UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – Week 9 in the National Football League saw 46 Penn State Football alums populate the rosters of 24 National Football League organizations. Among the biggest storylines from Week 9 included two former Nittany Lion defensive players who shined: one in the front seven who has continued to thrive since his trade west and one in the secondary who helped limit one of the top offenses in the NFL.
Los Angeles Chargers linebacker Odafe Oweh kept up his strong work during his team’s 27-20 win over Tennessee. The former Nittany Lion turned in his first multi-sack game of 2025 and third of his career, finishing with two sacks, plus two quarterback hits. Oweh’s four sacks this season have all come following his trade from Baltimore on October 7.
Pittsburgh cornerback Joey Porter Jr. also left his mark in Week 9. Porter finished the Steelers’ 27-20 win over Indianapolis with eight tackles (including six solo tackles) and four passes defended, all season highs. He also added a sack and a fourth-quarter interception, playing 78 snaps in the win. Porter has recorded at least three tackles and one pass defended in all four games since his return to the lineup in Week 6.
Several Penn State Football alums shined on the other side of the ball. Jacksonville wide receiver Parker Washington impressed in the Jaguars’ overtime win over Las Vegas, catching eight passes for 90 yards, both season highs. His longest reception went for 22 yards in the fourth quarter.
Meanwhile, New York Giants tight end Theo Johnson found the end zone once again, catching a 15-yard touchdown in the first quarter. Johnson’s five receiving touchdowns, all coming within the past six games, are tied for fourth-most among all NFL tight ends.
Here’s how all 46 former Nittany Lions fared in Week 9:
Saquon Barkley, RB (2015-17), Philadelphia Eagles
BYE
- Second season with Philadelphia (eighth in the NFL)
Ryan Bates, OL (2016-18), Chicago Bears
Bears 47, Bengals 42
- Second season with Chicago (seventh in the NFL)
- Played nine snaps, all on special teams
Jaquan Brisker, S (2019-21), Chicago Bears
Bears 47, Bengals 42
- Fourth season with Chicago (fourth in the NFL)
- Recorded six tackles, two of which were solo
- Played 68 defensive snaps, additional seven on special teams
Ji’Ayir Brown, S (2020-22), San Francisco 49ers
49ers 34, Giants 24
- Third season with San Francisco (third in the NFL)
- Fifth start at safety this season
- Recorded four tackles, three of which were solo
- Added one pass defensed
- Played 57 defensive snaps, additional 12 on special teams
Abdul Carter, LB (2022-24), New York Giants
49ers 34, Giants 24
- First season with the New York Giants (first in the NFL)
- Recorded one solo tackle
- Had one fumble recovery, first takeaway of his NFL career
- Played 39 defensive snaps
Tariq Castro-Fields, CB (2017-21) - Philadelphia Eagles
BYE
- Second season with Philadelphia (fourth in the NFL)
- On practice squad
Dan Chisena, WR (2015-19) - Carolina Panthers
Panthers 16, Packers 13
- First season with Carolina (fifth in the NFL)
- On practice squad
Sean Clifford, QB (2017-22) - Cincinnati Bengals
Bears 47, Bengals 42
- First season with Cincinnati (third in the NFL)
- Recently activated from practice squad
Jahan Dotson, WR (2018-21), Philadelphia Eagles
BYE
- Second season with Philadelphia (fourth in the NFL)
Arnold Ebiketie, LB (2021), Atlanta Falcons
Patriots 24, Falcons 23
- Fourth season with Atlanta (fourth in the NFL)
- Recorded three tackles, two of which were solo
- Had one tackle for loss
- Played 34 defensive snaps
Olumuyiwa Fashanu, OL (2020-23), New York Jets
BYE
- Second season with the New York Jets (second in the NFL)
Pat Freiermuth, TE (2018-20), Pittsburgh Steelers
Steelers 27, Colts 20
- Fifth season with Pittsburgh (fifth in the NFL)
- Caught three passes on four targets for 27 yards and a touchdown
- Caught a 12-yard touchdown pass in the second quarter
- Played 29 offensive snaps, additional two on special teams
Will Fries, OL (2017-20), Minnesota Vikings
Vikings 27, Lions 24
- First season with Minnesota (fifth in the NFL)
- Has started every game this season
- Played 62 offensive snaps, additional five on special teams
Mike Gesicki, TE (2014-17), Cincinnati Bengals
Bears 47, Bengals 42
- Second season with Cincinnati (seventh in the NFL)
- Currently on injured reserve
Blake Gillikin, P (2016-19), Arizona Cardinals
Cardinals 27, Cowboys 17
- Third season with Arizona (sixth in the NFL)
- Did not play during Week 9
- Currently on injured reserve with a back injury
Kevin Givens, DT (2016-18), San Francisco 49ers
49ers 34, Giants 24
- Sixth season with San Francisco (sixth in the NFL)
- Third game active this season after starting on injured reserve
- Had one tackle, his first of the season
- Recorded 18 defensive snaps
Chris Godwin, WR (2014-16), Tampa Bay Buccaneers
BYE
- Ninth season with Tampa Bay (ninth in the NFL)
Yetur Gross-Matos, DE (2017-19), San Francisco 49ers
49ers 34, Giants 24
- Second season with San Francisco (sixth in the NFL)
- Currently on injured reserve
Adisa Isaac, DE (2019-23), Baltimore Ravens
Ravens 28, Dolphins 6
- Second season with Baltimore (second in the NFL)
- On injured reserve
Austin Johnson, DT (2013-15), Jacksonville Jaguars
Jaguars 30, Raiders 29 (OT)
- First season with Jacksonville (ninth in the NFL)
- Played 16 defensive snaps, additional four on special teams
Theo Johnson, TE (2020-23), New York Giants
49ers 34, Giants 24
- Second season with the New York Giants (second in the NFL)
- Caught three passes on six targets for 27 yards and a touchdown
- Longest reception was a 15-yard touchdown in the first quarter
- Recorded 49 offensive snaps
DaQuan Jones, DT (2010-13), Buffalo Bills
Bills 28, Chiefs 21
- Fourth season with Buffalo (12th in the NFL)
- Inactive in Week 9
Kalen King, CB (2021-23), Carolina Panthers
Panthers 16, Packers 13
- First season with Carolina (second in the NFL)
- On practice squad
Kobe King, LB (2021-24), New York Jets
BYE
- First season with New York (first in the NFL)
- Signed by New York Jets after being released by Minnesota Vikings.
Connor McGovern, OL (2016-18), Buffalo Bills
Bills 28, Chiefs 21
- 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
Cardinals 27, Cowboys 17
- Second season with Arizona (second in the NFL)
- Recorded 11 snaps, all on defense
Hunter Nourzad, OL (2022-23), Kansas City Chiefs
Bills 28, Chiefs 21
- Second season with Kansas City (second in the NFL)
- Recorded three total snaps, all on special teams
Amani Oruwariye, CB (2015-18), Baltimore Ravens
Ravens 28, Dolphins 6
- First season with Baltimore (sixth in the NFL)
- On practice squad
Odafe Oweh, LB (2019-20), Los Angeles Chargers
Chargers 27, Titans 20
- First season with the Los Angeles Chargers (fifth in the NFL)
- Traded to Los Angeles Chargers on October 7 from the Baltimore Ravens
- Recorded two sacks for his first multi-sack game of the season
- Also contributed three tackles (two of which were solo), two tackles for loss, and two quarterback hits
- Played 23 defensive snaps, additional two on special teams
Micah Parsons, DL (2018-19), Green Bay Packers
Panthers 16, Packers 13
- First season with Green Bay (fifth in the NFL)
- Recorded three tackles, one of which was solo
- Had one tackle for loss
- Played 53 defensive snaps
Joey Porter Jr., CB (2019-22), Pittsburgh Steelers
Steelers 27, Colts 20
- Third season with Pittsburgh (third in the NFL)
- Recorded eight tackles, six of which were solo
- Had four passes defended, along with one sack (first of the season)
- Had one interception, also his first of the season
- Played 78 defensive snaps
Jaylen Reed, S (2021-24), Houston Texans
Broncos 18, Texans 15
- First season with Houston (first in the NFL)
- Third career game after starting year on injured reserve
- Played 18 snaps on special teams
Chop Robinson, LB (2022-23), Miami Dolphins
Ravens 28, Dolphins 6
- Second season with Miami (second in the NFL)
- Recorded one tackle
- Played five defensive snaps
Miles Sanders, RB (2016-18), Dallas Cowboys
Cardinals 27, Cowboys 17
- First season with Dallas (seventh in the NFL)
- On injured reserve
Nick Scott, S (2015-18), Carolina Panthers
Panthers 16, Packers 13
- Second season with Carolina (seventh in the NFL)
- Has started every game this season
- Recorded three combined tackles, one of which was solo
- Recovered a fumble, his first takeaway of the year
- Played 65 defensive snaps, additional three on special teams
Juice Scruggs, OL (2018-22), Houston Texans
Broncos 18, Texans 15
- Third season with Houston (three in the NFL)
- Played 34 snaps on offense, additional six on special teams
Chris Stoll, LS (2017-22), Seattle Seahawks
Seahawks 38, Commanders 14
- Third season with Seattle (third in the NFL)
- Recorded one tackle, his first of the season
- Played nine snaps all on special teams
Jordan Stout, P (2019-21), Baltimore Ravens
Ravens 28, Dolphins 6
- Fourth season with Baltimore (fourth in the NFL)
- Punted six times for an average of 56 yards. Longest punt of 64 yards.
- Four punts were pinned inside the 20-yard line
Brenton Strange, TE (2019-22), Jacksonville Jaguars
Jaguars 30, Raiders 29 (OT)
- Third season with Jacksonville (third in the NFL)
- On injured reserve
Mitchell Tinsley, WR (2022), Cincinnati Bengals
Bears 47, Bengals 42
- First season with Cincinnati (third in the NFL)
- Caught one pass on two targets for 27 yards, his longest reception of the year
- Played 17 offensive snaps and 11 on special teams
Rasheed Walker, OL (2019-21), Green Bay Packers
Panthers 16, Packers 13
- Fifth season with Green Bay (fifth in the NFL)
- Has started every game this season
- Recorded 65 offensive snaps, additional four on special teams
Caedan Wallace, OL (2019-23), New England Patriots
Patriots 24, Falcons 23
- Second season with New England (second in the NFL)
- Inactive in Week 9
Tyler Warren, TE (2020-24), Indianapolis Colts
Steelers 27, Colts 20
- First season with Indianapolis (first in the NFL)
- Caught five passes on seven targets for 26 yards
- Longest reception went for nine yards
- Played 66 offensive snaps
Parker Washington, WR (2020-22), Jacksonville Jaguars
Jaguars 30, Raiders 29 (OT)
- Third season with Jacksonville (third in the NFL)
- Caught season-high eight passes on nine targets for 90 yards
- Played 70 offensive snaps, additional one on special teams
Kevin Winston Jr., S (2022-24), Tennessee Titans
Chargers 27, Titans 20
- First season with Tennessee (first in the NFL)
- Received his first start of the season, first start of his career
- Recorded two tackles, one of which was solo
- Played 26 defensive snaps, additional five on special teams
Sal Wormley, OL (2019-24), Jacksonville Jaguars
Jaguars 30, Raiders 29 (OT)
- First season with Jacksonville (first in the NFL)
- On practice squad
The 2025 Penn State football season is presented by PSECU.