UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – Week Three in the National Football League saw 47 Penn State Football alums populate the rosters of 25 National Football League organizations, with rookies and veterans alike turning in quality performances.
Among this year’s NFL rookies, Giants rookie Abdul Carter stood out in his first primetime game. The linebacker finished with four total tackles (one for a loss) and a quarterback hit across his 60 combined snaps in his team’s loss to Kansas City. Meanwhile, veteran tight end Brenton Strange led the Jaguars with six receptions and 61 yards (also Strange’s season-highs) in Jacksonville’s second win of the season.
A pair of former Nittany Lions also impressed in the 49ers’ victory over the Cardinals. Ji’Ayir Brown made his first start for San Francisco, racking up a pair of solo tackles (he finished with four overall) across his 38 total snaps. On the opposing sideline, Arizona punter Blake Gillikin delivered two of his five punts inside the 49ers’ 20-yard-line.
Here’s how all 47 former Nittany Lions fared in Week 3:
Saquon Barkley, RB (2015-17), Philadelphia Eagles
Eagles 33, Rams 26
- Second season with Philadelphia (eighth in the NFL)
- Had 18 carries for 46 yards. Longest run was 12 yards.
- Added four catches for nine yards.
Ryan Bates, OL (2016-18), Chicago Bears
Bears 31, Cowboys 14
- Second season with Chicago (seventh in the NFL)
- Recorded five snaps, all on special teams
Jaquan Brisker, S (2019-21), Chicago Bears
Bears 31, Cowboys 14
- Fourth season with Chicago (fourth in the NFL)
- Recorded three combined tackles, two of which were solo
- Played 74 defensive snaps and had another two on special teams
Ji’Ayir Brown, S (2020-22), San Francisco 49ers
49ers 16, Cardinals 15
- Third season with San Francisco (third in the NFL)
- Recorded four combined tackles, two of which were solo
- Played 25 defensive snaps and another 13 on special teams
- First start of the year at safety
Abdul Carter, LB (2022-24), New York Giants
Chiefs 22, Giants 9
- First season with the New York Giants (first in the NFL)
- Recorded four combined tackles, three of which were solo
- Had one quarterback hit and one tackle-for-loss
- Played 57 defensive snaps and three more on special teams
Tariq Castro-Fields, CB (2017-21) - Philadelphia Eagles
Eagles 33, Rams 26
- Second season with Philadelphia (fourth in the NFL)
- On injured reserve
Sean Clifford, QB (2017-22) - Cincinnati Bengals
Vikings 48, Bengals 10
- First season with Cincinnati (third in the NFL)
- On practice squad
Jahan Dotson, WR (2018-21), Philadelphia Eagles
Eagles 33, Rams 26
- Second season with Philadelphia (fourth in the NFL)
- Caught one pass on three targets for seven yards
- Recorded 52 offensive snaps and one snap on special teams
Arnold Ebiketie, LB (2021), Atlanta Falcons
Panthers 30, Falcons 0
- Fourth season with Atlanta (fourth in the NFL)
- Recorded two tackles, one of which was solo
- Played 23 defensive snaps
- Second start of the year at edge rusher
Olumuyiwa Fashanu, OL (2020-23), New York Jets
Buccaneers 29, Jets 27
- Second season with the New York Jets (second in the NFL)
- Has started all three games at tackle
- Recorded 69 offensive snaps and five on special teams
Pat Freiermuth, TE (2018-20), Pittsburgh Steelers
Steelers 21, Patriots 14
- Fifth season with Pittsburgh (fifth in the NFL)
- Caught one pass for six yards on three targets
- Recorded 38 offensive snaps and three on special teams
Will Fries, OL (2017-20), Minnesota Vikings
Vikings 48, Bengals 10
- First season with Minnesota (fifth in the NFL)
- Has started all three games at guard
- Recorded 48 offensive snaps and eight on special teams
Mike Gesicki, TE (2014-17), Cincinnati Bengals
Vikings 48, Bengals 10
- Second season with Cincinnati (seventh in the NFL)
- Caught one pass for six yards on three targets
- Recorded 17 offensive snaps
Blake Gillikin, P (2016-19), Arizona Cardinals
49ers 16, Cardinals 15
- Third season with Arizona (sixth in the NFL)
- Punted five times, averaged 51.6 yards
- Longest punt of 55 yards
- Landed two punts inside the 20-yard line
Kevin Givens, DT (2016-18), San Francisco 49ers
49ers 16, Cardinals 15
- Sixth season with San Francisco (sixth in the NFL)
- On injured reserve
Chris Godwin, WR (2014-16), Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Buccaneers 29, Jets 27
- Ninth season with Tampa Bay (ninth in the NFL)
- Inactive in Week 3 due to injury
Yetur Gross-Matos, DE (2017-19), San Francisco 49ers
49ers 16, Cardinals 15
- Second season with San Francisco (sixth in the NFL)
- Played 22 defensive snaps and two on special teams
Adisa Isaac, DE (2019-23), Baltimore Ravens
Lions 38, Ravens 30
- Second season with Baltimore (second in the NFL)
- Remains on injured reserve
Coziah Izzard, DT (2020-24), New Orleans Saints
Seahawks 44, Saints 13
- First season with New Orleans (first in the NFL)
- On practice squad
Curtis Jacobs, LB (2020-23), New York Giants
Chiefs 22, Giants 9
- First season with the New York Giants (second in the NFL)
- On practice squad
Austin Johnson, DT (2013-15), Jacksonville Jaguars
Jaguars 17, Texans 10
