UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - A total of 30 former Nittany Lions were active during the NFL's first week of the regular season. Penn State is 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.
Odafe Oweh (2018-20), Baltimore Ravens
Raiders 33, Ravens 27
Oweh made two tackles and notched his first career sack in an overtime loss to the Raiders.
Ryan Bates (2015-18) OT, Buffalo Bills
Steelers 23, Bills 16
Bates saw action in Buffalo's loss to Pittsburgh.
Yetur Gross-Matos (2017-19) DE, Carolina Panthers
Panthers 19, Jets 14
Gross-Matos was credited with two tackles in Carolina's win over the Jets.
DaQuon Jones (2011-13) DE, Carolina Panthers
Panthers 19, Jets 14
Jones assisted on two tackles in the Panthers win over the Jets.
Jesse James (2012-14) TE, Chicago Bears
Rams 34, Bears 14
James saw action in Chicago's season-opening loss in Los Angeles.
Connor McGovern (2018) OG, Dallas Cowboys
Buccaneers 31, Cowboys 29
McGovern started at left guard for Dallas in their season opener.
Micah Parsons (2018-20) LB, Dallas Cowboys
Buccaneers 31, Cowboys 29
Parsons recorded seven tackles in his NFL debut.
KJ Hamler (2018-19) WR, Denver Broncos
Broncos 27, Giants 13
Hamler had three catches for 41 yards in Denver's win over the Giants.
Jason Cabinda (2014-16) FB, Detroit Lions
49ers 41, Lions 33
Cabinda saw action in Detroit's loss to San Francisco.
Amani Oruwariye (2015-18) CB, Detroit Lions
49ers 41, Lions 33
Oruwariye recorded one tackle for the Lions.
Adrian Amos (2011-14) DB, Green Bay Packers
Saints 38, Packers 3
Amos notched a game-high seven tackles in Green Bay's loss to New Orleans.
Will Fries (2020) OG, Indianapolis Colts
Seahawks 28, Colts 16
Fries did not play in the Colts season opener.
Nick Bowers (2015-19) TE, Las Vegas Raiders
Raiders 33, Ravens 27
Bowers did not play in the Raiders season-opening win.
Carl Nassib (2013-15) DE, Las Vegas Raiders
Raiders 33, Ravens 27
Nassib recorded three tackles including a game-changing strip sack in Oakland's win over Baltimore.
Nick Scott (2015-18) S, Los Angeles Rams
Rams 34, Bears 14
Scott had one tackle in the Rams win over the Bears.
Mike Gesicki (2014-17) TE, Miami Dolphins
Dolphins 17, Patriots 16
Gesicki saw action in Miami's win over New England.
Blake Gillikin (2016-19) P, New Orleans Saints
Saints 38, Packers 3
Gillikin averaged 51.5 yards on his two punts with one punt inside the 20 against the Packers.
Chris Hogan (PSU lacrosse 2007-2010) WR, New Orleans Saints
Saints 38, Packers 3
Hogan had one catch for 10 yards in the Saints win over Green Bay.
Saquon Barkley (2015-17) RB, New York Giants
Broncos 27, Giants 13
Barkley tallied 26 yards on 10 carries in his first action since an injury during Week 2 of the 2020 season.
Cam Brown (2016-19) LB, New York Giants
Broncos 27, Giants 13
Brown saw action in the Giants loss to Denver.
Austin Johnson (2013-15) DT, New York Giants
Broncos 27, Giants 13
Johnson recorded five total tackles and a sack in the Giants season opener.
Miles Sanders (2016-18) RB, Philadelphia Eagles
Eagles 32, Falcons 6
Sanders tallied 74 yards on 15 carries on the ground and 39 yards on four receptions in the Eagles win over Atlanta.
Marcus Allen (2014-17) S, Pittsburgh Steelers
Steelers 23 Bills 16
Allen saw action in the Steelers win over the Bills.
Pat Freiermuth (2018-20) TE, Pittsburgh Steelers
Steelers 23, Bills 16
Freiermuth recorded his first career catch, a 24-yarder in the Steelers win over Buffalo.
Kevin Givens (2015-18) DT, San Francisco 49ers
49ers 41, Lions 33
Givens was credited with an assisted tackle in the 49ers win over the Lions.
Robbie Gould (2001-04) K, San Francisco 49ers
49ers 41, Lions 33
Gould was 2-3 on field goal attempts, converting on a 52-yarder and making all five of his extra point attempts.
Chris Godwin (2014-16) WR, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Buccaneers 31, Cowboys 29
Godwin had a team-high 9 catches with 105 yards and a touchdown in Tampa Bay's win over Dallas.
Donavan Smith (2011-14) OT, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Buccaneers 31, Cowboys 29
Smith started at left tackle in Tampa Bay's win over the Cowboys.
Troy Apke (2014-16) S, Washington Football Team
Chargers 20, Washington 16
Apke saw action in Washington's loss to the Chargers.
Shaka Toney (2017-20) DE, Washington Football Team
Chargers 20, Washington 16
Toney saw action in Washington's loss to Los Angeles.
The 2021 Penn State Football Season is presented by PSECU.
