UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – Week 13 in the National Football League saw 48 Penn State Football alums populate the rosters of 26 National Football League organizations. Several standout performances by former Nittany Lions included a defensive lineman who posted multiple sacks once again, plus a tight end who helped his team move into first place in the AFC South.
Green Bay defensive lineman Micah Parsons had a Thanksgiving to remember during the Packers’ win over Detroit. Parsons finished the game with 2.5 sacks on a season-high eight tackles, three of which went for a loss. This marked the second consecutive game (and third overall) Parsons recorded at least two sacks during the game, following Week 7 against Arizona (three) and Week 12 against Minnesota (2.5).
Three other former Nittany Lions on defense turned in strong Week 13 showings. Chicago safety Jaquan Brisker recorded six tackles and a pass defended during the Bears’ Black Friday win over Philadelphia. Fellow safety Kevin Winston Jr. continued his solid start to his career, racking up eight tackles and his first career sack in Tennessee's loss to Jacksonville. In addition, Miami linebacker Chop Robinson added a trio of quarterback hits and a sack in the Dolphins’ win over New Orleans.
Turning to the other side of the ball, Jaguars tight end Brenton Strange built off his solid Week 12 performance with another good performance. Strange caught three of his four targets for 45 yards in the Jaguars’ 25-3 win over the Titans. He also found the end zone for the first time in 2025, catching a second-quarter touchdown. Strange will see his former teammate Tyler Warren’s Colts next week in a game between teams at the top of the AFC South.
Finally, two PSU alums celebrated milestones in Week 13. Tampa Bay wide receiver Chris Godwin celebrated his 115th career game in the Buccaneers’ win over Arizona by catching three passes for a season-high 78 yards and his 31-yard reception was the longest by any Buccaneer. Carolina cornerback Kalen King made his NFL debut, playing seven special teams snaps in the Panthers’ win over the Los Angeles Rams.
Here’s how all 48 former Nittany Lions fared in Week 13:
Saquon Barkley, RB (2015-17), Philadelphia Eagles
Bears 24, Eagles 15
- Second season with Philadelphia (eighth in the NFL)
- Ran 13 times for 56 yards. Longest rush went for 15 yards.
- Played 50 offensive snaps
Ryan Bates, OL (2016-18), Chicago Bears
Bears 24, Eagles 15
- Second season with Chicago (seventh in the NFL)
- Played four snaps, all on special teams
Jaquan Brisker, S (2019-21), Chicago Bears
Bears 24, Eagles 15
- Fourth season with Chicago (fourth in the NFL)
- Notched six tackles, five of which were solo
- Had one pass defensed
- Played 54 defensive snaps and four on special teams
Ji’Ayir Brown, S (2020-22), San Francisco 49ers
49ers 26, Browns 8
- Third season with San Francisco (third in the NFL)
- Played in his 45th career NFL game
- Recorded five tackles, including four solo
- Played 63 defensive snaps and five on special teams
Abdul Carter, LB (2022-24), New York Giants
Patriots 33, Giants 15
- First season with the New York Giants (first in the NFL)
- Recorded three tackles and one quarterback hit
- Played a combined 43 snaps, including five on special teams
Tariq Castro-Fields, CB (2017-21) - Philadelphia Eagles
Bears 24, Eagles 15
- Second season with Philadelphia (fourth in the NFL)
- On practice squad
Dan Chisena, WR (2015-19) - Carolina Panthers
Panthers 31, Rams 28
- First season with Carolina (fifth in the NFL)
- On practice squad
Sean Clifford, QB (2017-22) - Cincinnati Bengals
Bengals 32, Ravens 14
- First season with Cincinnati (third in the NFL)
- Placed back on practice squad
Jahan Dotson, WR (2018-21), Philadelphia Eagles
Bears 24, Eagles 15
- Second season with Philadelphia (fourth in the NFL)
- Caught one pass on three targets for 12 yards.
- Played 32 snaps on offense.
Arnold Ebiketie, LB (2021), Atlanta Falcons
Jets 27, Falcons 24
- Fourth season with Atlanta (fourth in the NFL)
- Had two tackles, one of which was solo.
