UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – Week 12 in the National Football League saw 49 Penn State Football alums populate the rosters of 26 National Football League organizations. Former Penn State tight ends and safeties shined this week.
San Francisco safety Ji’Ayir Brown tallied five tackles and picked off two passes in the 49ers’ 20-9 win over the Panthers on Monday night. Houston safety Jaylen Reed made a career-high 12 tackles, including nine solo, and recovered a fumble in the Texans’ 23-19 win over Buffalo on Thursday. Tennessee safety Kevin Winston Jr. posted a team-high 10 tackles, six solo, and a tackle for loss in the Titans’ 30-24 loss against Seattle.
Green Bay defensive lineman Micah Parsons secured two sacks and three quarterback hits in the Packers’ 23-6 victory over Minnesota.
Former Penn State tight ends continue to dominate the league. Pittsburgh tight end Pat Freiermuth hauled in a 3-yard touchdown grab in the Steelers’ 31-28 setback against the Bears. In that game, Chicago safety Jaquan Brisker collected seven tackles and added a key pass breakup on fourth down to stop Pittsburgh’s final drive. New York Giants tight end Theo Johnson caught three passes for 77 yards in the Giants’ 34-27 loss to Detroit. Johnson had receptions of 39 and 24 yards. Jacksonville tight end Brenton Strange hauled in five receptions for 93 yards in the Jaguars’ 27-24 win over Arizona. Indianapolis tight end Tyler Warren contributed five catches for 45 yards in the Colts’ 23-20 loss against Kansas City.
Cincinnati receiver Mitchell Tinsley caught two passes for 29 yards, including a 17-yard touchdown reception, in the Bengals’ 26-20 setback against New England. Jacksonville receiver Parker Washington caught five passes for 71 yards, including a 9-yard touchdown and a 25-yard grab. Washington added a 43-yard punt return and leads the NFL with a 17.2 punt return average.
Baltimore punter Jordan Stout averaged 61.5 yards per punt in the Ravens’ 23-10 win over the New York Jets. Stout blasted punts of 56, 49, 74 and 67 yards, while landing three inside the 20 and one inside the 5.
Here’s how all 49 former Nittany Lions fared in Week 12:
Saquon Barkley, RB (2015-17), Philadelphia Eagles
Cowboys 24, Eagles 21
- Second season with Philadelphia (eighth in the NFL)
- Gained 22 yards on 10 carries.
- Added seven receptions for 52 yards with a long reception of 16 yards.
- Played 52 offensive snaps
Ryan Bates, OL (2016-18), Chicago Bears
Bears 31, Steelers 28
- Second season with Chicago (seventh in the NFL)
- Played five snaps, all on special teams
Jaquan Brisker, S (2019-21), Chicago Bears
Bears 31, Steelers 28
- Fourth season with Chicago (fourth in the NFL)
- Notched seven tackles, four solo.
- Broke up a pass on the Steelers’ final drive to seal the victory.
- Played 72 defensive snaps and six on special teams
Ji’Ayir Brown, S (2020-22), San Francisco 49ers
49ers 20, Panthers 9
- Third season with San Francisco (third in the NFL)
- Recorded five tackles, including four solo.
- Picked off two passes and broke up two others.
- Played 46 defensive snaps and five on special teams
Abdul Carter, LB (2022-24), New York Giants
Lions 34, Giants 27
- First season with the New York Giants (first in the NFL)
- Recorded four tackles, three solo, and three quarterback hits.
- Played 62 defensive snaps and five on special teams
Tariq Castro-Fields, CB (2017-21) - Philadelphia Eagles
Cowboys 24, Eagles 21
- Second season with Philadelphia (fourth in the NFL)
- On practice squad
Dan Chisena, WR (2015-19) - Carolina Panthers
49ers 20, Panthers 9
- First season with Carolina (fifth in the NFL)
- On practice squad
Sean Clifford, QB (2017-22) - Cincinnati Bengals
Patriots 26, Bengals 20
- First season with Cincinnati (third in the NFL)
- Activated from practice squad
Jahan Dotson, WR (2018-21), Philadelphia Eagles
Cowboys 24, Eagles 21
- Second season with Philadelphia (fourth in the NFL)
- Had one target.
- Played 34 snaps on offense.
Arnold Ebiketie, LB (2021), Atlanta Falcons
Falcons 24, Saints 10
- Fourth season with Atlanta (fourth in the NFL)
- Recorded one tackle and one quarterback hit
- Played 32 defensive snaps and five special teams snaps.
Olumuyiwa Fashanu, OL (2020-23), New York Jets
Ravens 23, Jets 10
- Second season with the New York Jets (second in the NFL)
- Has started every game at tackle this season
- Recorded 59 offensive snaps and two on special teams
Pat Freiermuth, TE (2018-20), Pittsburgh Steelers
Bears 31, Steelers 28
- Fifth season with Pittsburgh (fifth in the NFL)
- Caught three passes for 19 yards, including a 14-yard grab.
- Hauled in a 3-yard touchdown reception.
- Played 34 offensive snaps
Will Fries, OL (2017-20), Minnesota Vikings
Packers 23, Vikings 6
- First season with Minnesota (fifth in the NFL)
- Has started every game this season
- Played 44 offensive snaps and two on special teams
Mike Gesicki, TE (2014-17), Cincinnati Bengals
Patriots 26, Bengals 20
- Second season with Cincinnati (seventh in the NFL)
- Caught four passes for 35 yards, including a 13-yard reception.
- Played 28 snaps on offense.
Blake Gillikin, P (2016-19), Arizona Cardinals
Jaguars 27, Cardinals 24
- Third season with Arizona (sixth in the NFL)
- Currently on injured reserve
Kevin Givens, DT (2016-18), San Francisco 49ers
49ers 20, Panthers 9
- Sixth season with San Francisco (sixth in the NFL)
- Inactive in Week 11
Chris Godwin, WR (2014-16), Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Rams 34, Buccaneers 7
- Ninth season with Tampa Bay (ninth in the NFL)
- Made two catches, on four targets, for nine yards.
Yetur Gross-Matos, DE (2017-19), San Francisco 49ers
49ers 20, Panthers 9
- Second season with San Francisco (sixth in the NFL)
- Currently on injured reserve
Daequan Hardy, CB (2019-23), Pittsburgh Steelers
Bears 31, Steelers 28
- First season with Pittsburgh (second in the NFL)
- On practice squad
Adisa Isaac, DE (2019-23), Baltimore Ravens
Ravens 23, Jets 10
- Second season with Baltimore (second in the NFL)
- On injured reserve
Coziah Izzard, DT (2020-24), New Orleans Saints
Falcons 24, Saints 10
- First season with New Orleans (first in the NFL)
- On practice squad
Austin Johnson, DT (2013-15), Jacksonville Jaguars
Jaguars 27, Cardinals 24
- First season with Jacksonville (ninth in the NFL)
- Had one solo tackle.
- Recorded 10 defensive snaps
Theo Johnson, TE (2020-23), New York Giants
Lions 34, Giants 27
- Second season with the New York Giants (second in the NFL)
- Caught three passes, on five targets, for 77 yards.
- Hauled in 39- and 24-yard receptions.
- Recorded 64 offensive snaps
DaQuan Jones, DT (2010-13), Buffalo Bills
Texans 23, Bills 19
- Fourth season with Buffalo (12th in the NFL)
- Recorded one pass breakups and two quarterback hits.
- Played 31 defensive snaps and six on special teams
Kalen King, CB (2021-23), Carolina Panthers
49ers 20, Panthers 9
- First season with Carolina (second in the NFL)
- On practice squad
Kobe King, LB (2021-24), New York Jets
Ravens 23, Jets 10
- First season with New York (first in the NFL)
- Recorded one solo tackle
- Played 13 snaps on special teams
Jesse Luketa, LB (2018-21), Los Angeles Rams
Rams 34, Buccaneers 7
- First season with Los Angeles (fourth in the NFL)
- Signed to the Rams practice squad on November 18.
Connor McGovern, OL (2016-18), Buffalo Bills
Texans 23, Bills 19
- Third season with Buffalo (seventh in the NFL)
- Has started every game this season
- Recorded 66 offensive snaps
PJ Mustipher, DT (2018-22), Arizona Cardinals
Jaguars 27, Cardinals 24
- Second season with Arizona (second in the NFL)
- Recorded one solo tackle.
- Played 17 defensive snaps and five on special teams
Hunter Nourzad, OL (2022-23), Kansas City Chiefs
Chiefs 23, Colts 20
- Second season with Kansas City (second in the NFL)
- Played two snaps on offense and five on special teams.
Amani Oruwariye, CB (2015-18), Baltimore Ravens
Ravens 23, Browns 16
- First season with Baltimore (sixth in the NFL)
- Activated from practice squad.
- Made one solo tackle.
- Played 12 snaps on special teams.
Odafe Oweh, LB (2019-20), Los Angeles Chargers
Bye
- First season with the Los Angeles Chargers (fifth in the NFL)
- Traded to Los Angeles Chargers on October 7 from the Baltimore Ravens
Micah Parsons, DL (2018-19), Green Bay Packers
Packers 23, Vikings 6
- First season with Green Bay (fifth in the NFL)
- Secured two sacks and three quarterback hits.
- Played 40 snaps on defense
Joey Porter Jr., CB (2019-22), Pittsburgh Steelers
Bears 31, Steelers 28
- Third season with Pittsburgh (third in the NFL)
- Registered three tackles, including two solo.
- Played 44 defensive snaps
Jaylen Reed, S (2021-24), Houston Texans
Texans 23, Bills 19
- First season with Houston (first in the NFL)
- Secured career-high 12 tackles, nine solo.
- Added a fumble recovery with a 9-yard return.
- Recorded 55 snaps on defense and 17 on special teams
Chop Robinson, LB (2022-23), Miami Dolphins
Bye
- Second season with Miami (second in the NFL)
Miles Sanders, RB (2016-18), Dallas Cowboys
Cowboys 24, Eagles 21
- First season with Dallas (seventh in the NFL)
- On injured reserve
Nick Scott, S (2015-18), Carolina Panthers
49ers 20, Panthers 9
- Second season with Carolina (seventh in the NFL)
- Posted eight tackles, including one solo.
- Played 70 defensive snaps and four on special teams
Juice Scruggs, OL (2018-22), Houston Texans
Texans 23, Bills 19
- Third season with Houston (three in the NFL)
- Played five snaps on special teams
Chris Stoll, LS (2017-22), Seattle Seahawks
Seahawks 30, Titans 24
- Third season with Seattle (third in the NFL)
- Played eight snaps on special teams
Jordan Stout, P (2019-21), Baltimore Ravens
Ravens 23, Jets 10
- Fourth season with Baltimore (fourth in the NFL)
- Averaged 61.5 yards on four punts.
- Blasted punts of 56, 49, 74 and 67 yards.
- Landed three punts inside the 20 and one inside the 5.
- Played nine snaps on special teams
Brenton Strange, TE (2019-22), Jacksonville Jaguars
Jaguars 27, Cardinals 24
- Third season with Jacksonville (third in the NFL)
- Returned from injured reserve and made the start at tight end.
- Caught five passes for 93 yards with a long reception of 30 yards.
- Played 44 snaps on offense.
Mitchell Tinsley, WR (2022), Cincinnati Bengals
Patriots 26, Bengals 20
- First season with Cincinnati (third in the NFL)
- Made first career start.
- Caught two passes for 29 yards.
- Hauled in a 17-yard touchdown reception.
- Recorded 48 offensive snaps and nine on special teams
Rasheed Walker, OL (2019-21), Green Bay Packers
Packers 23, Vikings 6
- Fifth season with Green Bay (fifth in the NFL)
- Has started every game this season
- Recorded 66 snaps on offense and five on special teams
Caedan Wallace, OL (2019-23), New England Patriots
Patriots 26, Bengals 20
- Second season with New England (second in the NFL)
- Inactive in Week 11
Tyler Warren, TE (2020-24), Indianapolis Colts
Chiefs 23, Colts 20
- First season with Indianapolis (first in the NFL)
- Caught five passes, on seven targets, for 45 yards.
- Had a long reception of 16 yards.
- Played 44 snaps on offense.
Parker Washington, WR (2020-22), Jacksonville Jaguars
Jaguars 27, Cardinals 24
- Third season with Jacksonville (third in the NFL)
- Caught five passes, on seven targets, for 71 yards.
- Hauled in a 9-yard touchdown and added a 25-yard catch.
- Added a 43-yard punt return.
- Leads the NFL averaging 17.2 yards per punt return.
- Played 52 offensive snaps and six on special teams.
Kevin Winston Jr., S (2022-24), Tennessee Titans
Seahawks 30, Titans 24
- First season with Tennessee (first in the NFL)
- Led Tennessee with 10 tackles, including six solo.
- Recorded a solo tackle for loss.
- Played 48 defensive snaps and five on special teams
Sal Wormley, OL (2019-24), Jacksonville Jaguars
Jaguars 27, Cardinals 24
- First season with Jacksonville (first in the NFL)
- On practice squad
The 2025 Penn State football season is presented by PSECU.