Nittany Lions in the NFL - Week 4Nittany Lions in the NFL - Week 4
Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Nittany Lions in the NFL - Week 4

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - A total of 42 Penn State alums are populating the rosters of 23 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's defense has been among the nation's sack leaders in recent years, and it showed in Week 4 in the NFL with sacks and forced fumbles being a common thread for two former Nittany Lion No. 99's. Yetur Gross-Matos (Panthers) made a key play in the third quarter against the Cardinals by sacking and forcing a fumble from quarterback Kyler Murray, which later led to a Panthers touchdown. It was the first sack and forced fumble of his career. Additionally, Austin Johnson (Giants) forced a Rams fumble – the first of his career - and later sacked quarterback Jared Goff for a loss of 8 yards.
 
Former Nittany Lions also continued to pile up points. Wide receiver Allen Robinson (Bears) stood out with seven receptions for 101 yards, including a 16-yard jump and catch in the end zone for a Bears touchdown in the final minutes of the fourth quarter. Offensive tackle Donovan Smith (Buccaneers) cleared the way as Tampa Bay totaled 484 yards of offense and 38 points in a win over the Chargers. Then on special teams, kicker Sam Ficken (Jets) had an impressive Thursday night, going 5-for-5 on field goals with a career long-tying boot of 54 yards.
 
Additional alum firsts included Jason Cabinda's (Lions) first career reception and Dan Chisena's (Vikings) first fumble recovery.
 
Marcus Allen (2014-17) LB, Pittsburgh Steelers
Game Postponed
 
Adrian Amos (2011-14) S, Green Bay Packers
Packers 30, Falcons 16
Amos made four solo tackles, tallied a quarterback hit and broke up a pass in a Monday night win over the Falcons.
 
Troy Apke (2014-17) S, Washington Football Team
Ravens 31, Washington 17
Apke started and had two tackles and a pass break-up.
 
Saquon Barkley (2015-17) RB, New York Giants
Rams 17, Giants 9
Barkley is out for the season due to a torn ACL.
 
Ryan Bates (2015-18) OT, Buffalo Bills
Bills 30, Raiders 23
Bates saw action on offense and special teams.
 
Nick Bowers (2015-19) TE, Las Vegas Raiders
Bills 30, Raiders 23
Bowers is on the Raiders practice squad.
 
Cam Brown (2016-19) LB, New York Giants
Rams 17, Giants 9
Brown saw extensive action on special teams.
 
Jason Cabinda (2014-17) FB, Detroit Lions
Saints 35, Lions 29
Cabinda made his first career reception, catching a Mathew Stafford pass for 4 yards.
 
Dan Chisena (2015, 18-19) WR, Minnesota Vikings
Vikings 31, Texans 23
Chisena made his first career fumble recovery late in the first quarter, falling on a loose ball on a punt return to bring the Vikings right back onto the field for a field goal drive.


Jack Crawford (2008-11) DT, Tennessee Titans
Game Postponed
 
Sam Ficken (2011-14) K, New York Jets
Broncos 37, Jets 28
Ficken converted an extra point and all five field goal attempts, including a season-long kick of 54 yards.


Mike Gesicki (2014-17) TE, Miami Dolphins
Seahawks 31, Dolphins 23
Gesicki recorded one grab for 15 yards.
 
Blake Gillikin (2016-19) P, New Orleans Saints
Saints 35, Lions 29
Gillikin is on the injured reserve list due to a back injury.
 
Kevin Givens (2015-18) DT, San Francisco 49ers
Eagles 25, 49ers 20
Givens recorded one solo tackle, dropping former teammate Miles Sanders for a 3-yard loss.
 
Chris Godwin (2014-16) WR, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Buccaneers 38, Chargers 31
Godwin was out with a hamstring injury.
 
Robbie Gould (2001-04) K, San Francisco 49ers
Eagles 25, 49ers 20
Gould successfully converted two extra points.