- Notched one quarterback hit.
- Played 16 defensive snaps.
Olumuyiwa Fashanu, OL (2020-23), New York Jets
Jets 27, Falcons 24
- Second season with the New York Jets (second in the NFL)
- Has started every game at tackle this season
- Recorded 66 offensive snaps and six on special teams
Pat Freiermuth, TE (2018-20), Pittsburgh Steelers
Bills 26, Steelers 7
- Fifth season with Pittsburgh (fifth in the NFL)
- Played 17 offensive snaps, additional one on special teams.
Will Fries, OL (2017-20), Minnesota Vikings
Seahawks 26, Vikings 0
- First season with Minnesota (fifth in the NFL)
- Has started every game this season
- Played 52 offensive snaps.
Mike Gesicki, TE (2014-17), Cincinnati Bengals
Bengals 32, Ravens 14
- Second season with Cincinnati (seventh in the NFL)
- Caught two passes on four targets for 19 yards. Long reception of 11 yards.
- Played 23 snaps on offense.
Blake Gillikin, P (2016-19), Arizona Cardinals
Buccaneers 20, Cardinals 17
- Third season with Arizona (sixth in the NFL)
- Currently on injured reserve
Kevin Givens, DT (2016-18), San Francisco 49ers
49ers 26, Browns 8
- Sixth season with San Francisco (sixth in the NFL)
- Inactive in Week 13 with injury
Chris Godwin, WR (2014-16), Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Buccaneers 20, Cardinals 17
- Ninth season with Tampa Bay (ninth in the NFL)
- Played in 115th career game.
- Caught three passes on five targets for 78 yards. Long reception of 31 yards.
- Recorded 40 offensive snaps.
Yetur Gross-Matos, DE (2017-19), San Francisco 49ers
49ers 26, Browns 8
- Second season with San Francisco (sixth in the NFL)
- Currently on injured reserve
Adisa Isaac, DE (2019-23), Baltimore Ravens
Bengals 32, Ravens 14
- Second season with Baltimore (second in the NFL)
- On injured reserve
Coziah Izzard, DT (2020-24), New Orleans Saints
Dolphins 21, Saints 17
- First season with New Orleans (first in the NFL)
- On practice squad
Austin Johnson, DT (2013-15), Jacksonville Jaguars
Jaguars 25, Titans 3
- First season with Jacksonville (ninth in the NFL)
- Had one sack and one quarterback hit (both first of season).
- Recorded a forced fumble, his fifth career takeaway and first of the season.
- Played nine defensive snaps
Theo Johnson, TE (2020-23), New York Giants
Patriots 33, Giants 15
- Second season with the New York Giants (second in the NFL)
- Caught three receptions for 29 yards
- Longest reception went for 18 yards in the third quarter
DaQuan Jones, DT (2010-13), Buffalo Bills
Bills 26, Steelers 7
- Fourth season with Buffalo (12th in the NFL)
- Recorded two tackles, one of which was solo.
- Played 27 defensive snaps and two on special teams
Kalen King, CB (2021-23), Carolina Panthers
Panthers 31, Rams 28
- First season with Carolina (second in the NFL)
- Activated from practice squad, appeared in 1st career NFL game
- Played seven snaps, all on special teams
Kobe King, LB (2021-24), New York Jets
Jets 27, Falcons 24
- First season with New York (first in the NFL)
- Recorded one combined tackle
- Played 11 snaps, all on special teams
Jesse Luketa, LB (2018-21), Los Angeles Rams
Panthers 31, Rams 28
- 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 26, Steelers 7
- Third season with Buffalo (seventh in the NFL)
- Has started every game this season
- Played in his 90th career NFL game.
- Recorded 74 offensive snaps
PJ Mustipher, DT (2018-22), Arizona Cardinals
Buccaneers 20, Cardinals 17
- Second season with Arizona (second in the NFL)
- Recorded one combined tackle.
- Played 16 defensive snaps and four on special teams
Hunter Nourzad, OL (2022-23), Kansas City Chiefs
Cowboys 31, Chiefs 28
- Second season with Kansas City (second in the NFL)
- Played three snaps on offense and four on special teams.
Amani Oruwariye, CB (2015-18), Baltimore Ravens
Bengals 32, Ravens 14
- First season with Baltimore (sixth in the NFL)
- Returned to practice squad.
- Inactive in Week 13.
Odafe Oweh, LB (2019-20), Los Angeles Chargers
Chargers 31, Raiders 14
- First season with the Los Angeles Chargers (fifth in the NFL)
- Traded to Los Angeles Chargers on October 7 from the Baltimore Ravens
- Recorded one quarterback hit
- Played 23 defensive snaps, additional one on special teams.
Micah Parsons, DL (2018-19), Green Bay Packers
Packers 31, Lions 24
- First season with Green Bay (fifth in the NFL)
- Played in his 75th career NFL game.
- Recorded season-high eight tackles, four of which were solo.
- Had three tackles-for-loss.
- Secured 2.5 sacks and four quarterback hits.
- Played 57 snaps on defense
Joey Porter Jr., CB (2019-22), Pittsburgh Steelers
Bills 26, Steelers 7
- Third season with Pittsburgh (third in the NFL)
- Registered season-high-tying eight tackles, six of which were solo.
- Played 74 defensive snaps
Jaylen Reed, S (2021-24), Houston Texans
Texans 20, Colts 16
- First season with Houston (first in the NFL)
- First time starting at safety in his NFL career.
- Had two combined tackles.
- Recorded 17 snaps on defense.
Chop Robinson, LB (2022-23), Miami Dolphins
Dolphins 21, Saints 17
- Second season with Miami (second in the NFL)
- Recorded five tackles, two of which were solo.
- Had one tackle for loss.
- Registered career-high 1.5 sacks and three quarterback hits
- Played 45 defensive snaps
Miles Sanders, RB (2016-18), Dallas Cowboys
Cowboys 31, Chiefs 28
- First season with Dallas (seventh in the NFL)
- On injured reserve
Nick Scott, S (2015-18), Carolina Panthers
Panthers 31, Rams 28
- Second season with Carolina (seventh in the NFL)
- Posted season-high nine tackles, five of which were solo
- Had one pass breakup and one interception (first of season)
- Played 52 defensive snaps and three on special teams
Juice Scruggs, OL (2018-22), Houston Texans
Texans 20, Colts 16
- Third season with Houston (three in the NFL)
- Played four snaps on special teams
Chris Stoll, LS (2017-22), Seattle Seahawks
Seahawks 26, Vikings 0
- Third season with Seattle (third in the NFL)
- Played 10 snaps on special teams
Jordan Stout, P (2019-21), Baltimore Ravens
Bengals 32, Ravens 14
- Fourth season with Baltimore (fourth in the NFL)
- Averaged 49.7 yards on three punts.
- Landed one punt for a touchback.
- Played five snaps on special teams
Brenton Strange, TE (2019-22), Jacksonville Jaguars
Jaguars 25, Titans 3
- Third season with Jacksonville (third in the NFL)
- Caught three passes on four targets for 45 yards and a touchdown.
- Longest reception was a 21-yard touchdown catch.
- Played 53 snaps on offense.
Mitchell Tinsley, WR (2022), Cincinnati Bengals
Bengals 32, Ravens 14
- First season with Cincinnati (third in the NFL)
- Caught two passes on a career-high nine targets for 22 yards.
- Longest reception was a 14-yard catch.
- Recorded 56 offensive snaps and two on special teams
Rasheed Walker, OL (2019-21), Green Bay Packers
Packers 31, Lions 24
- Fifth season with Green Bay (fifth in the NFL)
- Has started every game this season
- Had a fumble recovery.
- Recorded 63 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)
- Made season debut, playing eight snaps on special teams
Tyler Warren, TE (2020-24), Indianapolis Colts
Texans 20, Colts 16
- First season with Indianapolis (first in the NFL)
- