Sept. 20, 2017
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - A total of 28 Penn State football alumni are populating the active rosters of 20 National Football League teams. The Nittany Lions annually are among the top 20 programs nationally in producing players in the NFL. Each week throughout the year, GoPSUsports.com has provided updates on the exploits of these former Nittany Lion greats.
Multiple former Penn State middle linebackers had noteworthy performances in Week 2 of the season, highlighted by Mike Hull, and former Nittany Lion wide receiver Chris Godwin made his NFL debut for the Buccaneers in their season opener.
Hull started for the Dolphins in their opener and played every defensive snap in a win over the Chargers, making a career-high 10 tackles. Out on the West Coast, Navorro Bowman had a game-high 10 tackles for a 49ers defense that held the Seahawks to 12 points, but three Robbie Gould field goals were all they could muster offensively. Additionally, Sean Lee posted nine combined tackles for Dallas to move up to a tie for 12th in the league in the category.
Adrian Amos (2011-14) FS, Chicago Bears
Buccaneers 29, Bears 7
Amos saw action on special teams in the loss to the Buccaneers.
Brandon Bell (2013-16) LB, Cincinnati Bengals
Texans 13, Bengals 9
Bell is on the Bengals practice squad.
Navorro Bowman (2007-09) LB, San Francisco 49ers
Seahawks 12, 49ers 9
Bowman started the game for the 49ers and had a game-high 10 tackles, including a tackle for a loss.
Kyle Carter (2012-15) TE, Minnesota Vikings
Steelers 26, Vikings 9
Carter is on the Vikings practice squad.
Jack Crawford (2008-11) DE, Atlanta Falcons
Falcons 34, Packers 23
Crawford saw action against the Packers and had two tackles and a quarterback hit in a win over the Packers.
Garry Gilliam (2010-12) T, San Francisco 49ers
Seahawks 12, 49ers 9
Gilliam saw action on special teams against the Seahawks.
Chris Godwin (2014-16) WR, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Buccaneers 29, Bears 7
Godwin made his NFL debut in the Buccaneers opener. He was targeted twice and saw action on special teams in the victory over the Bears.
Robbie Gould (2001-04) K, San Francisco 49ers
Seahawks 12, 49ers 9
Gould converted all three field goal attempts (40, 37 and 34 yards) to account for all nine points for the 49ers.
Christian Hackenberg (2013-15) QB, New York Jets
Raiders 45, Jets 20
Hackenberg was inactive this week.
Tamba Hali (2002-05) LB, Kansas City Chiefs
Chiefs 27, Eagles 20
Hali is on the physically-unable-to-perform (PUP) list.
Jordan Hill (2009-12) DT, Detroit Lions
Lions 24, Giants 10
Hill is on injured reserve.
Chris Hogan (men's lacrosse - 2007-10) WR, New England Patriots
Patriots 36, Saints 20
Hogan started for the Patriots and caught five passes for 78 yards, including a 13-yard touchdown in a win over the Saints.
Mike Hull (2011-14) LB, Miami Dolphins
Dolphins 19, Chargers 17
Hull made his second career start for the Dolphins at middle linebacker and totaled 10 tackles, including one tackle for a loss, in a victory over the Chargers.
Jesse James (2012-14) TE, Pittsburgh Steelers
Steelers 26, Vikings 9
James started at tight end for the Steelers and had four receptions for 27 yards.
DaQuan Jones (2010-13) DE, Tennessee Titans
Titans 37, Jaguars 16
Jones made his 35th consecutive regular season start at defensive end for the Titans and had one tackle on the day.
Austin Johnson (2012-15) DT, Tennessee Titans
Titans 37, Jaguars 16
Johnson played on 23 snaps in a win over the Jaguars.
Sean Lee (2005-07, 2009) MLB, Dallas Cowboys
Broncos 42, Cowboys 17
Lee started for the Cowboys and had nine tackles, including a tackle for a loss. Lee ranks tied for 12th in the NFL with 17 combined tackles.
Jordan Lucas (2012-15) CB, Miami Dolphins
Dolphins 19, Chargers 17
Lucas is on the Dolphins practice squad.
Carl Nassib (2011-15) DE, Cleveland Browns
Ravens 24, Browns 10
Nassib started at defensive end for the Browns and had one tackle for a loss in the fourth quarter.
Paul Posluszny (2003-06) LB, Jacksonville Jaguars
Titans 37, Jaguars 16
Posluszny started the game for the Jaguars and had five combined tackles, including one for a loss.
Allen Robinson (2011-13) WR, Jacksonville Jaguars
Titans 37, Jaguars 16
Robinson is on injured reserve with an ACL injury to his left knee and will miss the remainder of the season.
Evan Schwan (2013-16) DE, New York Giants
Cowboys 19, Giants 3
Schwan is on injured reserve with a broken foot.
A.Q. Shipley (2005-08) C, Arizona Cardinals
Cardinals 16, Colts 13
Shipley started at center and anchored an offensive line that paved the way for Carson Palmer to throw for 332 yards and a touchdown in the victory over the Colts.
Donovan Smith (2012-13) OT, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Buccaneers 29, Bears 7
Smith started at left tackle. He has started all 33 games of his NFL career.
Nate Stupar (2008-11) LB, New Orleans Saints
Patriots 36, Saints 20
Stupar saw action at linebacker in the loss to the Patriots, making his 2017 season debut after sitting out the first week with a hamstring injury.
Ross Travis (men's basketball - 2011-14) TE, Kansas City Chiefs
Chiefs 27, Eagles 20
Travis saw action at tight end in the home win over the Eagles.
Cameron Wake (2000, 02-04) DE, Miami Dolphins
Dolphins 19, Chargers 17
Wake started in the Dolphins season opener and had two tackles in the victory.
Trevor Williams (2012-15) CB, Los Angeles Chargers
Dolphins 19, Chargers 17
Williams started at cornerback and recorded five combined tackles, including one TFL. He also had a pair of passes defended in the loss to the Dolphins.
Stefen Wisniewski (2007-10) G/C, Philadelphia Eagles
Chiefs 27, Eagles 20
Wisniewski saw action on special teams in a loss to the Chiefs.
Anthony Zettel, 2012-2015, DL, Detroit Lions
Lions 24, Giants 10
Zettel made his second career start for the Lions and was in on four tackles in a Monday night win over the Giants.