UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - A total of 34 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.
Saquon Barkley opened the NFL's sixth week with multiple highlight reel plays in a Thursday night game, finishing 1 receiving yard short of becoming the first Giants player with 100 or more yards rushing and receiving in the same game. Safety Jordan Lucas also shined in primetime, earning his first career start Sunday night and making a career-high 10 tackles.
Barkley's 50-yard touchdown run made him one of three Nittany Lions to score this week, as former Penn State wide receivers Chris Godwin and Allen Robinson each scored touchdowns Sunday.
Two Nittany Lions moved closer to taking the field for the first time in the NFL, as Grant Haley (Giants) and Jason Cabinda (Raiders) were signed to their team's respective active rosters Tuesday.
Marcus Allen (2014-17) S, Pittsburgh Steelers
Steelers 28, Bengals 21
Allen was inactive.
Adrian Amos (2011-14) FS, Chicago Bears
Dolphins 31, Bears 28 (OT)
Amos had nine tackles, seven of them solo stops, with a pass defended against the Dolphins in an overtime loss.
Troy Apke (2014-17) S, Washington Redskins
Redskins 23, Panthers 17
Apke was inactive for the game against the Panthers with a hamstring injury.
Saquon Barkley (2015-17) RB, New York Giants
Eagles 34, Giants 13
In a Thursday night match-up against the defending Super Bowl Champions, Barkley rushed for 130 yards and a touchdown on 13 carries, and totaled 99 yards on nine receptions. With a 50-yard touchdown run and a 55-yard reception, Barkley is the first Giants player with a 40-yard rush and 40-yard reception in the same game since Tiki Barber in Week 5 of the 2004 season.
Barkley surpassed 100 yards from scrimmage for a sixth consecutive week, joining Kareem Hunt as the only players to start their NFL careers with six-straight 100-plus yard efforts. Hunt's streak went seven weeks.
In just six games, Barkley has already set a Giants rookie running back record for season receptions with 40. The previous record of 37 had stood since 1968. Barkley is second in the league with 811 yards from scrimmage for the year, trailing Todd Gurley (870 yds).
Saeed Blacknall (2014-17) WR, Oakland Raiders
Seahawks 27, Raiders 3
Blacknall is on the Raiders practice squad.
Jason Cabinda (2014-17) LB, Oakland Raiders
Seahawks 27, Raiders 3
Cabinda was promoted from the practice squad to the Raiders' 53-man roster on Tuesday.
Curtis Cothran (2013-17) DT, Minnesota Vikings
Vikings 27, Cardinals 17
Cothran is on the Vikings practice squad.
Jack Crawford (2008-11) DE, Atlanta Falcons
Falcons 34, Buccaneers 29
Crawford started at defensive tackle for the Falcons and recorded two tackles, including a sack, and two quarterback hits in a win over the Buccaneers.
Mike Gesicki (2014-17) TE, Miami Dolphins
Dolphins 31, Bears 28 (OT)
Gesicki caught one pass for 11 yards in an overtime win over the Bears.
Garry Gilliam (2010-12) OL, San Francisco 49ers
Packers 33, 49ers 30
Gilliam saw action in Monday night's game against the Packers
Chris Godwin (2014-16) WR, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Falcons 34, Buccaneers 29
Godwin caught a season-high six passes for 56 yards and a touchdown in a loss to the Falcons.
Malik Golden (2012-16) S, Pittsburgh Steelers
Steelers 28, Bengals 21
Golden is on injured reserve with a knee injury.
Robbie Gould (2001-04) K, San Francisco 49ers
Packers 33, 49ers 30
Gould successfully converted three 40-plus yard field goals and three extra points in a Monday night loss to the Packers.
Christian Hackenberg (2013-15) QB, Cincinnati Bengals
Steelers 28, Bengals 21
Hackenberg is on the Bengals practice squad.
Grant Haley (2014-17) CB, New York Giants
Eagles 34, Giants 13
Haley was promoted from the practice squad to the Giants' 53-man roster Tuesday.
DaeSean Hamilton (2014-17) WR, Denver Broncos
Rams 23, Broncos 20
Hamilton fair caught a punt on his only return opportunity and played on 18 offensive snaps.
Gerald Hodges (2009-12) LB, Arizona Cardinals
Vikings 27, Cardinals 17
Hodges saw extensive action on special teams.
Chris Hogan (men's lacrosse - 2007-10) WR, New England Patriots
Patriots 43, Chiefs 40
Hogan had four receptions for 78 yards in Sunday night's win over the Chiefs.
Mike Hull (2011-14) LB, Miami Dolphins
Dolphins 31, Bears 28 (OT)
Hull is on injured reserve with an MCL injury.
Jesse James (2012-14) TE, Pittsburgh Steelers
Steelers 28, Bengals 21
James caught five passes for 26 yards in a win over the Bengals.
DaQuan Jones (2010-13) DE, Tennessee Titans
Ravens 21, Titans 0
Jones started at defensive end for the Titans and had a pair of tackles, including a tackle for loss.
Austin Johnson (2012-15) DL, Tennessee Titans
Ravens 21, Titans 0
Johnson started on the defensive line. He made a two tackles and had a pass defended.
Sean Lee (2005-07, 2009) MLB, Dallas Cowboys
Cowboys 40, Jaguars 7
Lee was inactive with a hamstring injury.
Jordan Lucas (2012-15) CB, Kansas City Chiefs
Patriots 43, Chiefs 40
Lucas had another productive game in the Chiefs' Sunday night battle against the Patriots, making a career-high 10 tackles and breaking up a pass in his first career start.
Brendan Mahon (2013-17) OL, Carolina Panthers
Redskins 23, Panthers 17
Mahon was inactive Sunday against the Giants.
Carl Nassib (2011-15) DE, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Falcons 34, Buccaneers 29
Nassib saw action at defensive end for the Buccaneers, making one tackle and recording a pass breakup.
Allen Robinson (2011-13) WR, Chicago Bears
Dolphins 31, Bears 28 (OT)
Robinson had 64 yards and a touchdown on five catches against the Dolphins.
A.Q. Shipley (2005-08) C, Arizona Cardinals
Vikings 27, Cardinals 17
Shipley is on injured reserve with an ACL injury and will miss the 2018 season.
Garrett Sickels (2013-16) LB, Los Angeles Rams
Rams 23, Broncos 20
Sickels is on injured reserve.
Donovan Smith (2012-13) T, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Falcons 34, Buccaneers 29
Smith started at left tackle for the Buccaneers and helped pave the way for Jameis Winston to throw for 395 yards and four touchdowns.
Nate Stupar (2008-11) LB, New York Giants
Eagles 34, Giants 13
Stupar made five total tackles (three on defense and two on special teams).
Ross Travis (men's basketball - 2011-14) TE, Indianapolis Colts
Jets 42, Colts 34
Travis is on injured reserve and will miss the season with a torn ACL.
Cameron Wake (2000, 02-04) DE, Miami Dolphins
Dolphins 31, Bears 28 (OT)
Wake was inactive with a knee injury.
Trevor Williams (2012-15) CB, Los Angeles Chargers
Chargers 38, Browns 14
Williams started at cornerback and made four solo tackles.
Stefen Wisniewski (2007-10) G/C, Philadelphia Eagles
Eagles 34, Giants 13
Wisniewski saw action on offense and special teams.
Anthony Zettel (2012-15) DL, Cleveland Browns
Chargers 38, Browns 14
Zettel appeared on the Browns' defensive line.
