Nittany Lions In The NFL: Week 14Nittany Lions In The NFL: Week 14
Getty Images

Nittany Lions In The NFL: Week 14

Barkley, Gesicki impress on offense; Pass rushers across the league contribute on defense; By Will Duerksen, student writer

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – Week 14 in the National Football League saw 50 Penn State Football alums populate the rosters of 26 National Football League organizations. Among the Week 14 standouts included a running back who shined in primetime, a tight end who set multiple season highs and a veteran defensive tackle who helped his team’s comeback win.

 

Philadelphia running back Saquon Barkley found another gear in the Eagles’ overtime loss to the Los Angeles Chargers. Barkley rushed for 122 yards on 20 carries and he also began the fourth quarter in style, rushing for a 52-yard touchdown. It marked the first time since Week 8 that Barkley topped 100 yards on the ground and scored a rushing touchdown, which was his fifth on the season and 53rd of his career.

 

Cincinnati tight end Mike Gesicki played his best game of the season in the Bengals’ loss to Buffalo. The former Nittany Lion finished with six receptions for 86 yards, both season highs. Gesicki’s 37-yard reception in the fourth quarter also was a season high and his receiving touchdown was his first since Week 9 of the 2024 season.

 

A slew of former Nittany Lion pass rushers impressed in Week 14, including ones on Barkley and Gesicki’s opponents. Chargers linebacker Odafe Oweh played a vital role in his team’s win over Philadelphia, making two solo tackles and recording one sack. Bills defensive tackle DaQuan Jones tied a season high with two quarterback hits while adding two combined tackles in a win over Cincinnati.

 

Other noteworthy performances by pass rushers included Miami linebacker Chop Robinson, whose forced fumble, sack and tackle for loss helped power the Dolphins to a win over the Jets. Arizona defensive tackle PJ Mustipher also broke out against the Rams, making a career-high seven tackles (including two solo) on a combined 39 snaps.

 

Here’s how all 50 former Nittany Lions fared in Week 14:

 

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

Chargers 22, Eagles 19 (OT)

  • Second season with Philadelphia (eighth in the NFL)
  • Recorded 20 carries for 122 yards and a touchdown
  • Played 58 snaps, all on offense

 

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

Packers 28, Bears 21

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

 

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

Packers 28, Bears 21

  • Fourth season with Chicago (fourth in the NFL)
  • Notched two solo tackles
  • Played 53 defensive snaps and five on special teams

 

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

BYE

  • Third season with San Francisco (third in the NFL)

 

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

BYE

  • First season with the New York Giants (first in the NFL) 

 

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

Chargers 22, Eagles 19 (OT)

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

 

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

BYE

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

 

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

Bills 39, Bengals 34

  • First season with Cincinnati (third in the NFL) 
  • Placed back on practice squad

 

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

Chargers 22, Eagles 19 (OT)

  • Second season with Philadelphia (fourth in the NFL) 
  • Caught one of his three targets for three yards
  • Played 35 offensive snaps

 

Arnold Ebiketie, LB (2021), Atlanta Falcons 

Seahawks 37, Falcons 9

  • Fourth season with Atlanta (fourth in the NFL)
  • Had two combined tackles
  • Notched one pass defended
  • Played 27 defensive snaps, additional three on special teams

 

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

Dolphins 34, Jets 10

  • Second season with the New York Jets (second in the NFL) 
  • Has started every game at tackle this season
  • Recorded 58 offensive snaps and two on special teams

 

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

Steelers 27, Ravens 22

  • Fifth season with Pittsburgh (fifth in the NFL)
  • Caught two passes on three targets for nine yards.
  • Played 31 offensive snaps, additional six on special teams.

 

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

Vikings 31, Commanders 0

  • First season with Minnesota (fifth in the NFL) 
  • Has started every game this season
  • Played 64 offensive snaps, five on special teams.

  

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

Bills 39, Bengals 34

  • Second season with Cincinnati (seventh in the NFL) 
  • Caught six passes on six targets for 86 yards and a touchdown.
  • Longest catch went for 37 yards.
  • Had a 12-yard touchdown reception in the fourth quarter.
  • Played 25 snaps on offense.

 

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

Rams 45, Cardinals 17

  • Third season with Arizona (sixth in the NFL) 
  • Currently on injured reserve

 

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

BYE

  • Sixth season with San Francisco (sixth in the NFL) 
  • Inactive in Week 13 with injury

 

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

Saints 24, Buccaneers 20

  • Ninth season with Tampa Bay (ninth in the NFL) 
  • Caught three passes for 26 yards.
  • Recorded 58 offensive snaps.

 

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

BYE

  • Second season with San Francisco (sixth in the NFL) 
  • Currently on injured reserve

 

Daequan Hardy, CB (2019-23) - Pittsburgh Steelers 

Steelers 27, Ravens 22

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

 

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

Steelers 27, Ravens 22

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

 

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

Saints 24, Buccaneers 20

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

   

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

Jaguars 36, Colts 19

  • First season with Jacksonville (ninth in the NFL)
  • Inactive in Week 14

 

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

BYE

  • Second season with the New York Giants (second in the NFL) 

 

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

Bills 39, Bengals 34

  • Fourth season with Buffalo (12th in the NFL) 
  • Played in 165th career game.
  • Recorded two tackles, one of which was solo.
  • Notched two quarterback hits.
  • Played 37 defensive snaps and four on special teams

 

Jalen Kimber, CB (2024) - Cincinnati Bengals 

Bills 39, Bengals 34

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

 

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

BYE

  • First season with Carolina (second in the NFL) 

 

Kobe King, LB (2021-24), New York Jets 

Dolphins 34, Jets 10

  • First season with New York (first in the NFL)
  • Recorded one combined tackle
  • Played 23 snaps, all on special teams

 

Jesse Luketa, LB (2018-21), Los Angeles Rams

Rams 45, Cardinals 17

  • 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 

Bills 39, Bengals 34

  • Third season with Buffalo (seventh in the NFL) 
  • Has started every game this season
  • Recorded 64 offensive snaps

 

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

Rams 45, Cardinals 17

  • Second season with Arizona (second in the NFL) 
  • Recorded season-high seven tackles, two of which were solo.
  • Played 32 defensive snaps and seven on special teams

 

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

Texans 20, Chiefs 10

  • Second season with Kansas City (second in the NFL)
  • Played one snap on offense and three on special teams.

 

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

Steelers 27, Ravens 22

  • First season with Baltimore (sixth in the NFL) 
  • Returned to practice squad.

 

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

Chargers 22, Eagles 19 (OT)

  • First season with the Los Angeles Chargers (fifth in the NFL) 
    • Recorded two solo tackles, one of which went for a loss
    • Notched a sack and a pair of quarterback hits
    • Played 27 defensive snaps

 

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

Packers 28, Bears 21

  • First season with Green Bay (fifth in the NFL)
  • Recorded one combined tackle.
  • Had two quarterback hits.
  • Played 61 snaps on defense

 

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

Steelers 27, Ravens 22

  • Third season with Pittsburgh (third in the NFL) 
  • Registered four tackles, one of which was solo.
  • Had one pass defended
  • Played 80 defensive snaps, one on special teams

 

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

Texans 20, Chiefs 10

  • First season with Houston (first in the NFL) 
  • Placed on injured reserve.

 

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

Dolphins 34, Jets 10

  • Second season with Miami (second in the NFL)
  • Recorded one solo tackle and one tackle for loss.
  • Had one quarterback hit and one sack.
  • Registered a forced fumble.
  • Played 32 defensive snaps

 

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

Lions 44, Cowboys 30

  • First season with Dallas (seventh in the NFL) 
  • On injured reserve

 

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

BYE

  • Second season with Carolina (seventh in the NFL) 

 

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

Texans 20, Chiefs 10

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

 

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

Seahawks 37, Falcons 9

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

 

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

Steelers 27, Ravens 22

  • Fourth season with Baltimore (fourth in the NFL) 
  • Averaged 51 yards/punt on two punts.
  • Longest punt of 54 yards.
  • Played seven snaps on special teams

 

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

Jaguars 36, Colts 19

  • Third season with Jacksonville (third in the NFL)
  • Caught three passes for 27 yards.
  • Longest reception was a 16-yard catch.
  • Played 51 snaps on offense, one on special teams.

 

Mitchell Tinsley, WR (2022), Cincinnati Bengals 

Bills 39, Bengals 34

  • First season with Cincinnati (third in the NFL) 
  • Played 15th career game.
  • Recorded nine offensive snaps and three on special teams

 

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

Packers 28, Bears 21

  • Fifth season with Green Bay (fifth in the NFL) 
  • Has started every game this season
  • Recorded 53 snaps on offense and four on special teams

 

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

BYE

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

 

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

Jaguars 36, Colts 19

  • First season with Indianapolis (first in the NFL) 
  • Caught two passes for 15 yards.
  • Longest reception was a 13-yard catch.
  • Had one rushing attempt for two yards.
  • Played 65 snaps on offense.

 

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

Jaguars 36, Colts 19

  • Third season with Jacksonville (third in the NFL)
  • Inactive in Week 14

 

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

Titans 31, Browns 29

  • First season with Tennessee (first in the NFL) 
  • Had five combined tackles, four of which were solo.
  • Recorded season highs in tackles for loss (2) and quarterback hits (2).
  • Had two passes defended.
  • Played 69 defensive snaps

 

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

Jaguars 36, Colts 19

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

 

The 2025 Penn State football season is presented by PSECU.