UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – Week 11 in the National Football League saw 48 Penn State Football alums populate the rosters of 25 National Football League organizations. Several former Nittany Lions on defense shined this week, including a defensive lineman who wreaked havoc in the Meadowlands and a safety who impressed in his second career start.
Green Bay defensive lineman Micah Parsons left it all on the field in his team’s 27-20 road win over the New York Giants. Parsons recorded his first sack in three weeks, finishing the game with 1.5 sacks. He also added a season-high six tackles and an additional three quarterback hits, plus a sack late in the game to give the Packers their sixth win of the season.
Like his fellow onetime Nittany Lion in Green Bay, Buffalo defensive lineman DaQuan Jones proved essential to the Bills’ 44-32 win over Tampa Bay. The 12th-year NFL veteran contributed four combined tackles. Two of his tackles were solo and Jones also forced his first fumble of the season in the fourth quarter.
Tennessee safety Kevin Winston Jr. delivered a breakout performance in the Titans’ 16-13 loss to Houston. Making his second career start in his sixth career game, Winston Jr. finished with six tackles (including two solo), more than double his career total entering the game. He added one quarterback hit as well, rounding out an impressive game for the rookie.
Carolina safety Nick Scott also came through for his team in Week 11. Scott finished with eight total tackles on 74 combined snaps, tying a season high in the Panthers’ overtime win over Atlanta. Scott has crossed the five-tackle benchmark four times over the last five games.
Notable performances on offense included Philadelphia running back Saquon Barkley (26 carries for 83 yards) and wide receiver Jahan Dotson (two receptions for 43 yards).
Here’s how all 48 former Nittany Lions fared in Week 11:
Saquon Barkley, RB (2015-17), Philadelphia Eagles
Eagles 16, Lions 9
- Second season with Philadelphia (eighth in the NFL)
- Ran 26 times for 83 yards. Longest run of 14 yards.
- Caught one pass on two targets for seven yards
- Played 58 offensive snaps
Ryan Bates, OL (2016-18), Chicago Bears
Bears 19, Vikings 17
- Second season with Chicago (seventh in the NFL)
- Played six snaps, all on special teams
Jaquan Brisker, S (2019-21), Chicago Bears
Bears 19, Vikings 17
- Fourth season with Chicago (fourth in the NFL)
- Recorded three tackles, two of which were solo
- Played 54 defensive snaps, additional four on special teams
Ji’Ayir Brown, S (2020-22), San Francisco 49ers
49ers 41, Cardinals 22
- Third season with San Francisco (third in the NFL)
- Recorded seven tackles, three of which were solo
- Played 70 defensive snaps, additional eight on special teams
Abdul Carter, LB (2022-24), New York Giants
Packers 27, Giants 20
- First season with the New York Giants (first in the NFL)
- Recorded one solo tackle
- Had one quarterback hit
- Played 49 defensive snaps, additional four on special teams
Tariq Castro-Fields, CB (2017-21) - Philadelphia Eagles
Eagles 16, Lions 9
- Second season with Philadelphia (fourth in the NFL)
- On practice squad
Dan Chisena, WR (2015-19) - Carolina Panthers
Panthers 30, Falcons 27 (OT)
- First season with Carolina (fifth in the NFL)
- Moved back to practice squad after being activated last week
Sean Clifford, QB (2017-22) - Cincinnati Bengals
Steelers 34, Bengals 12
