Nittany Lions In The NFL: Week 7Nittany Lions In The NFL: Week 7
USA Today

Nittany Lions In The NFL: Week 7

Tight ends, Parsons headline noteworthy performances By Will Duerksen, student writer

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – Week 7 in the National Football League saw 48 Penn State Football alums populate the rosters of 25 National Football League organizations. This week’s highlight performances include three former Penn State tight ends finding the end zone.

 

Former Nittany Lion tight ends continue to impress. Tyler Warren caught four passes for 69 yards and a 5-yard touchdown in the Colts’ 38-24 win over the Chargers. Warren paces NFL tight ends with 439 receiving yards this season. Pat Freiermuth posted a season-high 111 receiving yards and two touchdowns on five receptions in the Steelers’ 33-31 loss against Cincinnati. Freiermuth scored on 19- and 68-yard touchdowns. Theo Johnson added three catches for 66 yards and a 41-yard touchdown in the Giants’ 33-32 setback to the Broncos.

 

Micah Parsons had a dominant performance in the Packers’ 27-23 win over the Cardinals. Parsons recorded five tackles, four solo, including four tackles for loss and three sacks. He added five quarterback hits.

 

Chicago Bears safety Jaquan Brisker collected six tackles, including four solo, one tackle for loss and two quarterback hits in the Bears’ 26-14 win over New Orleans. Pittsburgh cornerback Joey Porter Jr. recorded five tackles and two pass breakups this week.

 

Here’s how all 48 former Nittany Lions fared in Week 7:

 

Saquon Barkley, RB (2015-17), Philadelphia Eagles 

Eagles 28, Vikings 22

  • Second season with Philadelphia (eighth in the NFL)
  • Ran 18 times for 44 yards. Longest run was 9 yards
  • Added one catch on one target for -2 yards
  • Recorded 39 offensive snaps

 

Ryan Bates, OL (2016-18), Chicago Bears 

Bears 26, Saints 14

  • Second season with Chicago (seventh in the NFL)
  • Played six snaps, all on special teams

 

Jaquan Brisker, S (2019-21), Chicago Bears 

Bears 26, Saints 14

  • Fourth season with Chicago (fourth in the NFL)
  • Recorded six tackles, four of which were solo
  • Had two quarterback hits and one tackle for loss
  • Recorded his first sack of the season
  • Played 56 defensive snaps, additional three on special teams

 

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

49ers 20, Falcons 10

  • Third season with San Francisco (third in the NFL)
  • Third start at safety this season
  • Recorded five solo tackles, highest total of the season
  • Played 65 defensive snaps, additional five on special teams

 

Abdul Carter, LB (2022-24), New York Giants 

Broncos 33, Giants 32

  • First season with the New York Giants (first in the NFL) 
  • Recorded three combined tackles, one of which was solo
  • Played 52 defensive snaps

 

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

Eagles 28, Vikings 22

  • Second season with Philadelphia (fourth in the NFL) 
  • On practice squad

 

Dan Chisena, WR (2015-19) - Carolina Panthers 

Panthers 13, Jets 6

  • First season with Carolina (fifth in the NFL) 
  • On practice squad

 

Sean Clifford, QB (2017-22) - Cincinnati Bengals 

Bengals 33, Steelers 31

  • First season with Cincinnati (third in the NFL) 
  • On practice squad

 

Jahan Dotson, WR (2018-21), Philadelphia Eagles 

Eagles 28, Vikings 22

  • Second season with Philadelphia (fourth in the NFL) 
  • Recorded 24 offensive snaps, additional one on special teams

 

Arnold Ebiketie, LB (2021), Atlanta Falcons 

49ers 20, Falcons 10

  • Fourth season with Atlanta (fourth in the NFL)
  • Recorded four tackles, two of which were solo
  • Played 25 defensive snaps

 

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

Panthers 13, Jets 6

  • Second season with the New York Jets (second in the NFL) 
  • Started all 7 games to begin the season
  • Played 61 offensive snaps, two more on special teams

 

