UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – Week 8 in the National Football League saw 47 Penn State Football alums populate the rosters of 25 National Football League organizations. Top performances from Week 8 included a star running back scoring in the air and on the ground, a pair of promising performances by pass rushers and two safeties’ strong efforts in their respective teams’ defeats.
Philadelphia running back Saquon Barkley delivered during his team’s win over the New York Giants. The former Nittany Lion set a new season-high with 150 rushing yards, including a 65-yard touchdown during the first quarter which was his first touchdown since Week 4. He capped an impressive Sunday by contributing 24 receiving yards and a touchdown.
Several defensive players also turned heads in Week 8, including one who was on Barkley’s opposing sideline. New York Giants rookie linebacker Abdul Carter contributed five tackles, including two solo, in the Giants’ loss to Philadelphia. Meanwhile, Green Bay defensive lineman Micah Parsons recorded a sack for the second straight week in the Packers’ win over Pittsburgh, adding a tackle for loss and a quarterback hit as well.
The noteworthy Week 8 performances on defense by Nittany Lion alums extended into the secondary. Carolina safety Nick Scott was a workhorse in the Panthers’ loss to Buffalo, playing a team-high 62 snaps on defense and making a season-high eight tackles. His fellow safety Ji’Ayir Brown finished with five tackles (including four solo and one for loss) in San Francisco’s loss to Houston.
Here’s how all 47 former Nittany Lions fared in Week 8:
Saquon Barkley, RB (2015-17), Philadelphia Eagles
Eagles 38, Giants 20
- Second season with Philadelphia (eighth in the NFL)
- Ran 14 times for 150 yards and one touchdown. Longest run was a 65-yard touchdown.
- Added four catches on five targets for 24 yards and a 9-yard score.
- Recorded 35 offensive snaps
Ryan Bates, OL (2016-18), Chicago Bears
Ravens 30, Bears 16
- Second season with Chicago (seventh in the NFL)
- Played five snaps, all on special teams
Jaquan Brisker, S (2019-21), Chicago Bears
Ravens 30, Bears 16
- Fourth season with Chicago (fourth in the NFL)
- Recorded five tackles, four of which were solo
- Played 62 defensive snaps, additional eight on special teams
Ji’Ayir Brown, S (2020-22), San Francisco 49ers
Texans 26, 49ers 15
- Third season with San Francisco (third in the NFL)
- Fourth start at safety this season
- Recorded five tackles, four of which were solo
- Added one tackle for loss
- Played 80 defensive snaps, additional three on special teams
Abdul Carter, LB (2022-24), New York Giants
Eagles 38, Giants 20
- First season with the New York Giants (first in the NFL)
- Recorded five tackles, two of which were solo
- Played 49 defensive snaps
Tariq Castro-Fields, CB (2017-21) - Philadelphia Eagles
Eagles 38, Giants 20
- Second season with Philadelphia (fourth in the NFL)
- On practice squad
Dan Chisena, WR (2015-19) - Carolina Panthers
Bills 40, Panthers 9
- First season with Carolina (fifth in the NFL)
- On practice squad
Sean Clifford, QB (2017-22) - Cincinnati Bengals
Jets 39, Bengals 38
- First season with Cincinnati (third in the NFL)
- On practice squad
Jahan Dotson, WR (2018-21), Philadelphia Eagles
Eagles 38, Giants 20
- Second season with Philadelphia (fourth in the NFL)
- Caught one pass on two targets for 40 yards and a touchdown
- Recorded a 40-yard touchdown catch in the fourth quarter
- Played 42 offensive snaps
Arnold Ebiketie, LB (2021), Atlanta Falcons
Dolphins 34, Falcons 10
- Fourth season with Atlanta (fourth in the NFL)
- Recorded four tackles, two of which were solo
- Played 33 defensive snaps
Olumuyiwa Fashanu, OL (2020-23), New York Jets
Jets 39, Bengals 38
- Second season with the New York Jets (second in the NFL)
- Started all eight games to begin the season
- Played 72 offensive snaps, five more on special teams
Pat Freiermuth, TE (2018-20), Pittsburgh Steelers
Packers 35, Steelers 25
- Fifth season with Pittsburgh (fifth in the NFL)
- Caught three passes on four targets for 13 yards.
- Played 27 offensive snaps
Will Fries, OL (2017-20), Minnesota Vikings
Chargers 37, Vikings 10
- First season with Minnesota (fifth in the NFL)
- Has started every game this season
- Played 49 offensive snaps, additional four on special teams
Mike Gesicki, TE (2014-17), Cincinnati Bengals
Jets 39, Bengals 38
- Second season with Cincinnati (seventh in the NFL)
- Currently on injured reserve
Blake Gillikin, P (2016-19), Arizona Cardinals
BYE
- Third season with Arizona (sixth in the NFL)
Kevin Givens, DT (2016-18), San Francisco 49ers
Texans 26, 49ers 15
- Sixth season with San Francisco (sixth in the NFL)
- Second game active this season after starting on injured reserve
- Recorded 32 defensive snaps, additional four on special teams
Chris Godwin, WR (2014-16), Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Buccaneers 23, Saints 3
- Ninth season with Tampa Bay (ninth in the NFL)
- Inactive in Week 8 due to injury
Yetur Gross-Matos, DE (2017-19), San Francisco 49ers
Texans 26, 49ers 15
- Second season with San Francisco (sixth in the NFL)
- Inactive in Week 8 due to injury
Adisa Isaac, DE (2019-23), Baltimore Ravens
Ravens 30, Bears 16
- Second season with Baltimore (second in the NFL)
- On injured reserve
Coziah Izzard, DT (2020-24), New Orleans Saints
Buccaneers 23, Saints 3
- First season with New Orleans (first in the NFL)
- On practice squad
Austin Johnson, DT (2013-15), Jacksonville Jaguars
BYE
- First season with Jacksonville (ninth in the NFL)
Theo Johnson, TE (2020-23), New York Giants
Eagles 38, Giants 20
- Second season with the New York Giants (second in the NFL)
- Caught three passes on four targets for 20 yards. Longest reception of 12 yards
- Recorded 51 offensive snaps
DaQuan Jones, DT (2010-13), Buffalo Bills
Bills 40, Panthers 9
- Fourth season with Buffalo (12th in the NFL)
- Inactive in Week 8 due to injury
Kalen King, CB (2021-23), Carolina Panthers
Bills 40, Panthers 9
- First season with Carolina (second in the NFL)
- On practice squad
Kobe King, LB (2021-24), New York Jets
Jets 39, Bengals 38
- First season with New York (first in the NFL)
- Signed by New York Jets after being released by Minnesota Vikings.