- First season with Cincinnati (third in the NFL)
- Activated from practice squad
Jahan Dotson, WR (2018-21), Philadelphia Eagles
Eagles 16, Lions 9
- Second season with Philadelphia (fourth in the NFL)
- Caught two passes on two targets for 43 yards
- Longest reception was a 34-yard catch
- Played 23 snaps, all on offense
Arnold Ebiketie, LB (2021), Atlanta Falcons
Panthers 30, Falcons 27 (OT)
- Fourth season with Atlanta (fourth in the NFL)
- Recorded one combined tackle
- Had one quarterback hit
- Played 15 defensive snaps
Olumuyiwa Fashanu, OL (2020-23), New York Jets
Patriots 27, Jets 14
- Second season with the New York Jets (second in the NFL)
- Has started every game at tackle this season
- Recorded 57 offensive snaps, additional two on special teams
Pat Freiermuth, TE (2018-20), Pittsburgh Steelers
Steelers 34, Bengals 12
- Fifth season with Pittsburgh (fifth in the NFL)
- Caught one pass on one target for 19 yards
- Played 30 offensive snaps
Will Fries, OL (2017-20), Minnesota Vikings
Bears 19, Vikings 17
- First season with Minnesota (fifth in the NFL)
- Has started every game this season
- Played 55 offensive snaps, additional three on special teams
Mike Gesicki, TE (2014-17), Cincinnati Bengals
Steelers 34, Bengals 12
- Second season with Cincinnati (seventh in the NFL)
- Currently on injured reserve
Blake Gillikin, P (2016-19), Arizona Cardinals
49ers 41, Cardinals 22
- Third season with Arizona (sixth in the NFL)
- Currently on injured reserve
Kevin Givens, DT (2016-18), San Francisco 49ers
49ers 41, Cardinals 22
- Sixth season with San Francisco (sixth in the NFL)
- Inactive in Week 11
Chris Godwin, WR (2014-16), Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Bills 44, Buccaneers 32
- Ninth season with Tampa Bay (ninth in the NFL)
- Inactive in Week 11 with injury
Yetur Gross-Matos, DE (2017-19), San Francisco 49ers
49ers 41, Cardinals 22
- Second season with San Francisco (sixth in the NFL)
- Currently on injured reserve
Daequan Hardy, CB (2019-23), Pittsburgh Steelers
Steelers 34, Bengals 12
- First season with Pittsburgh (second in the NFL)
- On practice squad
Adisa Isaac, DE (2019-23), Baltimore Ravens
Ravens 23, Browns 16
- Second season with Baltimore (second in the NFL)
- On injured reserve
Coziah Izzard, DT (2020-24), New Orleans Saints
BYE
- First season with New Orleans (first in the NFL)
- On practice squad
Austin Johnson, DT (2013-15), Jacksonville Jaguars
Jaguars 35, Chargers 6
- First season with Jacksonville (ninth in the NFL)
- Played in his 140th career game vs Los Angeles
- Recorded three defensive snaps
Theo Johnson, TE (2020-23), New York Giants
Packers 27, Giants 20
- Second season with the New York Giants (second in the NFL)
- Caught three passes on four targets for 36 yards
- Longest reception was a 14-yard catch
- Recorded 66 offensive snaps
DaQuan Jones, DT (2010-13), Buffalo Bills
Bills 44, Buccaneers 32
- Fourth season with Buffalo (12th in the NFL)
- Recorded four tackles, two of which were solo
- Had one tackle-for-loss and one sack (third of season)
- Forced a fumble, first turnover of the season
- Played 45 defensive snaps, additional nine on special teams
Kalen King, CB (2021-23), Carolina Panthers
Panthers 30, Falcons 27 (OT)
- First season with Carolina (second in the NFL)
- On practice squad
Kobe King, LB (2021-24), New York Jets
Patriots 27, Jets 14
- First season with New York (first in the NFL)
- Signed by New York Jets after being released by the Minnesota Vikings.
