Nittany Lions in the NFL: Week 9Nittany Lions in the NFL: Week 9
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Nittany Lions in the NFL: Week 9

Barkley, Gesicki each record multiple touchdowns in highlight-filled Week 9

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – A total of 47 Penn State Football alumni are populating the rosters of 24 National Football League organizations. The Nittany Lions annually rank among the top 20 programs nationally in producing players in the NFL.

Saquon Barkley recorded yet another highlight-filled game, earning NFC Offensive Player of the Week honors for the third time this season. The Philadelphia running back posted 159 rushing yards and 40 receiving yards, along with two total touchdowns in the Eagles’ win over the Jaguars. The Pennsylvania native is second in the NFL in rushing yards and rushing yards per game and is also tied for third in the league with eight total touchdowns. Nittany Lion tight ends also found the end zone in Week 9, with Mike Gesicki hauling in two touchdowns in his five-catch, 100-yard performance and rookie Theo Johnson recording his first NFL score.

Defensively, rookie linebacker Chop Robinson posted the first sack of his professional career for the Dolphins, while fellow pass rusher Arnold Ebiketie recorded his first sack of the season for Atlanta. Cardinals punter Blake Gillikin took home NFC Special Teams Player of the Week honors for his performance against the Bears, pinning Chicago inside their own 20-yard line on three occasions.

Here’s how these former Nittany Lion greats fared in Week 9 of the 2024 NFL season.

Adrian Amos (2011-13) S, San Francisco 49ers

49ers bye week

Saquon Barkley (2015-17) RB, Philadelphia Eagles

Eagles 28, Jaguars 23

  • Amassed 159 rushing yards and a touchdown on 27 carries.
  • Added 40 yards and a score through the air on three catches.
  • Earned NFC offensive player of the week honor for his outstanding performance.
  • Is second in the NFL in rushing yards (925) and rushing yards per game (115.6), and is tied for third in the league with eight total touchdowns.

Ryan Bates (2016-18) OL, Chicago Bears

Cardinals 29, Bears 9

  • Is on injured reserve.

Jaquan Brisker (2019-21) S, Chicago Bears

Cardinals 29, Bears 9

  • Was inactive.

Cam Brown (2016-19) LB, Miami Dolphins

Bills 30, Dolphins 27

  • Is on injured reserve.

Ji’Ayir Brown (2020-22) S, San Francisco 49ers

49ers bye week

Tariq Castro-Fields (2017-21) CB, Philadelphia Eagles

Eagles 28, Jaguars 23

  • Is a member of Philadelphia’s practice squad.

Dan Chisena (2015-19) WR, Carolina Panthers

Panthers 23, Saints 22

  • Chisena is a member of Carolina’s practice squad. 

Sean Clifford (2017-22) QB, Green Bay Packers

Lions 24, Packers 14

  • Is a member of Green Bay’s practice squad.

Jahan Dotson (2018-21) WR, Philadelphia Eagles

Eagles 28, Jaguars 23

  • Hauled in a 36-yard pass.

Arnold Ebiketie (2021) LB, Atlanta Falcons

Falcons 27, Cowboys 21

  • Made five tackles (3 solo), including his first sack of the season.
  • Added three quarterback hits.

Olumuyiwa Fashanu (2020-23) OL, New York Jets

Jets 21, Texans 13

  • Played 64 percent of New York’s offensive snaps on the offensive line.

Pat Freiermuth (2018-20) TE, Pittsburgh Steelers

Steelers bye week

Will Fries (2017-20) OL, Indianapolis Colts

Vikings 21, Colts 13

  • Is on injured reserve.

Mike Gesicki (2014-17) TE, Cincinnati Bengals

Bengals 41, Raiders 24

  • Posted his third 100-plus-yard game as a pro, tallying 100 yards and two touchdowns on five catches, pacing the Bengals in both receptions and scores.

Blake Gillikin (2016-19) P, Arizona Cardinals

Cardinals 29, Bears 9

  • Punted four times for 187 yards, a 46.8 yards per punt average.
  • Landed three punts inside the 20 and posted a long punt of 55 yards.
  • Won NFC Special Teams Player of the Week honors for his outstanding performance.
  • Is tenth in the NFL with a 43.2 net punting average mark.

Kevin Givens (2016-18) DT, San Francisco 49ers

49ers bye week

Chris Godwin (2014-16) WR, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Chiefs 30, Buccaneers 24

  • Is on injured reserve.
  • At the time of his season-ending injury, led the NFL in yards after catch with 350, was second in the NFL in receiving yards (576), was tied for third with five receiving touchdowns, and was sixth in yards per game (82.3).

Yetur Gross-Matos (2017-19) DE, San Francisco 49ers

49ers bye week

KJ Hamler (2017-2019) WR, Buffalo Bills

Bills 30, Dolphins 27

  • Is a member of Buffalo’s practice squad.

Daequan Hardy (2019-23) CB, Buffalo Bills

Bills 30, Dolphins 27

  • Is a member of Buffalo’s practice squad.

Adisa Isaac (2019-23) LB, Baltimore Ravens

Ravens 41, Broncos 10

  • Was inactive.

Curtis Jacobs (2020-23) LB, New England Patriots

Titans 20, Patriots 17

  • Saw action on special teams.

Austin Johnson (2013-15) DT, Buffalo Bills

Bills 30, Dolphins 27

  • Assisted on two tackles.

Theo Johnson (2020-23) TE, New York Giants

Commanders 27, Giants 22

  • Hauled in three passes for 51 yards and his first NFL touchdown.

DaQuan Jones (2010-13) DL, Buffalo Bills

Bills 30, Dolphins 27

  • Made his ninth consecutive start on the Bills’ defensive line to begin the season.

Kalen King (2021-23) CB, Green Bay Packers

Lions 24, Packers 14

  • Is a member of Green Bay’s practice squad.

Jesse Luketa (2018-21) LB, Arizona Cardinals

Cardinals 29, Bears 9

  • Recorded two solo tackles, including his first sack of the season.

Connor McGovern (2016-18) OL, Buffalo Bills

Bills 30, Dolphins 27

  • Made his ninth start of the season on Buffalo’s offensive line.

PJ Mustipher (2018-22) DL, Arizona Cardinals.

Cardinals 29, Bears 9

  • Is a member of Arizona’s practice squad.

Hunter Nourzad (2022-23) OL, Kansas City Chiefs

Chiefs 30, Buccaneers 24

  • Saw action on special teams.

Amani Oruwariye (2015-18) CB, Dallas Cowboys

Falcons 27, Cowboys 21

  • Is on injured reserve.

Odafe Oweh (2019-20) LB, Baltimore Ravens

Ravens 41, Broncos 10

  • Made three tackles (2 solo).

Micah Parsons (2018-19) LB, Dallas Cowboys

Falcons 27, Cowboys 21

  • Was inactive.

Joey Porter Jr. (2019-22) CB, Pittsburgh Steelers

Steelers bye week

Chop Robinson (2022-23) LB, Miami Dolphins

Bills 30, Dolphins 27

  • Recorded the first sack of his NFL career.

Allen Robinson II (2011-13) WR, Detroit Lions

Lions 24, Packers 14

  • Caught his first pass as a Lion.

Miles Sanders (2016-18) RB, Carolina Panthers

Panthers 23, Saints 22

  • Recorded two carries and two receptions in Carolina’s win.

Nick Scott (2015-18) S, Carolina Panthers

Panthers 23, Saints 22

  • Is on injured reserve.

Juice Scruggs (2018-22) OL, Houston Texans

Jets 21, Texans 13

  • Made his eighth start of the season and played 100 percent of Houston’s offensive snaps.

Chris Stoll (2017-22) LS, Seattle Seahawks

Rams 26, Seahawks 20

  • Serves as Seattle’s primary long snapper.

Jordan Stout (2019-21) P, Baltimore Ravens

Ravens 41, Broncos 10

  • Punted twice for 98 yards, a 49.0 yards per punt average.
  • Dropped one punt inside the 20-yard line and recorded a long punt of 58 yards.

Brenton Strange (2019-22) TE, Jacksonville Jaguars

Eagles 28, Jaguars 23

  • Saw action on offense and special teams.

Mitchell Tinsley (2022) WR, Washington Commanders

Commanders 27, Giants 22

  • Is a member of Washington’s practice squad.

Rasheed Walker (2019-21) OL, Green Bay Packers

Lions 24, Packers 14

  • Made his ninth start of the season on the offensive line.
  • Has played in every offensive snap this season for Green Bay.

Caedan Wallace (2019-23) OL, New England Patriots

Titans 20, Patriots 17

  • Is on injured reserve.

Parker Washington (2020-22) WR, Jacksonville Jaguars

Eagles 28, Jaguars 23

  • Caught three passes for 41 yards.
  • Returned one punt.

The 2024 Penn State football season is presented by PSECU.