Dec. 6, 2011
With 33 Nittany Lions on National Football League rosters, Penn State is well represented in the professional ranks. Each week throughout the year, GoPSUsports.com will provide updates on the exploits of these former Nittany Lion greats. Highlights from week 13 of the 2011 season include a phenomenal punting performance by the Steelers Jeremy Kapinos, Navorro Bowman contributing to a 49ers shutout, and another career first for Redskins running back Evan Royster. In other news, Mickey Shuler was signed to the Minnesota Vikings practice squad on November 28 and Andrew Quarless suffered a season-ending knee injury late in the Packers' last second win over the Giants.
Anthony Adams (1999-02), DT, Chicago Bears
Kansas City Chiefs 10, Chicago Bears 3
Adams was inactive for the Bears home game versus the Chiefs.
Navorro Bowman (2007-09), LB, San Francisco 49ers
San Francisco 49ers 26, St. Louis Rams 0
Bowman led the San Francisco defense with six solo tackles, including two for a loss, as the 49ers shut out the Rams.
Brett Brackett (2007-10), TE, Philadelphia Eagles
Seattle Seahawks 31, Philadelphia Eagles 14
Brackett was signed to the Philadelphia Eagles practice squad on November 8. He spent time on the Miami Dolphins and Jacksonville Jaguars practice squads earlier this year.
Levi Brown (2003-06), OT, Arizona Cardinals
Arizona Cardinals 19, Dallas Cowboys 13 (OT)
Brown made his 71st career start for Arizona, helping the Cardinals offense amass 327 total yards in an overtime win versus Dallas.
Deon Butler (2005-08), WR, Seattle Seahawks
Seattle Seahawks 31, Philadelphia Eagles 14
Butler saw his first action of the season but did not have a reception as the Seahawks knocked off the Eagles on Thursday night.
Kerry Collins (1992-94), QB, Indianapolis Colts
New England Patriots 31, Indianapolis Colts 24
Collins, the longest active NFL tenured Nittany Lion, in his 17th professional season, was placed on injured reserve on October 25 and will miss the remainder of the 2011 season.
Dan Connor (2004-07), LB, Carolina Panthers
Carolina Panthers 38, Tampa Bay Buccaneers 19
Connor recorded four tackles (3 solos), including one for a loss, in Carolina's win over Tampa Bay.
John Gilmore (1999-01), TE, New Orleans Saints
New Orleans Saints 31, Detroit Lions 17
Gilmore played but did not have a reception in the Saints key conference win over the Lions.
Robbie Gould (2001-04), K, Chicago Bears
Kansas City Chiefs 10, Chicago Bears 3
Gould accounted for Chicago's lone points in a loss to Kansas City, kicking a 32-yard field goal in the second quarter.
Tamba Hali (2002-05), LB, Kansas City Chiefs
Kansas City Chiefs 10, Chicago Bears 3
Hali had one sack for a loss of four yards in Kansas City's road win over Chicago.
Josh Hull (2006-09), LB, St. Louis Rams
San Francisco 49ers 26, St. Louis Rams 0
Hull was on the inactive list for the Rams road loss to the 49ers.
Bryant Johnson (1999-02), WR, Houston Texans
Houston Texans 17, Atlanta Falcons 10
Johnson played but did not have a reception in Houston's win over Atlanta.
Jeremy Kapinos (2003-06), P, Pittsburgh Steelers
Pittsburgh Steelers 35, Cincinnati Bengals 7
Kapinos punted five times for a total of 271 yards (54.2 avg.), with a long of 59, placing two kicks inside the 20-yard line.
Jimmy Kennedy (1999-02), DT, New York Giants
Green Bay Packers 38, New York Giants 35
Kennedy was inactive for the Giants home loss to Green Bay.
Justin King (2005-07), CB, St. Louis Rams
San Francisco 49ers 26, St. Louis Rams 0
King started at left cornerback, recording four solo tackles in the Rams road loss to the 49ers.
Dennis Landolt (2007-09), OT, New York Jets
New York Jets 28, Buffalo Bills 24
Landolt was re-signed to the New York Jets' practice squad on October 31.
Sean Lee (2005-07, 2009), LB, Dallas Cowboys
Arizona Cardinals 19, Dallas Cowboys 13 (OT)
Continuing to play with a cast on his dislocated wrist, Lee led Dallas with seven total tackles (5 solos). He also had one pass defensed.
Aaron Maybin (2007-08), LB, New York Jets
New York Jets 34, Washington Redskins 19
Maybin had two solo tackles and a sack for a loss of 11 yards in the Jets win over the Redskins.
Kareem McKenzie (1997-00), OT, New York Giants
Green Bay Packers 38, New York Giants 35
McKenzie made his 149th start at right tackle for New York, as the Giants totaled 447 total yards, including 347 through the air, in a home loss to the Packers.
Jordan Norwood (2005-08), WR, Cleveland Browns
Baltimore Ravens 24, Cleveland Browns 10
Norwood started as Cleveland opened the game in a four-receiver set and had three receptions for 29 yards.
Ollie Ogbu (2007-10), DT, Indianapolis Colts
New England Patriots 31, Indianapolis Colts 24
Ogbu is a member of the Indianapolis Colts' practice squad.
Jared Odrick (2006-09), DT, Miami Dolphins
Miami Dolphins 34, Oakland Raiders 14
Odrick played but did not have a tackle in Miami's win over Oakland.
Rich Ohrnberger (2006-08), OG, New England Patriots
New England Patriots 31, Indianapolis Colts 24
Ohrnberger was placed on injured reserve on September 3 and will miss the 2011 season.
Scott Paxson (2003-05), OG, Cleveland Browns
Baltimore Ravens 24, Cleveland Browns 10
Playing in Cleveland's defensive line rotation, Paxson totaled three assisted tackles and one pass defensed in a loss to Baltimore.
Paul Posluszny (2003-06), LB, Jacksonville Jaguars
San Diego Chargers 38, Jacksonville Jaguars 14
Posluszny led Jacksonville with 11 tackles (7 solos) in the Jaguars loss to the Chargers on Monday Night Football.
Andrew Quarless (2006-09), TE, Green Bay Packers
Green Bay Packers 38, New York Giants 35
Quarless started the game in Green Bay's two tight end set and caught one pass for seven yards but suffered a season-ending knee injury late in the Packers' 12th win of the season.
Michael Robinson (2002-05), RB, Seattle Seahawks
Seattle Seahawks 31, Philadelphia Eagles 14
Robinson tied for the team-lead with four receptions, gaining 41 yards, in Seattle's Thursday night win over Philadelphia.
Evan Royster (2007-10), RB, Washington Redskins
New York Jets 34, Washington Redskins 19
Royster notched his first career NFL reception, catching a pass for three yards in Washington's home loss to the Jets.
Bryan Scott (1999-02), S, Buffalo Bills
Tennessee Titans 23, Buffalo Bills 17
Scott recorded two solo tackles, including one for a loss, and had one pass defensed in the Bills loss to the Titans.
Tim Shaw (2002, 2004-06), LB, Tennessee Titans
Tennessee Titans 23, Buffalo Bills 17
Shaw played but did not have a tackle, as Tennessee moved to 7-5 on the season with a win over Buffalo.
Mickey Shuler (2007-09), TE, Minnesota Vikings
Denver Broncos 35, Minnesota Vikings 32
Shuler was signed to Minnesota's practice squad on November 28. Originally a seventh-round draft choice of the Vikings, Shuler played in six games in 2010 with the Miami Dolphins.
Cameron Wake (2000, 2002-04), LB, Miami Dolphins
Miami Dolphins 34, Oakland Raiders 14
Wake registered one assisted tackle and one quarterback hit in Miami's win over Oakland.
Stefen Wisniewski (2007-10), OL, Oakland Raiders
Miami Dolphins 34, Oakland Raiders 14
Starting his 12th consecutive game at left guard, Wisniewski and the Raiders offense totaled 304 yards, including 258 through the air, in a road loss at Miami.