UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – Week 6 in the National Football League saw 49 Penn State Football alums populate the rosters of 25 National Football League organizations. This week’s highlight performances include several in the secondary and a former Penn State linebacker who found success with his new team.
Pittsburgh cornerback Joey Porter Jr. shined in his first game since Week 1, racking up five combined tackles, including two solo, and adding two pass breakups in the Steelers’ win over Cleveland. The former Nittany Lion’s 79 snaps played also were second-highest among all Pittsburgh defenders.
A trio of former Penn State safeties left their mark in their team’s respective wins. Chicago’s Jaquan Brisker delivered in the Bears’ win over Washington, making three tackles (including two solo), one pass breakups and adding his first interception of the season. San Francisco’s Ji’Ayir Brown made five tackles in his team’s loss to Tampa Bay, while Carolina’s Nick Scott added four tackles and one pass defended in the Panthers’ win over Dallas.
Finally, Los Angeles Chargers linebacker Odafe Oweh made a good first impression after his trade from Baltimore. The former Nittany Lion contributed a sack, a tackle for loss, two combined tackles and two quarterback hits in the Chargers’ win over Miami.
Here’s how all 49 former Nittany Lions fared in Week 6:
Saquon Barkley, RB (2015-17), Philadelphia Eagles
Giants 34, Eagles 17
- Second season with Philadelphia (eighth in the NFL)
- Ran 12 times for 58 yards. Longest run of 18 yards
- Added two catches on three targets for 9 yards
- Recorded 50 offensive snaps
Ryan Bates, OL (2016-18), Chicago Bears
Bears 25, Commanders 24
- Second season with Chicago (seventh in the NFL)
- Played six snaps, all on special teams
Jaquan Brisker, S (2019-21), Chicago Bears
Bears 25, Commanders 24
- Fourth season with Chicago (fourth in the NFL)
- Recorded a first-quarter interception for 32 yards
- Added three tackles, including two solo, and one pass defended
- Played 57 combined snaps, including five on special teams in his 40th career game
Ji’Ayir Brown, S (2020-22), San Francisco 49ers
Buccaneers 30, 49ers 19
- Third season with San Francisco (third in the NFL)
- Second start at safety this season
- Recorded five combined tackles, three of which were solo
- Played 53 defensive snaps, additional six on special teams
Abdul Carter, LB (2022-24), New York Giants
Giants 34, Eagles 17
- First season with the New York Giants (first in the NFL)
- Played 40 defensive snaps and four more on special teams
Tariq Castro-Fields, CB (2017-21) - Philadelphia Eagles
Giants 34, Eagles 17
- Second season with Philadelphia (fourth in the NFL)
- On practice squad
Dan Chisena, WR (2015-19) - Carolina Panthers
Panthers 30, Cowboys 27
- First season with Carolina (fifth in the NFL)
- On practice squad
Sean Clifford, QB (2017-22) - Cincinnati Bengals
Packers 27, Bengals 18
- First season with Cincinnati (third in the NFL)
- On practice squad
Jahan Dotson, WR (2018-21), Philadelphia Eagles
Giants 34, Eagles 17
- Second season with Philadelphia (fourth in the NFL)
- Caught one pass on two targets for 17 yards
- Had two punt returns, average of 8 yards
- Recorded 43 offensive snaps, additional four on special teams
Arnold Ebiketie, LB (2021), Atlanta Falcons
Falcons 24, Bills 14
- Fourth season with Atlanta (fourth in the NFL)
- Recorded three tackles, including one solo, and added one quarterback hit
- Played 24 defensive snaps in his 55th career game
Olumuyiwa Fashanu, OL (2020-23), New York Jets
