Nittany Lions in the NFL: Week 16Nittany Lions in the NFL: Week 16
AP

Nittany Lions in the NFL: Week 16

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. –  A total of 39 Penn State alums are populating the rosters of 24 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.
 
Nittany Lions in the NFL Notables:

  • Mike Gesicki is sixth among NFL tight ends in receiving yardage (46.9) this season and is tied for eighth in touchdowns (8).
  • Chris Godwin is averaging 81.6 receiving yards per game since the start of the 2019 season, good for seventh in the NFL. He also owns a 73.7% catch percentage since the start of the 2019 season, good for third in the NFL behind Michael Thomas (78.8) and Tyler Lockett (74.6).
  • Allen Robinson is tied for fifth in the NFL with 100 receptions this season and is ninth in yardage (1,213).
  • Miles Sanders is third among NFL running backs in rushing yards per attempt (5.3) and fourth among NFL players in scrimmage yards per attempt (5.5).


Entering Week 17, 25 Penn State alums are on rosters of teams that have clinched or are still alive in the playoff race.
 
Marcus Allen (2014-17) LB, Pittsburgh Steelers
Steelers 28, Colts 24
Allen was inactive.
 
Adrian Amos (2011-14) S, Green Bay Packers
Packers 40, Titans 14
Amos made five tackles and defended a pass.
 
Troy Apke (2014-17) S, Washington Football Team
Panthers 20, Football Team 13
Apke assisted on a special teams tackle.
 
Saquon Barkley (2015-17) RB, New York Giants
Ravens 27, Giants 13
Barkley is out for the season due to a torn ACL.
 
Ryan Bates (2015-18) OT, Buffalo Bills
Bills 38, Patriots 9
Bates saw 14 snaps in the win.
 
Nick Bowers (2015-19) TE, Las Vegas Raiders
Dolphins 26, Raiders 25
Bowers is on the Raiders practice squad.
 
Cam Brown (2016-19) LB, New York Giants
Ravens 27, Giants 13
Brown made three solo stops.
 
Jason Cabinda (2014-17) FB, Detroit Lions
Buccaneers 47, Lions 7
Cabinda saw action at fullback and made a special teams tackle.
 
Dan Chisena (2015, 18-19) WR, Minnesota Vikings
Saints 52, Vikings 33
Chisena made a special teams tackle.
 
Jack Crawford (2008-11) DT, Tennessee Titans
Packers 40, Titans 14
Crawford started and made three tackles.  
 


Sam Ficken (2011-14) K, New York Jets
Jets 23, Browns 16
Ficken made a 34-yard field goal.
 
Mike Gesicki (2014-17) TE, Miami Dolphins
Dolphins 26, Raiders 25
Gesicki made four grabs for 54 yards.
 
Blake Gillikin (2016-19) P, New Orleans Saints
Saints 52, Vikings 33
Gillikin is on the injured reserve list.
 
Kevin Givens (2015-18) DT, San Francisco 49ers
49ers 20, Cardinals 12
Givens saw action in the win over the Cardinals.  
 
Chris Godwin (2014-16) WR, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Buccaneers 47, Lions 7
Godwin made five receptions for 84 yards and a grabbed a 7-yard touchdown.  
 


Robbie Gould (2001-04) K, San Francisco 49ers
49ers 20, Cardinals 12
Gould made two extra points in the win.
 
Yetur Gross-Matos (2017-19) DE, Carolina Panthers
Panthers 20, Football Team 13
Gross-Matos tallied a six-yard sack.
 


Grant Haley (2014-17) CB, New Orleans Saints
Saints 52, Vikings 33
Haley is on the Saints practice squad.
 
DaeSean Hamilton (2014-17) WR, Denver Broncos
Chargers 19, Broncos 16
Hamilton made five receptions for 77 yards.
 


KJ Hamler (2017-19) WR, Denver Broncos
Chargers 19, Broncos 16
Hamler had a three-yard rush and exited due to injury.
 
Jesse James (2012-14) TE, Detroit Lions
Buccaneers 47, Lions 7
James saw action vs. Tampa Bay and was targeted once.
 
Austin Johnson (2012-15) NT, New York Giants 
Ravens 27, Giants 13
Johnson assisted on two tackles.
 
DaQuan Jones (2010-13) DE, Tennessee Titans 
Packers 40, Titans 14
Jones made a solo tackle.
 
Sean Lee (2005-07, 2009) OLB, Dallas Cowboys
Cowboys 37, Eagles 17
Lee made four tackles.
 
Jordan Lucas (2012-15) SS, Chicago Bears
Bears 41, Jaguars 17
Lucas opted out of the 2020 season due to Covid-19.
 
Connor McGovern (2016-18) OG, Dallas Cowboys
Cowboys 37, Eagles 17
McGovern started at right guard for the Cowboys.
 
Trace McSorley (2014-18) QB, Baltimore Ravens
Ravens 27, Giants 13
McSorley is on injured reserve.  
 
Carl Nassib (2011-15) DE, Las Vegas Raiders
Dolphins 26, Raiders 25
Nassib made one sack and two total tackles.
 
Amani Oruwariye (2014-18) CB, Detroit Lions
Buccaneers 47, Lions 7
Oruwariye made four tackles.
 
John Reid (2015-19) CB, Houston Texans
Bengals 37, Texans 31
Reid made four tackles and defended a pass.
 
Allen Robinson II (2011-13) WR, Chicago Bears
Bears 41, Jaguars 17
Robinson tallied 10 receptions for 103 yards.
 


Miles Sanders (2016-18) RB, Philadelphia Eagles
Cowboys 37, Eagles 17
Sanders ran for 57 yards and a touchdown, while adding four receptions for 27 yards.
 


Nick Scott (2014-18) S, Los Angeles Rams
Seahawks 20, Rams 9
Scott made a solo tackle.  
 
A.Q. Shipley (2005-08) C, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Buccaneers 47, Lions 7
Shipley is out for the season with an inury.
 
Donovan Smith (2012-13) OT, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Buccaneers 47, Lions 7
Smith started at left tackle.
 
Ross Travis (men's basketball - 2011-14) TE, New York Jets
Jets 23, Browns 16
Travis was inactive.
 
Robert Windsor (2015-19) DT, Indianapolis Colts
Steelers 28, Colts 24
Windsor is on the Colts practice squad.
 
Stefen Wisniewski (2007-10) OG, Kansas City Chiefs
Chiefs 32, Saints 29
Wisniewski saw action in the win over the Falcons.
 
Anthony Zettel (2012-15) DE, New Orleans Saints
Saints 52, Vikings 33
Zettel is on the Saints practice squad.