- Inactive in Week 8
Connor McGovern, OL (2016-18), Buffalo Bills
Bills 40, Panthers 9
- Third season with Buffalo (seventh in the NFL)
- Has started every game this season
- Recorded 52 offensive snaps
PJ Mustipher, DT (2018-22), Arizona Cardinals
BYE
- Second season with Arizona (second in the NFL)
Hunter Nourzad, OL (2022-23), Kansas City Chiefs
Chiefs 28, Commanders 7
- Second season with Kansas City (second in the NFL)
- Appeared in 20th game of his career and third game of the season
- Recorded six total snaps, including four on special teams
Amani Oruwariye, CB (2015-18), Baltimore Ravens
Ravens 30, Bears 16
- First season with Baltimore (sixth in the NFL)
- On practice squad
Odafe Oweh, LB (2019-20), Baltimore Ravens/Los Angeles Chargers
Chargers 37, Vikings 10
- Fifth season with Baltimore (fifth in the NFL)
- Traded to Los Angeles Chargers on October 7 from the Baltimore Ravens
- Recorded three tackles, two of which were solo
- Had one sack, one tackle for loss, and one quarterback hit
- Played 27 defensive snaps, additional five on special teams
Micah Parsons, DL (2018-19), Green Bay Packers
Packers 35, Steelers 25
- First season with Green Bay (fifth in the NFL)
- Recorded one solo tackle
- Had one sack, one tackle for loss, and one quarterback hit
- Played 55 defensive snaps
Joey Porter Jr., CB (2019-22), Pittsburgh Steelers
Packers 35, Steelers 25
- Third season with Pittsburgh (third in the NFL)
- Recorded three solo tackles and one pass defensed
- Played 64 defensive snaps
Jaylen Reed, S (2021-24), Houston Texans
Texans 26, 49ers 15
- First season with Houston (first in the NFL)
- Second career game after starting year on injured reserve
- Played 16 snaps on special teams
Chop Robinson, LB (2022-23), Miami Dolphins
Dolphins 34, Falcons 10
- Second season with Miami (second in the NFL)
- Played 24 defensive snaps
Miles Sanders, RB (2016-18), Dallas Cowboys
Broncos 44, Cowboys 24
- First season with Dallas (seventh in the NFL)
- Inactive in Week 8 due to injury
Nick Scott, S (2015-18), Carolina Panthers
Bills 40, Panthers 9
- Second season with Carolina (seventh in the NFL)
- Has started every game this season
- Recorded eight combined tackles, five of which were solo
- Played 62 defensive snaps, additional nine on special teams
Juice Scruggs, OL (2018-22), Houston Texans
Texans 26, 49ers 15
- Third season with Houston (three in the NFL)
- Played 37 snaps on offense and six on special teams
Chris Stoll, LS (2017-22), Seattle Seahawks
BYE
- Third season with Seattle (third in the NFL)
Jordan Stout, P (2019-21), Baltimore Ravens
Ravens 30, Bears 16
- Fourth season with Baltimore (fourth in the NFL)
- Punted two times, average of 47.5 yards. Long of 55 yards.
- Both punts downed inside the 20-yard line
Brenton Strange, TE (2019-22), Jacksonville Jaguars
BYE
- Third season with Jacksonville (third in the NFL)
- On injured reserve
Mitchell Tinsley, WR (2022), Cincinnati Bengals
Jets 39, Bengals 38
- 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 35, Steelers 25
- Fifth season with Green Bay (fifth in the NFL)
- Has started every game this season
- Recorded 62 offensive snaps, additional seven on special teams
Caedan Wallace, OL (2019-23), New England Patriots
Patriots 32, Browns 13
- Second season with New England (second in the NFL)
- Inactive in Week 8
Tyler Warren, TE (2020-24), Indianapolis Colts
Colts 38, Titans 14
- First season with Indianapolis (first in the NFL)
- Caught four passes on five targets for 53 yards
- Longest reception went for 20 yards
- Played 39 offensive snaps
Parker Washington, WR (2020-22), Jacksonville Jaguars
BYE
- Third season with Jacksonville (third in the NFL)
Kevin Winston Jr., S (2022-24), Tennessee Titans
Colts 38, Titans 14
- First season with Tennessee (first in the NFL)
- Recorded one solo tackle
- Played 21 defensive snaps, additional four on special teams
Sal Wormley, OL (2019-24), Jacksonville Jaguars
BYE
- First season with Jacksonville (first in the NFL)
- On practice squad
The 2025 Penn State football season is presented by PSECU.