Broncos 13, Jets 11
- Second season with the New York Jets (second in the NFL)
- Started all six games to begin the season
- Played 57 offensive snaps, four more on special teams
Pat Freiermuth, TE (2018-20), Pittsburgh Steelers
Steelers 23, Browns 9
- Fifth season with Pittsburgh (fifth in the NFL)
- Caught one pass on one target for 11 yards
- Recorded 21 offensive snaps
Will Fries, OL (2017-20), Minnesota Vikings
BYE
- First season with Minnesota (fifth in the NFL)
- Team on bye this past week
Mike Gesicki, TE (2014-17), Cincinnati Bengals
Packers 27, Bengals 18
- Second season with Cincinnati (seventh in the NFL)
- Played two offensive snaps
Blake Gillikin, P (2016-19), Arizona Cardinals
Colts 31, Cardinals 27
- Third season with Arizona (sixth in the NFL)
- On injured reserve after playing first five games
Kevin Givens, DT (2016-18), San Francisco 49ers
Buccaneers 30, 49ers 19
- Sixth season with San Francisco (sixth in the NFL)
- On injured reserve
Chris Godwin, WR (2014-16), Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Buccaneers 30, 49ers 19
- Ninth season with Tampa Bay (ninth in the NFL)
- Inactive in Week 6 due to injury
Yetur Gross-Matos, DE (2017-19), San Francisco 49ers
Buccaneers 30, 49ers 19
- Second season with San Francisco (sixth in the NFL)
- Inactive in Week 6 due to injury
Adisa Isaac, DE (2019-23), Baltimore Ravens
Rams 17, Ravens 3
- Second season with Baltimore (second in the NFL)
- On injured reserve
Coziah Izzard, DT (2020-24), New Orleans Saints
Patriots 25, Saints 19
- First season with New Orleans (first in the NFL)
- On practice squad
Curtis Jacobs, LB (2020-23), Tennessee Titans
Raiders 20, Titans 10
- Second season with the Tennessee (second in the NFL)
- On practice squad after playing Week 4
Austin Johnson, DT (2013-15), Jacksonville Jaguars
Seahawks 20, Jaguars 12
- First season with Jacksonville (ninth in the NFL)
- Played 11 combined snaps, including five on special teams
Theo Johnson, TE (2020-23), New York Giants
Giants 34, Eagles 17
- Second season with the New York Giants (second in the NFL)
- Caught two passes on four targets for 27 yards
- Recorded 62 offensive snaps
DaQuan Jones, DT (2010-13), Buffalo Bills
Falcons 24, Bills 14
- Fourth season with Buffalo (12th in the NFL)
- Did not play in Week 6 (suffered injury before game)
Jalen Kimber, CB (2024), Buffalo Bills
Falcons 24, Bills 14
- First season with Buffalo (second in the NFL)
- Signed to practice squad Oct. 7
Kalen King, CB (2021-23), Carolina Panthers
Panthers 30, Cowboys 27
- First season with Carolina (second in the NFL)
- On practice squad
Kobe King, LB (2021-24), Minnesota Vikings
BYE
- First season with Minnesota (first in the NFL)
- Team on bye this past week
Connor McGovern, OL (2016-18), Buffalo Bills
Falcons 24, Bills 20
- Third season with Buffalo (seventh in the NFL)
- Made sixth straight start at center, recording 56 offensive snaps
PJ Mustipher, DT (2018-22), Arizona Cardinals
Colts 31, Cardinals 27
- Second season with Arizona (second in the NFL)
- Recorded two combined tackles, one of which was solo
- Recorded 19 defensive snaps, five on special teams
Hunter Nourzad, OL (2022-23), Kansas City Chiefs
Chiefs 30, Lions 17
- Second season with Kansas City (second in the NFL)
- Made first appearance of the year
- Recorded five snaps, all on special teams
Amani Oruwariye, CB (2015-18), Baltimore Ravens
Rams 17, Ravens 3
- First season with Baltimore (sixth in the NFL)
- On practice squad
Odafe Oweh, LB (2019-20), Baltimore Ravens/Los Angeles Chargers