- Recorded one solo tackle
- Played 12 snaps, all on special teams
Connor McGovern, OL (2016-18), Buffalo Bills
Bills 44, Buccaneers 32
- Third season with Buffalo (seventh in the NFL)
- Has started every game this season
- Recorded 56 offensive snaps
PJ Mustipher, DT (2018-22), Arizona Cardinals
49ers 41, Cardinals 22
- Second season with Arizona (second in the NFL)
- Recorded three combined tackles, two of which were solo
- Played 19 defensive snaps, additional nine on special teams
Hunter Nourzad, OL (2022-23), Kansas City Chiefs
Broncos 22, Chiefs 19
- Second season with Kansas City (second in the NFL)
- Inactive in Week 11
Amani Oruwariye, CB (2015-18), Baltimore Ravens
Ravens 23, Browns 16
- First season with Baltimore (sixth in the NFL)
- On practice squad
Odafe Oweh, LB (2019-20), Los Angeles Chargers
Jaguars 35, Chargers 6
- First season with the Los Angeles Chargers (fifth in the NFL)
- Traded to Los Angeles Chargers on October 7 from the Baltimore Ravens
- Recorded three combined tackles
- Had one quarterback hit
- Played 37 defensive snaps
Micah Parsons, DL (2018-19), Green Bay Packers
Packers 27, Giants 20
- First season with Green Bay (fifth in the NFL)
- Recorded season-high six tackles, one of which was solo
- Had three quarterback hits
- Tallied 1.5 sacks and a forced fumble, first turnover forced this season
- Played 61 snaps, all on defense
Joey Porter Jr., CB (2019-22), Pittsburgh Steelers
Steelers 34, Bengals 12
- Third season with Pittsburgh (third in the NFL)
- Played in his 40th career game
- Had three tackles, one of which was solo
- Recorded one pass defended
- Played 66 defensive snaps, one on special teams
Jaylen Reed, S (2021-24), Houston Texans
Texans 16, Titans 13
- First season with Houston (first in the NFL)
- Played in fifth career game, started season on injured reserve
- Recorded 21 snaps, all on special teams
Chop Robinson, LB (2022-23), Miami Dolphins
Dolphins 16, Commanders 13 (OT)
- Second season with Miami (second in the NFL)
- Recorded one combined tackle
- Had one quarterback hit
- Played 37 defensive snaps
Miles Sanders, RB (2016-18), Dallas Cowboys
Cowboys 33, Raiders 16
- First season with Dallas (seventh in the NFL)
- Remains on injured reserve
Nick Scott, S (2015-18), Carolina Panthers
Panthers 30, Falcons 27 (OT)
- Second season with Carolina (seventh in the NFL)
- Tied season high with eight total tackles, two of which were solo
- Played 64 defensive snaps, additional three on special teams
Juice Scruggs, OL (2018-22), Houston Texans
Texans 16, Titans 13
- Third season with Houston (three in the NFL)
- Played in his 30th career game
- Recorded one snaps on offense, additional five on special teams
Chris Stoll, LS (2017-22), Seattle Seahawks
Rams 21, Seahawks 19
- Third season with Seattle (third in the NFL)
- Played eight snaps all on special teams
Jordan Stout, P (2019-21), Baltimore Ravens
Ravens 23, Browns 16
- Fourth season with Baltimore (fourth in the NFL)
- Punted four times for an average of 44 yards. Longest punt of 52 yards.
- Two punts pinned inside the 20-yard line, one touchback
- Played nine snaps all on special teams
Brenton Strange, TE (2019-22), Jacksonville Jaguars
Jaguars 35, Chargers 6
- Third season with Jacksonville (third in the NFL)
- On injured reserve
Mitchell Tinsley, WR (2022), Cincinnati Bengals
Steelers 34, Bengals 12
- First season with Cincinnati (third in the NFL)
- Recorded seven offensive snaps, additional nine on special teams
Rasheed Walker, OL (2019-21), Green Bay Packers
Packers 27, Giants 20
- Fifth season with Green Bay (fifth in the NFL)
- Has started every game this season
- Recorded 55 snaps, including three on special teams
Caedan Wallace, OL (2019-23), New England Patriots
Patriots 27, Jets 14
- Second season with New England (second in the NFL)
- Inactive in Week 11
Tyler Warren, TE (2020-24), Indianapolis Colts
BYE
- First season with Indianapolis (first in the NFL)
Parker Washington, WR (2020-22), Jacksonville Jaguars
Jaguars 35, Chargers 6
- Third season with Jacksonville (third in the NFL)
- Caught two passes on two targets for 20 yards
- Longest reception was a 11-yard catch
- Played 54 offensive snaps, additional four on special teams
Kevin Winston Jr., S (2022-24), Tennessee Titans
Texans 16, Titans 13
- First season with Tennessee (first in the NFL)
- Recorded career-high six tackles, two of which were solo
- Had one quarterback hit
- Played 70 defensive snaps, additional four on special teams
Sal Wormley, OL (2019-24), Jacksonville Jaguars
Jaguars 35, Chargers 6
- First season with Jacksonville (first in the NFL)
- On practice squad
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