- First season with Jacksonville (ninth in the NFL)
- Recorded 13 defensive snaps and three on special teams
Theo Johnson, TE (2020-23), New York Giants
Chiefs 22, Giants 9
- Second season with the New York Giants (second in the NFL)
- Caught one pass for 10 yards on two targets
- Recorded 57 offensive snaps
DaQuan Jones, DT (2010-13), Buffalo Bills
Bills 31, Dolphins 21
- Fourth season with Buffalo (12th in the NFL)
- Played 42 defensive snaps and three on special teams
- Recorded one solo tackle and one tackle-for-loss
Jalen Kimber, CB (2024), Buffalo Bills
Bills 31, Dolphins 21
- First season with Buffalo (first in the NFL)
- On practice squad
Kalen King, CB (2021-23), Carolina Panthers
Panthers 30, Falcons 0
- First season with Carolina (second in the NFL)
- On practice squad
Kobe King, LB (2021-24), Minnesota Vikings
Vikings 48, Bengals 10
- First season with Minnesota (first in the NFL)
- Recorded first NFL tackle
- Played three defensive snaps and 23 on special teams
Connor McGovern, OL (2016-18), Buffalo Bills
Bills 31, Jets 21
- Third season with Buffalo (seventh in the NFL)
- Started all three games at center
- Recorded 60 offensive snaps
PJ Mustipher, DT (2018-22), Arizona Cardinals
49ers 16, Cardinals 15
- Second season with Arizona (second in the NFL)
- Recorded one solo tackle and one pass defended
- Played 20 defensive snaps and four on special teams
Hunter Nourzad, OL (2022-23), Kansas City Chiefs
Eagles 22, Giants 9
- Second season with Kansas City (second in the NFL)
- Inactive in Week 3
Odafe Oweh, LB (2019-20), Baltimore Ravens
Lions 38, Ravens 30
- Fifth season with Baltimore (fifth in the NFL)
- Played 28 defensive snaps
- Recorded two total tackles (including one for a loss) and two quarterback hits
Micah Parsons, DL (2018-19), Green Bay Packers
Browns 13, Packers 10
- First season with Green Bay (fifth in the NFL)
- Played 51 defensive snaps
- Had two solo tackles
- Recorded two quarterback hits
Joey Porter Jr., CB (2019-22), Pittsburgh Steelers
Steelers 21, Patriots 14
- Third season with Pittsburgh (third in the NFL)
- Inactive with injury in Week 3
Jaylen Reed, S (2021-24), Houston Texans
Jaguars 17, Texans 10
- First season with Houston (first in the NFL)
- Remains on injured reserve with designation to return
Chop Robinson, LB (2022-23), Miami Dolphins
Bills 31, Dolphins 21
- Second season with Miami (second in the NFL)
- Played 22 defensive snaps
Miles Sanders, RB (2016-18), Dallas Cowboys
Bears 31, Cowboys 14
- First season with Dallas (seventh in the NFL)
- Had 27 offensive snaps and five on special teams
- Rushed nine times for 41 yards, longest run of eight yards
- Caught three receptions on three targets for 12 yards
Nick Scott, S (2015-18), Carolina Panthers
Panthers 30, Falcons 0
- Second season with Carolina (seventh in the NFL)
- Played 59 defensive snaps and two snaps on special teams
- Had three tackles, two of which were solo
Juice Scruggs, OL (2018-22), Houston Texans
Jaguars 17, Texans 10
- Third season with Houston (three in the NFL)
- Played 36 offensive snaps and three on special teams
Chris Stoll, LS (2017-22), Seattle Seahawks
Seahawks 44, Saints 13
- Third season with Seattle (third in the NFL)
- Played 11 snaps, all on special teams
Jordan Stout, P (2019-21), Baltimore Ravens
Lions 38, Ravens 30
- Fourth season with Baltimore (fourth in the NFL)
- Punted 3 times for an average of 52.3 yards and no touchbacks
- Longest punt of 63 yards
- Pinned two punts inside the 20-yard line
Brenton Strange, TE (2019-22), Jacksonville Jaguars
Jaguars 17, Texans 10
- Third season with Jacksonville (third in the NFL)
- Played 58 offensive snaps
- Caught six passes on seven targets for 61 yards
- Longest catch was 16 yards
Mitchell Tinsley, WR (2022), Cincinnati Bengals
Vikings 48, Bengals 10
- First season with Cincinnati (third in the NFL)
- Recorded seven offensive snaps and 15 on special teams
Rasheed Walker, OL (2019-21), Green Bay Packers
Browns 13, Packers 10
- Fifth season with Green Bay (fifth in the NFL)
- Has started all three games at tackle
- Recorded 61 offensive snaps and three on special teams
Caedan Wallace, OL (2019-23), New England Patriots
Steelers 21, Patriots 14
- Second season with New England (second in the NFL)
- Inactive in Week 3
Tyler Warren, TE (2020-24), Indianapolis Colts
Colts 41, Titans 20
- First season with Indianapolis (first in the NFL)
- Recorded 39 offensive snaps
- Caught three passes on five targets for 38 yards
- Longest catch was a 17-yard reception
Parker Washington, WR (2020-22), Jacksonville Jaguars
Jaguars 17, Texans 10
- Third season with Jacksonville (third in the NFL)
- Played 50 offensive snaps and six on special teams
- Caught four passes on 11 targets for 34 yards
- Longest catch was a 16-yard reception
Kevin Winston Jr., S (2022-24), Tennessee Titans
Colts 41, Titans 20
- First season with Tennessee (first in the NFL)
- Inactive with injury in Week 3
Sal Wormley, OL (2019-24), Jacksonville Jaguars
Jaguars 17, Texans 10
- First season with Jacksonville (first in the NFL)
- On practice squad
The 2025 Penn State football season is presented by PSECU.