Chargers 29, Dolphins 27
- Fifth season with Baltimore (fifth in the NFL)
- Traded to Los Angeles Chargers on October 7 from the Baltimore Ravens
- Recorded first sack of the season
- Had two combined tackles, one of which was solo
- One tackle for loss and two quarterback hits
- Recorded 26 defensive snaps, one on special teams
Micah Parsons, DL (2018-19), Green Bay Packers
Packers 27, Bengals 18
- First season with Green Bay (fifth in the NFL)
- Recorded three combined tackles
- Played 58 defensive snaps
Joey Porter Jr., CB (2019-22), Pittsburgh Steelers
Steelers 23, Browns 9
- Third season with Pittsburgh (third in the NFL)
- Returned after missing last four games with injury
- Recorded five tackles, two of which were solo
- Had two passes defended
- Played 79 defensive snaps, additional two on special teams
Jaylen Reed, S (2021-24), Houston Texans
BYE
- First season with Houston (first in the NFL)
- Remains on injured reserve with designation to return
- Team on bye this past week
Chop Robinson, LB (2022-23), Miami Dolphins
Chargers 29, Dolphins 27
- Second season with Miami (second in the NFL)
- Recorded one solo tackle
- Played 22 defensive snaps
Miles Sanders, RB (2016-18), Dallas Cowboys
Panthers 30, Cowboys 27
- First season with Dallas (seventh in the NFL)
- Did not play due to injury in Week 6
Nick Scott, S (2015-18), Carolina Panthers
Panthers 30, Cowboys 27
- Second season with Carolina (seventh in the NFL)
- Recorded four combined tackles, three of which were solo
- Had one pass defensed
- Played 54 defensive snaps, additional seven on special teams
Juice Scruggs, OL (2018-22), Houston Texans
BYE
- Third season with Houston (three in the NFL)
- Team on bye this past week
Chris Stoll, LS (2017-22), Seattle Seahawks
Seahawks 20, Jaguars 12
- Third season with Seattle (third in the NFL)
- Played 12 snaps, all on special teams
Jordan Stout, P (2019-21), Baltimore Ravens
Rams 17, Ravens 3
- Fourth season with Baltimore (fourth in the NFL)
- Punted one time for 53 yards, resulted in a touchback
Brenton Strange, TE (2019-22), Jacksonville Jaguars
Seahawks 20, Jaguars 12
- Third season with Jacksonville (third in the NFL)
- Missed Week 6 with injury
Mitchell Tinsley, WR (2022), Cincinnati Bengals
Packers 27, Bengals 18
- First season with Cincinnati (third in the NFL)
- Played 10 offensive snaps and eight on special teams
Rasheed Walker, OL (2019-21), Green Bay Packers
Packers 27, Bengals 18
- Fifth season with Green Bay (fifth in the NFL)
- Recorded 61 offensive snaps, additional five on special teams
Caedan Wallace, OL (2019-23), New England Patriots
Patriots 25, Saints 19
- Second season with New England (second in the NFL)
- Inactive in Week 6
Tyler Warren, TE (2020-24), Indianapolis Colts
Colts 31, Cardinals 27
- First season with Indianapolis (first in the NFL)
- Caught six passes on nine targets for 63 yards and a touchdown
- Hauled in 8-yard touchdown pass
Parker Washington, WR (2020-22), Jacksonville Jaguars
Seahawks 20, Jaguars 12
- Third season with Jacksonville (third in the NFL)
- Caught two passes on four targets for 29 yards
- Longest reception of 17 yards
- Returned four punts, average of six yards per return
Kevin Winston Jr., S (2022-24), Tennessee Titans
Raiders 20, Titans 10
- First season with Tennessee (first in the NFL)
- Recorded one defensive snap, additional 13 on special teams
Sal Wormley, OL (2019-24), Jacksonville Jaguars
Seahawks 20, Jaguars 12
- First season with Jacksonville (first in the NFL)
- On practice squad
The 2025 Penn State football season is presented by PSECU.