Nittany Lions in the NFL: Week 7
A total of 43 Penn State football alumni are populating the rosters of 26 National Football League organizations. The Nittany Lions annually rank among the top 20 programs nationally in producing players in the NFL.
In his second game back from injury, Saquon Barkely showed no rust as he ran for 77 yards on 21 carries and added a receiving touchdown on a 32-yard catch-and-run. Jaquan Brisker continued to be a valuable asset to the Chicago defense, leading the team with 10 tackles. With twelve seconds left on the game clock, Mike Gesicki hauled in the game-winning touchdown for New England as the Patriots took down the division-leading Buffalo Bills.
Each week throughout the year, GoPSUSports.com provides updates on the feats of these former Nittany Lion greats.
Adrian Amos (2011-14) S, New York Jets
Jets bye week
Troy Apke (2014-17) S, Washington Commanders
Giants 14, Commanders 7
Apke began the season on the IR.
Saquon Barkley (2015-17) RB, New York Giants
Giants 14, Commanders 7
Carried the ball 21 times for 77 yards.
Added three receptions for 41 yards, including a 32-yard score.
Ryan Bates (2016-18) OL, Buffalo Bills
Patriots 29, Bills 25
Saw action on special teams.
Nick Bowers (2018-19) TE, Miami Dolphins
Eagles 31, Dolphins 17
Bowers is on Miami’s practice squad.
Jaquan Brisker (2019-21) S, Chicago Bears
Bears 30, Raiders 12
Recorded a season-high 10 total tackles (9 solo), leading the Bears’ defense.
Defended a pass.
Cam Brown (2016-19) LB, New York Giants
Giants 14, Commanders 7
Tallied two solo tackles.
Ji’Ayir Brown (2020-22) S, San Francisco 49ers
Vikings 22, 49ers 17
Saw action on special teams.
Jason Cabinda (2014-17) FB, Detroit Lions
Ravens 38, Lions 6
Active, but did not see action.
Tariq Castro-Fields (2017-21) CB, Washington Commanders
Giants 14, Commanders 7
Saw action on special teams.
Dan Chisena (2015-19) WR, Minnesota Vikings
Vikings 22, 49ers 17
Chisena is on Minnesota’s practice squad.
Sean Clifford (2017-22) QB, Green Bay Packers
Broncos 19, Packers 17
Active, but did not see action.
Jahan Dotson (2018-21) WR, Washington Commanders
Giants 14, Commander 7
Caught 5 passes on 8 targets, totaling 43 yards.
Arnold Ebiketie (2021) DE, Atlanta Falcons
Falcons 16, Buccaneers 13
Had one solo tackle in his third start of the season for the Falcons.
Pat Freiermuth (2018-20) TE, Pittsburgh Steelers
Steelers 24, Rams 17
Inactive due to injury.
Will Fries (2017-20) OL, Indianapolis Colts
Browns 39, Colts 38
Made his seventh consecutive start on the offensive line to start the season.
Played 100 percent of the Colts’ offensive snaps for the sixth time this year.
Mike Gesicki (2014-17) TE, New England Patriots
Patriots 29, Bills 25
Scored first touchdown of the season on a game-winning catch with under 15 seconds to play.
Finished with two receptions for five yards.
Blake Gillikin (2016-19) P, Arizona Cardinals
Seahawks 20, Cardinals 10
Punted five times for 240 yards, a 48 yards-per-punt average.
Dropped one punt inside the 20.
Had a long punt of 58 yards.
Kevin Givens (2016-18) DT, San Francisco 49ers
Vikings 22, 49ers 17
Made one tackle for loss.
Chris Godwin (2014-16) WR, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Falcons 16, Buccaneers 13
Caught six passes for 66 yards, with a long reception of 33 yards, on 12 targets.
Yetur Gross-Matos (2017-19) DE, Carolina Panthers
Panthers bye week
KJ Hamler (2017-2019) WR, Indianapolis Colts
Browns 39, Colts 38
Hamler is on Indianapolis’ practice squad.
Austin Johnson (2013-15) DT, Los Angeles Chargers
Chiefs 31, Chargers 17
Totaled two total tackles (one solo).
DaQuan Jones (2010-13) DL, Buffalo Bills
Patriots 29, Bills 25
Is on injured reserve.
Jesse Luketa (2018-21) LB, Arizona Cardinals
Seahawks 20, Cardinals 10
Was inactive.
Connor McGovern (2016-18) OL, Buffalo Bills
Patriots 29, Bills 25
Made his seventh start of the year on the offensive line.
Played 100 percent of the Bills’ offensive plays for the fourth time this season.
Trace McSorley (2014-2018) QB, Chicago Bears
Bears 30, Raiders 12
McSorley is on the Bears’ practice squad.
PJ Mustipher (2018-22) DL, Denver Broncos
Broncos 19, Packers 17
Mustipher is on Denver’s practice squad.
Amani Oruwariye (2015-18) CB, Jacksonville Jaguars
Jaguars 31, Saints 24
Was on Jacksonville’s practice squad for week seven and is now listed on the team’s active roster.
Odafe Oweh (2019-20) DE, Baltimore Ravens
Ravens 38, Lions 6
Recorded first sack of the season.
Finished with three total tackles (2 solo).
Micah Parsons (2018-19) LB, Dallas Cowboys
Cowboys bye week
Joey Porter Jr. (2019-22) CB, Pittsburgh Steelers
Steelers 24, Rams 17
Defended one pass in coverage.
Recorded three total tackles (2 solo).
Allen Robinson II (2011-13) WR, Pittsburgh Steelers
Steelers 24, Rams 17
Caught one pass for seven yards.
Miles Sanders (2016-18) RB, Carolina Panthers
Panthers bye week
Nick Scott (2015-18) S, Cincinnati Bengals
Bengals bye week
Juice Scruggs (2018-22) OL, Houston Texans
Texans bye week
Scruggs began the season on IR.
Donovan Smith (2012-14) OT, Kansas City Chiefs
Chiefs 31, Chargers 17
Made his seventh start of the year on the offensive line.
Played the vast majority of offensive snaps in Kansas City’s win.
Chris Stoll (2017-22) LS, Seattle Seahawks
Seahawks 20, Cardinals 10
Saw action on special teams as Seattle’s primary long snapper.
Jordan Stout (2019-21) P, Baltimore Ravens
Ravens 38, 38, Lions 6
Punted two times for 112 yards, a 56.0 average.
Landed a 57-yard punt for his longest of the day.
Brenton Strange (2019-22) TE, Jacksonville Jaguars
Jaguars 31, Saints 24
Saw action on special teams.
Mitchell Tinsley (2022) WR, Washington Commanders
Giants 14, Commanders 7
Was inactive.
Rasheed Walker (2019-21) OL, Green Bay Packers
Broncos 19, Packers 17
Started his fifth game of the season.
Played 100% of the offensive snaps for the fourth time this year.
Parker Washington (2020-22) WR, Jacksonville Jaguars
Jaguars 31, Saints 24
On injured reserve.