine games and totaled 4 tackles. Ji'Ayir Brown (2020-22), S, San Francisco 49ers: Backing up Tashaun Gibson Sr. at free safety, Brown made 3 tackles in the 49ers' first eight games. Jason Cabinda (2014-17), FB, Detroit Lions: Cab- inda hasn't played since being placed on injured reserve on Oct. 7 after hurting his knee. He has just 1 carry this year for no gain. Tariq Castro-Fields (2017-21), CB, Washington Commanders: Promoted to the active roster on Oct. 14 after starting out on the practice squad, Castro-Fields tallied his lone tackle of the season in Week 6 against Atlanta and went on to play in losses to the Giants and Eagles. Dan Chisena (2015-19), WR, Minnesota Vikings: Chisena was signed to the Vikings' practice squad on Oct. 11. Sean Clifford (2017-22), QB, Green Bay Packers: The Packers have struggled at times in their first season with Jordan Love as starting quarterback, but Clifford has only seen action in one game, a 38-20 win over Chicago on opening day. He has yet to attempt his first NFL pass. Jahan Dotson (2019-2021), WR, Washington Commanders: Dotson was the Commanders' third- leading receiver through eight games, with 30 catches for 291 yards and 2 touchdowns. Arnold Ebiketie (2021), DE, Atlanta Falcons: Ebiketie was tied for the team lead with 2.5 sacks through eight games. Pat Freiermuth (2018-20),TE, Pittsburgh Steel- ers: Bothered by a lingering hamstring injury, Frei- ermuth hadn't played since the Steelers' 30-6 loss to Houston in Week 4. He had 8 catches for 53 yards and 2 touchdowns in Pittsburgh's first four games. Will Fries (2016-20), OL, Indianapolis Colts: Fries continues to hold down the Colts' starting right guard spot, helping them average 344.1 yards per game to rank 13th in the league. Mike Gesicki (2014-17), TE, New England Patri- ots: Gesicki had posted 19 catches for 160 yards and a touchdown in his first eight games with the Patriots. Blake Gillikin (2016-19), P, Arizona Cardinals: In his first four games after being signed by the Cardinals in October, Gillikin averaged 50 yards on 16 punts. Kevin Givens (2016-18), DT, San Francisco 49ers: Givens had 9 tackles including a sack for the 49ers heading into a Week 10 clash with Jacksonville. Chris Godwin (2014-16), WR, Tampa Bay Buc- caneers: Godwin had amassed a team-best 38 catches for 452 yards and a touchdown in seven games. Yetur Gross-Matos (2017-19), DE, Carolina Pan- thers: Gross-Matos had made 14 tackles and was second on the Panthers with 2.5 sacks before be- ing placed on injured reserve in October with a hamstring problem. KJ Hamler (2018-19), WR, Indianapolis Colts: Hamler was signed to the Colts' practice squad in late September and had yet to see game action this year. Austin Johnson (2012-15), DT, Los Angeles Char- gers: Johnson started all eight games for the Char- gers, making 16 tackles and recovering 1 fumble. DaQuan Jones (2010-13), DL, Buffalo Bills: Jones was on pace for a career year with 5 quarterback hits and 2.5 sacks in the Bills' first five games, but he's out indefinitely and could miss the rest of the season with a torn pectoral injury he suffered against Jacksonville on Oct. 8. Jesse Luketa (2018-21), LB, Arizona Cardinals: Listed as Arizona's third-team strong-side line- backer, Luketa had made 7 tackles in six game appearances. Connor McGovern (2016-18), G, Buffalo Bills: McGovern has been the Bills' starter at left guard this season. Trace McSorley (2014-18), QB, Chicago Bears: Cut by the Patriots in preseason camp, McSorley was signed to the Bears' practice squad on Oct. 17. PJ Mustipher (2018-22), DT, Denver Broncos: Mustipher was signed to the Broncos' practice squad in August and had yet to see action through the team's first eight games. Amani Oruwariye (2014-18), CB, Jacksonville Jaguars: After the Giants released Oruwariye on Oct. 10, Jacksonville signed him to its practice squad. He has yet to see action this season. Odafe Oweh (2018-20), DE, Baltimore Ravens: Oweh was slowed by an ankle injury earlier in the year, but he had his second sack of the season in the Ravens' 37-3 thrashing of Seattle in Week 9. Micah Parsons (2018-19), LB, Dallas Cowboys: Parsons was leading the Cowboys with 6 sacks and 9 tackles for loss following their Week 9 loss to Philadelphia. Joey Porter Jr. (2019-22), CB, Pittsburgh Steel- ers: With veteran cornerback Levi Wallace out of action due to an injury, Porter made the first start of his pro career in the Steelers' 20-10 loss to Jack- sonville in Week 8. Coach Mike Tomlin later said that Porter would remain in the starting lineup go- ing forward. He had 17 tackles, 4 passes defended and an interception in his first eight games. Allen Robinson II (2011-2013), WR, Pittsburgh Steelers: Through eight games, Robinson was fourth among Steelers wide receivers with 19 catches for 154 yards. Miles Sanders (2016-18), RB, Carolina Panthers: Heading into a visit to Chicago on Nov. 9, Sanders was second on the Panthers with 190 rushing yards and a touchdown on 63 carries. Nick Scott (2014-18), S, Cincinnati Bengals: A starter at strong safety, Scott was fourth on the Bengals with 43 tackles heading into a meeting with Houston in Week 10. Juice Scruggs (2018-22), C, Houston Texans: Scruggs was still recovering from a preseason ham- string injury as of early November and had yet to play for the Texans. Brandon Smith (2019-21), LB, Philadelphia Eagles: The Eagles signed Smith to their practice squad on Oct. 24. Chris Stoll (2017-22), LS, Seattle Seahawks: Stoll has been the Seahawks' long snapper all season. Jordan Stout (2019-21), P, Baltimore Ravens: Stout was averaging 48.1 yards on 35 punts through eight games. Brenton Strange (2019-22), TE, Jacksonville Jaguars: Strange caught 4 passes for 34 yards in Jacksonville's first eight games. The rookie tight end scored his first NFL touchdown on a 10-yard pass from Trevor Lawrence in the Jaguars' 37-20 win over Indianapolis in Week 6. Mitchell Tinsley (2022), WR, Washington Com- manders: Tinsley saw his first and only NFL action in Week 2 against Denver but did not catch a pass in that game. Rasheed Walker (2018-21), OT, Green Bay Packers: Walker lost his starting left tackle job to fourth-year pro Yosh Nijman following a 24-10 loss to the Los Angeles Rams that dropped the Packers to 2-5. Parker Washington (2020-22), WR, Jacksonville Jaguars: Washington was placed on injured reserve in October after his knee was hurt on a punt return against Atlanta in Week 4. The earliest he could return to action is for the Jaguars' visit to San Francisco on Nov. 12. ■ Matt Herb contributed to this report.