A total of 35 Penn State football alumni are populating the rosters of 21 National Football League teams. The Nittany Lions are perennially a top-20 program in producing players in the NFL. Each week throughout the year, GoPSUsports.com provides updates on the exploits of these former Nittany Lion greats.
Highlights included Saquon Barkley earning his first NFL win with the Giants, as he totaled 117 yards from scrimmage with a rushing touchdown. Fellow rookie Mike Gesicki (Dolphins) had a career day with three catches for 31 yards, including a 19-yard reception, while second-year receiver Chris Godwin hauled in a touchdown reception for a fourth consecutive game.
Cameron Wake led the veteran former Nittany Lions as a force on defense for Dolphins, as he recorded three tackles, one sack and two quarterback hurries.
Additionally, kicker Sam Ficken saw his first NFL action since the end of the 2017 season with his season debut with the Los Angeles Rams.
Marcus Allen (2014-17) S, Pittsburgh Steelers
Steelers 30, Buccaneers 27
Allen was listed as inactive Monday night.
Adrian Amos (2011-14) FS, Chicago Bears
Bears 16, Cardinals 14
Amos started at safety for the Bears and made five tackles (four solo) in a win over the Cardinals.
Troy Apke (2014-17) S, Washington Redskins
Redskins 31, Packers 17
Apke was inactive against the Packers with an injury.
Saquon Barkley (2015-17) RB, New York Giants
Giants 27, Texans 22
Barkley started for the Giants in his first NFL win and gained 82 yards on 17 carries with a touchdown. Barkley also had five receptions for 35 yards, including a flashy catch over a Texans defender. He is the only player in the NFL with at least 100 yards from scrimmage in each of the first three weeks.
Saeed Blacknall (2014-17) WR, Oakland Raiders
Dolphins 28, Raiders 20
Blacknall is on the Raiders practice squad.
Jason Cabinda (2014-17) LB, Oakland Raiders
Dolphins 28, Raiders 20
Cabinda is on the Raiders practice squad.
Curtis Cothran (2013-17) DT, Minnesota Vikings
Bills 27, Vikings 6
Cothran is on the Vikings practice squad.
Jack Crawford (2008-11) DE, Atlanta Falcons
Falcons 31, Panthers 24
Crawford saw time for the Falcons and recorded one tackle.
Sam Ficken (2011-14) K, Los Angeles Rams
Rams 35, Chargers 23
Ficken connected on all five extra points in his season debut with the Rams.
Mike Gesicki (2014-17) TE, Miami Dolphins
Dolphins 28, Raiders 20
Gesicki recorded a career-high three catches for 31 yards, including a career-long of 19 yards.
Garry Gilliam (2010-12) T, San Francisco 49ers
Chiefs 38, 49ers 27
Gilliam saw action on special teams in the 49ers loss against the Chiefs.
Chris Godwin (2014-16) WR, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Steelers 30, Buccaneers 27
Godwin matched his season high with five receptions, totaled a season-high 74 yards and extended his touchdown reception streak to four games in a Monday night loss to the Steelers. His touchdown reception came in the fourth quarter as Tampa Bay attempted to erase a 20-point deficit. Godwin had a 56-yard touchdown catch overturned after it was ruled he was down by contact.
Malik Golden (2012-16) S, Pittsburgh Steelers
Steelers 30, Buccaneers 27
Golden is on injured reserve with a knee injury.
Robbie Gould (2001-04) K, San Francisco 49ers
Chiefs 38, 49ers 27
Following his NFL Special Teams Player of the Week honors last week, Gould converted on two field goals from 39 and 35 yards each, respectively.
Christian Hackenberg (2013-15) QB, Cincinnati Bengals
Panthers 31, Bengals 21
Hackenberg is on the Bengals practice squad.
Grant Haley (2014-17) CB, New York Giants
Giants 27, Texans 22
Haley is on the Giants practice squad.
DaeSean Hamilton (2014-17) WR, Denver Broncos
Ravens 27, Broncos 14
Hamilton returned three punts for 31 yards.
Gerald Hodges (2009-12) LB, Arizona Cardinals
Bears 16, Cardinals 14
Hodges started for the Cardinals at linebacker and recorded seven total tackles (five solo), one tackle for loss and a quarterback hurry.
Chris Hogan (men's lacrosse - 2007-10) WR, New England Patriots
Lions 26, Patriots 10
Hogan started and had three receptions for 31 yards in the Patriots loss.
Mike Hull (2011-14) LB, Miami Dolphins
Dolphins 28, Raiders 20
Hull is on injured reserve with an MCL injury.
Jesse James (2012-14) TE, Pittsburgh Steelers
Steelers 30, Buccaneers 27
James caught one pass for 7 yards in a Monday night win over the Buccaneers.
DaQuan Jones (2010-13) DE, Tennessee Titans
Titans 9, Jacksonville 6
Jones started at defensive end and helped his defense hold Jacksonville to only two field goals.
Austin Johnson (2012-15) DL, Tennessee Titans
Titans 9, Jacksonville 6
Johnson started at defensive tackle in the Titans' win over Jacksonville.
Sean Lee (2005-07, 2009) MLB, Dallas Cowboys
Seahawks 24, Cowboys 13
Lee started for the Cowboys and recorded 11 total tackles, assisted on a sack and a tackle for loss in the loss against the Seahawks.
Jordan Lucas (2012-15) CB, Kanas City Chiefs
Chiefs 38, 49ers 27
Lucas saw extensive action on special teams in the Chiefs win over the 49ers.
Brendan Mahon (2013-17) OL, Carolina Panthers
Panthers 31, Bengals 21
Mahon saw playing time on special teams in a win over the Bengals.
Carl Nassib (2011-15) DE, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Steelers 30, Buccaneers 27
Nassib assisted on a tackle for loss on Monday night against the Steelers.
Allen Robinson (2011-13) WR, Chicago Bears
Bears 16, Cardinals 14
Robinson started for the Bears in their win over the Cardinals while recording three catches for 50 yards, including a game-long 39-yard reception.
A.Q. Shipley (2005-08) C, Arizona Cardinals
Bears 16, Cardinals 14
Shipley is on injured reserve with an ACL injury and will miss the 2018 season.
Garrett Sickels (2013-16) LB, Los Angeles Rams
Rams 35, Chargers 23
Sickels is on injured reserve.
Donovan Smith (2012-13) T, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Steelers 30, Buccaneers 27
Smith started at left tackle on Monday night, extending his games-started streak to all 51 games of his NFL career.
Nate Stupar (2008-11) LB, New York Giants
Giants 27, Texans 22
Stupar recorded one tackle on special teams.
Ross Travis (men's basketball - 2011-14) TE, Indianapolis Colts
Eagles 20, Colts 16
Travis is on injured reserve and will miss the season with a torn ACL.
Cameron Wake (2000, 02-04) DE, Miami Dolphins
Dolphins 28, Raiders 20
Wake started at defensive end and had a productive day for the Dolphins with three tackles, one sack and two quarterback hurries.
Trevor Williams (2012-15) CB, Los Angeles Chargers
Rams 35, Chargers 23
Williams started at cornerback for the Chargers and recorded two solo tackles.
Stefen Wisniewski (2007-10) G/C, Philadelphia Eagles
Eagles 20, Colts 16
Wisniewski started at left guard and protected quarterback Carson Wentz in his return from an ACL injury last season.
Anthony Zettel (2012-15) DL, Cleveland Browns
Browns 21, Jets 17
Zettel saw playing time on defense and special teams in the Browns first win since 2016.
