Penn State Sports Magazine
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1541276
6 4 D E C E M B E R 2 0 2 5 W W W . B L U E W H I T E O N L I N E . C O M F ormer Penn State wide receiver Parker Washington did everything he could to try and lead his Jackson- ville Jaguars to a Week 10 victory. In the end, the Jags squandered a 19-point fourth-quarter lead and fell to the Houston Texans, 36-29. But without Washington, the AFC South team would not have had a lead at all. Returning to his home state of Texas, Washington caught 3 passes for 33 yards and a touchdown in the Nov. 9 game and also returned a punt 73 yards for a score. Injuries elevated the former Nittany Lion to the No. 1 receiver role in the Jaguars' offense, and he did not disappoint. "He just keeps doing it," Jaguars coach Liam Coen said, per the Houston Chron- icle. "We were trying to get him the rock multiple other ways. There was a criti- cal third down earlier in the second half where we had to settle for three points, and he's wide open again. Ball gets batted down. He's wide open. Cooked the dude on a slant. He just keeps doing his thing. He's helping us win every week, and I appreciate him for that." Washington has 28 receptions on the season for 338 yards and 2 touchdowns. The punt-return score was his second of the year in that role. He is the only Jaguars player to ever have 2 punt-re- turn touchdowns in the same year, and he now has 3 in his career, which is also a franchise record. Washington will continue in that role moving forward, and he'll also be a key offensive threat for a Jacksonville team that is pushing for a playoff appearance. "Parker played great," Jaguars quarter- back Trevor Lawrence said following the loss to the Texans. "He did a lot of really good things. There were some more op- portunities that we could have taken ad- vantage of. He's continuing to play well and has a lot of confidence. You see the plays he's making for our team. He's been huge. We have to keep him going. That was obviously a bright spot of a rough day. He did some great things, and he's continuing to play well." FORMER NITTANY LIONS IN THE NFL As of Nov. 11 Saquon Barkley (Played at Penn State from 2015-17), RB, Philadelphia Eagles: Through nine games, Barkley has rushed for 579 yards on 149 carries (3.9 yards per carry) and scored 4 touchdowns for the Eagles. He also has 27 catches for 200 yards and 2 scores. Ryan Bates (2016-18), OL, Chicago Bears: Bates is playing only on special teams for the Bears. He is up to 48 snaps so far this season. Jaquan Brisker (2019-21), S, Chicago Bears: Brisker has started 10 games for the Bears this season. He has 34 tackles, a sack and an interception. Ji'Ayir Brown (2020-22), S, San Francisco 49ers: Brown has started the past five games for the Niners and six of 10 contests overall this season. He has netted 27 tackles and 2 pass breakups. Abdul Carter (2022-24), DE, New York Gi- ants: Carter continues to be one of the fa- vorites to win the Associated Press Defensive Rookie of the Year honor. Through 10 games, he has 20 tackles, 25 hurries and a sack. Tariq Castro-Fields (2017-21), CB, Philadel- phia Eagles: Castro-Fields was signed to the Eagles' practice squad on Oct. 13. Sean Clifford (2017-21), QB, Cincinnati Ben- Parker Washington Is Playing An Expanded Role With The Jaguars G R E G P I C K E L | G R E G . P I C K E L @ O N 3 . C O M PSU IN THE PROS Washington has shined both as a punt returner and as a receiver on a Jacksonville offense that has been hindered by injuries. PHOTO COURTESY JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS