Penn State Sports Magazine
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1546586
O C T O B E R 2 0 2 6 6 5 W W W . B L U E W H I T E O N L I N E . C O M that the one-time Nittany Lion was con- tinuing to recover and could play against the Patriots in Week 2, barring a trade. "I would clearly still put him as just finishing up the ramp-up stage as far as where he is," McCarthy said, according to Steelers Depot. "We sat down and talked about it and talked about the plan for next week. He's definitely ready to do more, so we'll see how it goes." Porter's absence was not felt in the vic- tory over Atlanta. The Falcons had been plagued by quarterback issues in pre- season camp and started third-teamer Cooper Rush in place of the injured Tua Tagovailoa. They ended up throwing for only 118 yards in the loss. Even with his former Penn State team- mate missing, safety Jaquan Brisker en- joyed a strong debut in his first game with the Steelers. Brisker, who signed a one- year deal with the team after spending his first four NFL seasons with the Chicago Bears, recorded an interception in the win. "It's crazy because, I think, last year I dreamed of this moment," Brisker said, according to TribLive.com. "I'm so seri- ous. I didn't know what team I was go- ing to be on, but I literally had a dream of a pick in the middle of the field, and it came true today." Another former Nittany Lion seeking a new contract is Jacksonville Jaguars receiver Parker Washington. Washington enjoyed a breakout 2025 season, totaling 58 catches for 847 yards and 5 touchdowns. He's in the final year of his rookie deal and was hoping to receive an extension before the start of the 2026 campaign. That didn't happen, but he had no intention of sitting out. "If we get it done, that's cool," he told the Jaguars' official website prior to the team's opener against Cleveland. "If not, I'm going to go out Sunday and leave my best out there." Washington was as good as his word, finishing with a team-high 5 receptions for 83 yards and a touchdown in Jack- sonville's 34-10 win over the Browns. ■ Theo Johnson (2020-23), TE, New York Giants: Johnson caught 1 pass for 9 yards in the Giants' 28-20 win over Dallas. Kalen King (2021-23), CB, Arizona Cardinals: King is on Arizona's practice squad. Connor McGovern (2016-18), OL, Buffalo Bills: McGovern started and played all 57 snaps at center in the Bills' 36-31 victory over Houston. Hunter Nourzad (2022-23), OL, Kansas City Chiefs: Nourzad played 4 offensive snaps at right guard in the Chiefs' 31-10 rout of Denver on Monday night. Odafe Oweh (2019-20), LB, Washington Commanders: Oweh had a strong debut for the NFC East franchise. He finished with 3 tackles, including 2 for loss and a sack, in Washington's loss to Philadelphia. Micah Parsons (2018-19), DL, Green Bay Packers: Parsons is on the injured list af- ter tearing his ACL last December. Green Bay hopes he will be able to return in either Week 5 or 6, according to the NFL Network. Trebor Peña (2025), WR, Jacksonville Jag- uars: Peña is on Jacksonville's practice squad. Joey Porter Jr. (2019-22), CB, Pittsburgh Steelers: Porter was inactive for the Steelers' win over Atlanta. Jaylen Reed (2021-24), S, New England Patriots: Reed played 8 snaps, all on special teams, in his Patriots debut after the team traded for him this offseason. He did not record any counting stats. Chop Robinson (2022-23), DE, Miami Dol- phins: Robinson recorded only 1 tackle in the Dolphins' 27-13 season-opening loss to Las Vegas. Nolan Rucci (2024-25), OL, Indianapolis Colts: Rucci is on the Colts' practice squad. Nick Scott (2015-18), S, Carolina Panthers: Scott started at safety and played all 72 snaps in the Panthers' 58-37 loss to the Bears. He finished with 7 tackles. Juice Scruggs (2018-22), OL, Detroit Lions: Scruggs started and played all 77 snaps in the Lions' 31-30 victory over New Orleans. Drew Shelton (2022-25), OL, Dallas Cowboys: Shelton took 6 snaps — 3 on offense, 3 on special teams — in the Cowboys' loss to the Giants. Nicholas Singleton (2022-25), RB, Tennessee Titans: Singleton was inactive for Tennessee's Week 1 loss to the New York Jets. Chris Stoll (2017-22), LS, Seattle Seahawks: Stoll is the Seahawks' starting long snapper. Jordan Stout (2019-21), P, New York Gi- ants: Stout punted 1 time for 46 yards in New York's Week 1 win against Dallas. Brenton Strange (2019-22), TE, Jacksonville Jaguars: Strange finished with 2 catches for 23 yards, including a 14-yard touchdown, in Jacksonville's 34-10 victory over Cleveland. Mitchell Tinsley (2022), WR, Houston Tex- ans: Tinsley is on Houston's practice squad. Rasheed Walker (2019-21), OL, Carolina Panthers: Walker started and took all 68 snaps at left tackle, in addition to 6 on spe- cial teams, in the Panthers' Week 1 loss to Chicago. Caedan Wallace (2019-23), OL, Miami Dolphins: Wallace took 1 snap at left guard and 4 on special teams in Miami's loss to Las Vegas. Tyler Warren (2020-24), TE, Indianapolis Colts: Warren caught 3 passes for 13 yards and a touchdown in the Colts' loss to Balti- more. Parker Washington (2020-22), WR, Jack- sonville Jaguars: Washington led all Jack- sonville receivers with 5 catches for 83 yards and a touchdown in the Jaguars' 34-10 Week 1 win over Cleveland. Zakee Wheatley (2021-25), S, Carolina Panthers: Wheatley did not play in the Panthers' Week 1 loss to Chicago. Kevin Winston Jr. (2022-24), S, Tennessee Titans: Winston started and played all 67 defensive snaps in the Titans' Week 1 loss to the Jets. He finished with 10 tackles. Parker Washington was the Jacksonville Jaguars' top receiver in Week 1, catching 5 passes for 83 yards and a touchdown in a 34-10 win over Cleveland. PHOTO COURTESY JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS