UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – Week One in the National Football League saw 45 Penn State Football alums populate the rosters of 24 National Football League organizations.
Three Nittany Lions from the 2024 squad made their professional debuts in week one. New York Giants’ first-round selection Abdul Carter recorded three tackles and a half-sack. Indianapolis’ first-round selection Tyler Warren started at tight end and led the Colts with seven receptions in their win over Miami. Finally, Minnesota’s sixth-round selection Kobe King played 16 snaps in the Vikings’ win over Chicago.
Some veteran former Nittany Lions also had strong performances. Micah Parsons earned a sack in his first game with the Packers, Arnold Ebiketie had five total tackles (including one for loss) with Atlanta and Saquon Barkley finished with a combined 84 yards (and a rushing touchdown) in Philadelphia’s win.
Here’s how all 45 former Nittany Lions fared in week one:
Saquon Barkley, RB (2015-17), Philadelphia Eagles
Eagles 24, Cowboys 20
- Second season with Philadelphia (eighth in the NFL)
- Had 18 carries for 60 yards and a 10-yard touchdown run.
- Added four catches for 24 yards.
Ryan Bates, OL (2016-18), Chicago Bears
Vikings 27, Bears 24
- Second season with Chicago (seventh in the NFL)
- Recorded five snaps, all on special teams
Jaquan Brisker, S (2019-21), Chicago Bears
Vikings 27, Bears 24
- Fourth season with Chicago (fourth in the NFL)
- Recorded five tackles, including four solo
- Played 61 snaps, including five on special teams
Ji’Ayir Brown, S (2020-22), San Francisco 49ers
49ers 17, Seahawks 13
- Third season with San Francisco (third in the NFL)
- Played two total snaps
Abdul Carter, LB (2022-24), New York Giants
Commanders 21, Giants 6
- First season with the New York Giants (first in the NFL)
- Made NFL debut, recording 38 defensive snaps
- Had three total tackles, one solo tackle
- Recorded a half-sack
Tariq Castro-Fields, CB (2017-21) - Philadelphia Eagles
Eagles 24, Cowboys 20
- Second season with Philadelphia (fourth in the NFL)
- On injured reserve
Jahan Dotson, WR (2018-21), Philadelphia Eagles
Eagles 24, Cowboys 20
- Second season with Philadelphia (fourth in the NFL)
- Recorded 29 offensive snaps
- Caught three passes on three targets for 59 yards, including a 51-yard reception
Arnold Ebiketie, LB (2021), Atlanta Falcons
Buccaneers 23, Falcons 20
- Fourth season with Atlanta (fourth in the NFL)
- Played 25 defensive snaps
- Five total tackles, three solo tackles
- One tackle for loss
Olumuyiwa Fashanu, OL (2020-23), New York Jets
Steelers 34, Jets 32
- Second season with the New York Jets (second in the NFL)
- Started at left tackle, not penalized
Pat Freiermuth, TE (2018-20), Pittsburgh Steelers
Steelers 34, Jets 32
- Fifth season with Pittsburgh (fifth in the NFL)
- 28 offensive snaps
- 3 catches on three targets for 28 yards
Will Fries, OL (2017-20), Minnesota Vikings
Vikings 27, Bears 24
- First season with Minnesota (fifth in the NFL)
- Started at guard, played 76 offensive snaps
Mike Gesicki, TE (2014-17), Cincinnati Bengals
Bengals 17, Browns 16
- Second season with Cincinnati (seventh in the NFL)
- Played 16 offensive snaps
- One catch on three targets for 14 yards
Blake Gillikin, P (2016-19), Arizona Cardinals
Cardinals 20, Saints 13
- Third season with Arizona (sixth in the NFL)
- Punted four times, average of 47 yards
- One punt inside the 20
- Longest punt of 60 yards
Kevin Givens, DT (2016-18), San Francisco 49ers
49ers 17, Seahawks 13
- Sixth season with San Francisco (sixth in the NFL)
- On injured reserve
Chris Godwin, WR (2014-16), Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Buccaneers 23, Falcons 20
- Ninth season with Tampa Bay (ninth in the NFL)
- Did not play week one
- Recently activated from physically unable to perform (PUP) list
Yetur Gross-Matos, DE (2017-19), San Francisco 49ers
49ers 17, Seahawks 13
- Second season with San Francisco (sixth in the NFL)
- Played 17 total snaps
Adisa Isaac, DE (2019-23), Baltimore Ravens
Bills 41, Ravens 40
- Second season with Baltimore (second in the NFL)
- On injured reserve
Coziah Izzard, DT (2020-24), New Orleans Saints
Cardinals 20, Saints 13
- First season with New Orleans (first in the NFL)
- On practice squad
Austin Johnson, DT (2013-15), Jacksonville Jaguars
Jaguars 26, Panthers 10
- First season with Jacksonville (ninth in the NFL)
- Played 13 defensive snaps
- Recorded one pass defended
Theo Johnson, TE (2020-23), New York Giants
Commanders 21, Giants 6