Pat Freiermuth, TE (2018-20), Pittsburgh Steelers 

Bengals 33, Steelers 31

  • Fifth season with Pittsburgh (fifth in the NFL)
  • Caught five passes on six targets for season-high 111 yards and two touchdowns
  • Caught a 19-yard touchdown in the third quarter, and a 68-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter to take the lead
  • Played 37 offensive snaps

 

Will Fries, OL (2017-20), Minnesota Vikings 

Eagles 28, Vikings 22

  • First season with Minnesota (fifth in the NFL) 
  • Has started every game this season
  • Played 69 offensive snaps, additional six on special teams

  

Mike Gesicki, TE (2014-17), Cincinnati Bengals 

Bengals 33, Steelers 31

  • Second season with Cincinnati (seventh in the NFL) 
  • Missed game due to injury

 

Blake Gillikin, P (2016-19), Arizona Cardinals 

Packers 27, Cardinals 23

  • Third season with Arizona (sixth in the NFL) 
  • On injured reserve after playing first five games

 

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

49ers 20, Falcons 10

  • Sixth season with San Francisco (sixth in the NFL) 
  • First game action of the season after starting on injured reserve
  • Recorded 20 defensive snaps

 

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

Lions 24, Buccaneers 9

  • Ninth season with Tampa Bay (ninth in the NFL) 
  • Inactive in Week 7 due to injury

 

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

49ers 20, Falcons 10

  • Second season with San Francisco (sixth in the NFL) 
  • Inactive in Week 7

 

Adisa Isaac, DE (2019-23), Baltimore Ravens 

BYE

  • Second season with Baltimore (second in the NFL) 
  • On injured reserve

 

Coziah Izzard, DT (2020-24), New Orleans Saints 

Bears 26, Saints 14

  • First season with New Orleans (first in the NFL) 
  • On practice squad

 

Curtis Jacobs, LB (2020-23), Tennessee Titans 

Patriots 31, Titans 13

  • Second season with the Tennessee (second in the NFL) 
  • Played 18 snaps, all on special teams

 

Austin Johnson, DT (2013-15), Jacksonville Jaguars

Rams 35, Jaguars 7

  • First season with Jacksonville (ninth in the NFL)
  • Recorded three tackles, two of which were solo
  • Played 20 defensive snaps, additional five on special teams

 

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

Broncos 33, Giants 32

  • Second season with the New York Giants (second in the NFL) 
  • Caught three passes on seven targets for 66 yards and one touchdown
  • Longest reception was a 41-yard touchdown catch in the fourth quarter
  • Recorded 68 offensive snaps

 

DaQuan Jones, DT (2010-13), Buffalo Bills 

BYE

  • Fourth season with Buffalo (12th in the NFL) 

 

Kalen King, CB (2021-23), Carolina Panthers 

Panthers 13, Jets 6 

  • First season with Carolina (second in the NFL) 
  • On practice squad

 

Kobe King, LB (2021-24), Minnesota Vikings 

Eagles 28, Vikings 22

  • First season with Minnesota (first in the NFL)
  • Inactive in Week 7

 

Connor McGovern, OL (2016-18), Buffalo Bills 

BYE

  • Third season with Buffalo (seventh in the NFL) 

 

PJ Mustipher, DT (2018-22), Arizona Cardinals 

Packers 27, Cardinals 23

  • Second season with Arizona (second in the NFL) 
  • Recorded one solo tackle
  • Recorded 21 defensive snaps, additional five on special teams

 

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

Chiefs 31, Raiders 0

  • Second season with Kansas City (second in the NFL)
  • Made second appearance of the year
  • Recorded 16 offensive snaps, additional five on special teams

 

Amani Oruwariye, CB (2015-18), Baltimore Ravens

BYE

  • First season with Baltimore (sixth in the NFL) 
  • On practice squad

 

Odafe Oweh, LB (2019-20), Baltimore Ravens/Los Angeles Chargers 

Colts 38, Chargers 24

  • Fifth season with Baltimore (fifth in the NFL) 
  • Traded to Los Angeles Chargers on October 7 from the Baltimore Ravens
  • Recorded three tackles, one of which was solo
  • Played 29 defensive snaps, additional two on special teams

