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.
Penn State rookies stood out in Week 7. Tight end Mike Gesicki totaled a career-high 44 receiving yards in increased action for the Dolphins. Running back Saquon Barkley scored a touchdown and converted a two-point conversion for the Giants but came up 6 yards short of extending his streak of games with 100-plus yards from scrimmage. Barkley was joined by Nittany Lion teammate Grant Haley Monday night, as Haley made his NFL debut.
Additionally, two veterans returned from injury as Sean Lee returned to the field for the Cowboys and Cameron Wake returned for the Dolphins.
Marcus Allen (2014-17) S, Pittsburgh Steelers
Bye Week
Adrian Amos (2011-14) FS, Chicago Bears
Patriots 38, Bears 31
Amos had four tackles, all of them solo stops, with a pass defended against the Patriots.
Troy Apke (2014-17) S, Washington Redskins
Redskins 20, Cowboys 17
Apke was inactive for the game against the Cowboys with a hamstring injury.
Saquon Barkley (2015-17) RB, New York Giants
Falcons 23, Giants 20
Playing on Monday night, Barkley rushed for 43 yards and a touchdown and caught nine passes for 51 yards. It was the first time in his pro career that he was held to less than 100 yards from scrimmage.
Barkley is second in the league with 905 yards from scrimmage for the year, trailing Todd Gurley (956 yds).
Saeed Blacknall (2014-17) WR, Oakland Raiders
Bye Week
Blacknall is on the Raiders practice squad.
Jason Cabinda (2014-17) LB, Oakland Raiders
Bye Week
Curtis Cothran (2013-17) DT, Minnesota Vikings
Vikings 37, Jets 17
Cothran is on the Vikings practice squad.
Jack Crawford (2008-11) DE, Atlanta Falcons
Falcons 23, Giants 20
Crawford started at defensive tackle for the Falcons and recorded a sack and two tackles.
Mike Gesicki (2014-17) TE, Miami Dolphins
Lions 32, Dolphins 21
Gesicki matched his career high with three receptions for a career-high 44 yards in a loss against the Lions.
Garry Gilliam (2010-12) OL, San Francisco 49ers
Rams 39, 49ers 10
Gilliam saw action on special teams.
Chris Godwin (2014-16) WR, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Buccaneers 26, Browns 23 (OT)
Godwin caught five passes for 59 yards in an overtime win over the Browns.
Malik Golden (2012-16) S, Pittsburgh Steelers
Bye Week
Golden is on injured reserve with a knee injury.
Robbie Gould (2001-04) K, San Francisco 49ers
Rams 39, 49ers 10
Gould successfully converted a 51-yard field goal and an extra point in a loss to the Rams.
Christian Hackenberg (2013-15) QB, Cincinnati Bengals
Chiefs 45, Bengals 10
Hackenberg is on the Bengals practice squad.
Grant Haley (2014-17) CB, New York Giants
Falcons 23, Giants 20
Haley made his NFL debut, seeing action on defense and special teams.
DaeSean Hamilton (2014-17) WR, Denver Broncos
Broncos 45, Cardinals 10
Hamilton fair caught a punt, but was injured on the play.
Gerald Hodges (2009-12) LB, Arizona Cardinals
Broncos 45, Cardinals 17
Hodges saw action on special teams.
Chris Hogan (men's lacrosse - 2007-10) WR, New England Patriots
Patriots 38, Bears 31
Hogan had six receptions for 63 yards in a win over the Bears.
Mike Hull (2011-14) LB, Miami Dolphins
Lions 32, Dolphins 21
Hull is on injured reserve with an MCL injury.
Jesse James (2012-14) TE, Pittsburgh Steelers
Bye
DaQuan Jones (2010-13) DE, Tennessee Titans
Chargers 20, Titans 19
Jones started at defensive end for the Titans and had three tackles, including a tackle for loss.
Austin Johnson (2012-15) DL, Tennessee Titans
Chargers 20, Titans 19
Johnson started on the defensive line and made one tackle.
Sean Lee (2005-07, 2009) MLB, Dallas Cowboys
Redskins 20, Cowboys 17
Lee started and made six tackles as he returned from injury.
Jordan Lucas (2012-15) CB, Kansas City Chiefs
Chiefs 45, Bengals 10
Lucas made his second career start at safety and made three tackles.
Brendan Mahon (2013-17) OL, Carolina Panthers
Panthers 21, Eagles 17
Mahon was listed as inactive Sunday against the Giants.
Carl Nassib (2011-15) DE, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Browns 23, Buccaneers 26 (OT)
Nassib saw action at defensive end for the Buccaneers, making two sacks.
Allen Robinson (2011-13) WR, Chicago Bears
Patriots 38, Bears 31
Robinson had one reception for 4 yards.
A.Q. Shipley (2005-08) C, Arizona Cardinals
Broncos 45, 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 39, 49ers 10
Sickels is on injured reserve.
Donovan Smith (2012-13) T, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Buccaneers 26, Browns 23
Smith started at left tackle for the Buccaneers and protected Jameis Winston as he threw for 365 yards. Smith has started all 54 consecutive games of his career.
Nate Stupar (2008-11) LB, New York Giants
Eagles 34, Giants 13
Stupar saw action on special teams and defense.
Ross Travis (men's basketball - 2011-14) TE, Indianapolis Colts
Colts 37, Bills 5
Travis is on injured reserve and will miss the season with a torn ACL.
Cameron Wake (2000, 02-04) DE, Miami Dolphins
Lions 32, Dolphins 21
Wake returned from injury to start at defensive end for the Dolphins.
Trevor Williams (2012-15) CB, Los Angeles Chargers
Chargers 20, Titans 19
Williams started at cornerback and made one solo tackle.
Stefen Wisniewski (2007-10) G/C, Philadelphia Eagles
Panthers 21, Eagles 17
Wisniewski saw action on special teams.
Anthony Zettel (2012-15) DL, Cleveland Browns
Buccaneers 26, Browns 23
Zettel appeared on the Browns' defensive line.