- Second season with the New York Giants (second in the NFL)
- Played 53 offensive snaps
- Had one catch for 5 yards on three targets
DaQuan Jones, DT (2010-13), Buffalo Bills
Bills 41, Ravens 40
- Fourth season with Buffalo (12th in the NFL)
- Played 42 snaps, including seven on special teams
- Recorded one tackle for loss
Jalen Kimber, CB (2024), Buffalo Bills
Bills 41, Ravens 40
- First season with Buffalo (first in the NFL)
- On practice squad
Kalen King, CB (2021-23), Carolina Panthers
Jaguars 26, Panthers 10
- First season with Carolina (second in the NFL)
- On practice squad
Kobe King, LB (2021-24), Minnesota Vikings
Vikings 27, Bears 24
- First season with Minnesota (first in the NFL)
- Made NFL debut, playing 16 snaps (all on special teams)
Connor McGovern, OL (2016-18), Buffalo Bills
Bills 41, Ravens 40
- Third season with Buffalo (seventh in the NFL)
- Started at guard, played 85 offensive snaps
PJ Mustipher, DT (2018-22), Arizona Cardinals
Cardinals 20, Saints 13
- Second season with Arizona (second in the NFL)
- Played 11 defensive snaps
Hunter Nourzad, OL (2022-23), Kansas City Chiefs
Chargers 27, Chiefs 21
- Second season with Kansas City (second in the NFL)
- Did not play in week one
Odafe Oweh, LB (2019-20), Baltimore Ravens
Bills 41, Ravens 40
- Fifth season with Baltimore (fifth in the NFL)
- Played 38 defensive snaps
- Recorded one total tackle and one quarterback hit
Micah Parsons, DL (2018-19), Green Bay Packers
Packers 27, Lions 13
- First season with Green Bay (fifth in the NFL)
- Made Packers debut, recording one tackle, one QB hit and one sack
- Played 30 defensive snaps
Joey Porter Jr., CB (2019-22), Pittsburgh Steelers
Steelers 34, Jets 32
- Third season with Pittsburgh (third in the NFL)
- Played 44 defensive snaps
- One solo tackle
Jaylen Reed, S (2021-24), Houston Texans
Rams 14, Texans 9
- First season with Houston (first in the NFL)
- On injured reserve
Chop Robinson, LB (2022-23), Miami Dolphins
Colts 33, Dolphins 8
- Second season with Miami (second in the NFL)
- Recorded one solo tackle across a combined 45 snaps, including eight on special teams
Miles Sanders, RB (2016-18), Dallas Cowboys
Eagles 24, Cowboys 20
- First season with Dallas (seventh in the NFL)
- Recorded four rushing attempts for 53 yards, including a long of 49 yards.
- Played 11 snaps
Nick Scott, S (2015-18), Carolina Panthers
Jaguars 26, Panthers 10
- Second season with Carolina (seventh in the NFL)
- Played 66 defensive snaps
- Five total tackles, two solo tackles, one pass defensed
Juice Scruggs, OL (2018-22), Houston Texans
Rams 14, Texans 9
- Third season with Houston (three in the NFL)
- Played three snaps, all on special teams
Chris Stoll, LS (2017-22), Seattle Seahawks
49ers 17, Seahawks 13
- Third season with Seattle (third in the NFL)
- Played eight snaps, all on special teams
Jordan Stout, P (2019-21), Baltimore Ravens
Bills 41, Ravens 40
- Fourth season with Baltimore (fourth in the NFL)
- Punted three times for an average of 50.7 yards
- Longest punt of 59 yards
- Punted one touchback, one punt inside the 20-yard line
Brenton Strange, TE (2019-22), Jacksonville Jaguars
Jaguars 26, Panthers 10
- Third season with Jacksonville (third in the NFL)
- Played 52 offensive snaps
- 4 catches on four targets, 59 yards
- Longest catch was 24-yard reception
Mitchell Tinsley, WR (2022), Cincinnati Bengals
Bengals 17, Browns 16
- First season with Cincinnati (third in the NFL)
- Five offensive snaps
Rasheed Walker, OL (2019-21), Green Bay Packers
Packers 27, Lions 13
- Fifth season with Green Bay (fifth in the NFL)
- Started at tackle, playing all 48 offensive snaps
Caedan Wallace, OL (2019-23), New England Patriots
Raiders 20, Patriots 13
- Second season with New England (second in the NFL)
- Did not play during week one
Tyler Warren, TE (2020-24), Indianapolis Colts
Colts 33, Dolphins 8
- First season with Indianapolis (first in the NFL)
- Made NFL debut, starting at tight end
- Targeted nine times, catching a team-high seven receptions for 76 yards
- Recorded one carry for three yards
Parker Washington, WR (2020-22), Jacksonville Jaguars
Jaguars 26, Panthers 10
- Third season with Jacksonville (third in the NFL)
- Played 17 offensive snaps
Kevin Winston Jr., S (2022-24), Tennessee Titans
Broncos 20, Titans 12
- First season with Tennessee (first in the NFL)
- Did not play in week one
Sal Wormley, OL (2019-24), Jacksonville Jaguars
Jaguars 26, Panthers 10
- First season with Jacksonville (first in the NFL)
- On practice squad
The 2025 Penn State football season is presented by PSECU.