Yetur Gross-Matos (2017-19) DE, Carolina Panthers
Panthers 31, Cardinals 21
Gross-Matos made three solo tackles, including a strip sack for his first career sack and forced fumble.


Grant Haley (2014-17) CB, New Orleans Saints
Saints 35, Lions 29
Haley is on the Saints practice squad.
 
DaeSean Hamilton (2014-17) WR, Denver Broncos
Broncos 37, Jets 28
Hamilton had one reception for 9 yards.
 
KJ Hamler (2017-19) WR, Denver Broncos
Broncos 37, Jets 28
Hamler started at wide receiver.
 
Chris Hogan (men's lacrosse - 2007-10) WR, New York Jets
Broncos 37, Jets 28
Hogan started for the Jets and had four receptions for 23 yards.
 
Jesse James (2012-14) TE, Detroit Lions
Saints 35, Lions 29
James had one reception for 31 yards.


Austin Johnson (2012-15) NT, New York Giants 
Rams 17, Giants 9
Johnson made two tackles, forcing a fumble on the first and recording a sack on the second. It was his first career forced fumble and third career full sack.


DaQuan Jones (2010-13) DE, Tennessee Titans 
Game Postponed
 
Sean Lee (2005-07, 2009) OLB, Dallas Cowboys
Browns 49, Cowboys 38
Lee is on injured reserve.
 
Jordan Lucas (2012-15) SS, Chicago Bears
Colts 19, Bears 11
Lucas has opted out of the 2020 season due to Covid-19.
 
Connor McGovern (2016-18) OG, Dallas Cowboys
Browns 49, Cowboys 38
McGovern saw limited action on special teams.
 
Trace McSorley (2014-18) QB, Baltimore Ravens
Ravens 31, Washington 17
McSorley was inactive against Washington.
 
Carl Nassib (2011-15) DE, Las Vegas Raiders
Bills 30, Raiders 23
Nassib made two tackles and recorded a quarterback hit.
 
Amani Oruwariye (2014-18) CB, Detroit Lions
Saints 35, Lions 29
Oruwariye started against the Saints, made two solo tackles and broke up a pass.
 
John Reid (2015-19) CB, Houston Texans
Vikings 31, Texans 23
Reid saw action on defense and special teams.
 
Allen Robinson II (2011-13) WR, Chicago Bears
Colts 19, Bears 11
Robinson led the Bears in receiving with 101 yards on seven receptions and a touchdown for his second-straight 100-yard game. He ranks ninth in the league with 331 receiving yards.


Miles Sanders (2016-18) RB, Philadelphia Eagles
Eagles 25, 49ers 20
Sanders recorded 13 carries for 46 yards and had two receptions for 30 yards.
 
Nick Scott (2014-18) S, Los Angeles Rams
Rams 17, Giants 9
Scott saw action on special teams.
 
A.Q. Shipley (2005-08) C, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Buccaneers 38, Chargers 31
Shipley was active, but did not play in Week 4 against the Chargers.
 
Donovan Smith (2012-13) OT, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Buccaneers 38, Chargers 31
Smith started and helped the Bucs total 484 yards of total offense, as he led an o-line that did not allow a sack on 46 passing attempts, which allowed Tom Brady to throw for 369 yards and five touchdowns.
 
Ross Travis (men's basketball - 2011-14) TE, New York Jets
Broncos 37, Jets 28
Travis is on the Jets practice squad.
 
Trevor Williams (2012-15) CB, Philadelphia Eagles
Eagles 25, 49ers 20
Williams was placed on injured reserve Saturday with a rib injury.
 
Robert Windsor (2015-19) DT, Indianapolis Colts
Colts 19, Bears 11
Windsor is on the Colts practice squad.
 
Stefen Wisniewski (2007-10) OG, Pittsburgh Steelers
Game Postponed
 
Anthony Zettel (2012-15) DE, New Orleans Saints
Saints 35, Lions 29
Zettel is on the Saints practice squad.