 

Micah Parsons, DL (2018-19), Green Bay Packers 

Packers 27, Cardinals 23

  • First season with Green Bay (fifth in the NFL)
  • Recorded five combined tackles, four of which were solo
  • Had four tackles for loss and five quarterback hits
  • Recorded three sacks, more than doubling his season total (5.5)
  • Played 54 defensive snaps

 

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

Bengals 33, Steelers 31

  • Third season with Pittsburgh (third in the NFL) 
  • Third appearance of the season after missing games with injury
  • Recorded five solo tackles
  • Had two passes defensed
  • Played 69 defensive snaps

 

Jaylen Reed, S (2021-24), Houston Texans 

Seahawks 27, Texans 19

  • First season with Houston (first in the NFL) 
  • Made NFL debut after returning from injured reserve
  • Played 19 snaps on special teams

 

Chop Robinson, LB (2022-23), Miami Dolphins 

Browns 31, Dolphins 6

  • Second season with Miami (second in the NFL)
  • Recorded one solo tackle
  • Played 25 defensive snaps

 

Miles Sanders, RB (2016-18), Dallas Cowboys 

Cowboys 44, Commanders 22

  • First season with Dallas (seventh in the NFL) 
  • Did not play due to injury in Week 7

 

Nick Scott, S (2015-18), Carolina Panthers 

Panthers 13, Jets 6

  • Second season with Carolina (seventh in the NFL) 
  • Recorded seven combined tackles, two of which were solo
  • Played 61 defensive snaps, additional eight on special teams

 

Juice Scruggs, OL (2018-22), Houston Texans 

Seahawks 27, Texans 19

  • Third season with Houston (three in the NFL)
  • Played 33 snaps on offense and three on special teams

 

Chris Stoll, LS (2017-22), Seattle Seahawks 

Seahawks 27, Texans 19

  • Third season with Seattle (third in the NFL)
  • Played 10 snaps, all on special teams 

 

Jordan Stout, P (2019-21), Baltimore Ravens 

BYE

  • Fourth season with Baltimore (fourth in the NFL) 

 

Brenton Strange, TE (2019-22), Jacksonville Jaguars

Rams 35, Jaguars 7

  • Third season with Jacksonville (third in the NFL)
  • On injured reserve

 

Mitchell Tinsley, WR (2022), Cincinnati Bengals 

Bengals 33, Steelers 31

  • First season with Cincinnati (third in the NFL) 
  • Played 13 offensive snaps and eight on special teams

 

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

Packers 27, Cardinals 23 

  • Fifth season with Green Bay (fifth in the NFL) 
  • Recorded 56 offensive snaps, additional five on special teams

 

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

Patriots 31, Titans 13

  • Second season with New England (second in the NFL) 
  • Inactive in Week 7

 

Tyler Warren, TE (2020-24), Indianapolis Colts 

Colts 38, Chargers 24

  • First season with Indianapolis (first in the NFL) 
  • Caught four passes on five targets for 69 yards and a touchdown
  • Longest reception went for 29 yards
  • Hauled in a 5-yard touchdown in the second quarter
  • Played 55 offensive snaps

 

Parker Washington, WR (2020-22), Jacksonville Jaguars

Rams 35, Jaguars 7

  • Third season with Jacksonville (third in the NFL)
  • Second start of the season at wide receiver
  • Caught four passes on 10 targets for 52 yards. Longest reception of 25 yards
  • Ran three times for 10 yards. Longest rush of five yards
  • Had two punt returns, average of 9.5 return yards
  • Recorded 68 offensive snaps, additional 11 on special teams

 

Kevin Winston Jr., S (2022-24), Tennessee Titans 

Patriots 31, Titans 13

  • First season with Tennessee (first in the NFL) 
  • Recorded one solo tackle and one quarterback hit
  • Played two defensive snaps, additional 12 on special teams

 

Sal Wormley, OL (2019-24), Jacksonville Jaguars

Rams 35, Jaguars 7

  • First season with Jacksonville (first in the NFL) 
  • On practice squad

 

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