Penn State Sports Magazine
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1530530
W W W . B L U E W H I T E O N L I N E . C O M each of the Jets' past two games and at least 30 in the past five. Will Fries (2017-20), OL, Indianapolis Colts: Fries was placed on injured reserve Oct. 7 after his right tibia was fractured against Jacksonville. Carted off the field with his leg in an air cast, Fries underwent surgery that same night. Before getting hurt, he had started four games at right guard. Mike Gesicki (2014-17), TE, Cincinnati Bengals: Gesicki saw more targets in November than October. He has 42 receptions on the season for 460 yards and 2 scores, both against Las Vegas on Nov. 3. Blake Gillikin (2016-19), P, Arizona Cardinals: Gillikin is averaging 49.7 yards per boot. His net punting average of 44.3 yards is third in the NFL. Kevin Givens (2016-18), DT, San Francisco 49ers: Givens has been slowed by a groin injury that forced him to miss midseason games against Dallas, Tampa Bay and Seattle. He had 3.5 sacks and 2 tackles for loss before getting hurt. Yetur Gross-Matos (2017-19), DE, San Francisco 49ers: Gross-Matos has 15 tackles after missing time with an injury earlier in the year. He had 3 sacks against Chicago on Dec. 8. KJ Hamler (2017-2019), WR, Buffalo Bills: Hamler is on Buffalo's practice squad. Daequan Hardy (2019-23), CB, Buffalo Bills: Hardy also is on Buffalo's prac- tice squad. Adisa Isaac (2019-23), LB, Baltimore Ravens: Isaac missed time due to an injury earlier this year but has been active again of late. He has 1 tackle in Baltimore's past three games. Curtis Jacobs (2020-23), LB, New England Patriots: Jacobs landed on the injured reserve list in November with a knee problem. Austin Johnson (2013-15), DT, Buffalo Bills: Johnson has played in 12 games, with 16 tackles and 2 interceptions. Theo Johnson (2020-23), TE, New York Giants: Johnson had been carving out a bigger role during his rookie year, but he was forced to undergo foot surgery in December and is expected to miss the rest of the season. Before being in- jured, he had 29 catches for 331 yards. DaQuan Jones (2010-13), DL, Buffalo Bills: Jones has 22 tackles, 2 sacks and a pass breakup for the AFC East-leading Bills. Kalen King (2021-23), CB, Green Bay Packers: Green Bay elevated King to the active roster for the first time when it faced Detroit on Dec. 5. He had no counting stats in the game. Jesse Luketa (2018-21), LB, Arizona Cardinals: Luketa plays special teams and defense for Arizona. He has 20 tackles, 3 sacks and a forced fumble. Connor McGovern (2016-18), OL, Buffalo Bills: McGovern starts for the Bills and has amassed 770 snaps so far this season. PJ Mustipher (2018-22), DL, Arizona Cardinals: Mustipher is on Arizona's practice squad. Hunter Nourzad (2022-23), OL, Kansas City Chiefs: Nourzad is a key part of the Chiefs' special teams. He is not playing on offense but does have a blocking role on all placement kicks. Amani Oruwariye (2015-18), CB, Dallas Cowboys: The former Penn State cor- nerback was in the news for all the wrong reasons after the Cowboys' Week 14 loss to Cincinnati. With the score tied late in the fourth quarter, Oruwariye ac- cidently touched the ball on a partially blocked punt, and Cincinnati recovered. The Bengals went on to score a touchdown and won, 27-20. On the season, Oruwariye has 20 tackles and an interception. Odafe Oweh (2019-20), LB, Baltimore Ravens: Oweh has 32 tackles, 8 sacks and a forced fumble this season. Micah Parsons (2018-20), DE, Dallas Cowboys: Parsons continues to play well since returning to action after a lower-body injury. He had 11 tackles and 3.5 sacks in consecutive games against Washington, the New York Giants and Cincinnati. For the year, he has 28 tackles and 6.5 sacks. Joey Porter Jr. (2019-22), CB, Pittsburgh Steelers: Porter's physical brand of football has caught the attention of NFL officiating crews, but Steelers coach Mike Tomlin has backed the second-year defender. Through 13 games, Porter has 56 tackles, 2 interceptions and 15 pass breakups. He is easily the most penalized cornerback in the NFL, though, with 15 flags against him. Chop Robinson (2022-23), LB, Miami Dolphins: Robinson seems to get more recognition each week. He had 4 tackles, including 1.5 sacks, and a pair of pass breakups in a breakout game against New England on Nov. 24. For the year, he has 19 tackles and 3.5 sacks. Allen Robinson II (2011-13), WR, Detroit Lions: Robinson does not have a large role in the Lions' passing attack. Playing in nine games, he has just 2 catches for 9 yards. Miles Sanders (2016-18), RB, Carolina Panthers: Sanders went on injured reserve in late November with an ankle problem. Barring a late-season re- turn, he will finish his first year in Carolina with 38 carries for 139 yards and a touchdown. Nick Scott (2015-18), S, Carolina Panthers: Scott has been on the IR since late October with a hamstring injury. He has 28 tackles and 2 pass breakups in seven games. Juice Scruggs (2018-22), OL, Houston Texans: Scruggs began the season as the Texans' starting center but has been moved to left guard due to injuries on the offensive line. Brandon Smith (2019-21), LB, New York Jets: Smith was cut by Philadelphia in September and has since landed on the Jets' practice squad. Chris Stoll (2017-22), LS, Seattle Seahawks: Stoll continues to serve as the Seahawks' starting long snapper. Jordan Stout (2019-21), P, Baltimore Ravens: Stout has averaged 47.9 yards on 42 punts, and he also serves as holder on placekicks. Brenton Strange (2019-22), TE, Jacksonville Jaguars: Strange has 23 recep- tions on 32 targets for 291 yards and 3 touchdowns for the Jaguars. Mitchell Tinsley (2022), WR, Washington Commanders: Tinsley is on the Commanders' practice squad. Rasheed Walker (2019-21), OL, Green Bay Packers: Walker is the starting left tackle for Green Bay and leads the offense with 822 snaps played this season. He has allowed just 1 quarterback hit this year. Caedan Wallace (2019-23), OL, New England Patriots: Wallace was placed on injured reserve Oct. 4 after his ankle was hurt in a loss to San Francisco in Week 4. Parker Washington (2020-22), WR, Jacksonville Jaguars: Washington has 18 catches on 32 targets for 236 yards and a touchdown. J A N U A R Y 2 0 2 5 6 5 Returning to action from an injury, Cowboys linebacker Micah Parsons totaled 3.5 sacks in consecutive games against Washington, the New York Giants and Cincinnati. PHOTO COURTESY DALLAS COWBOYS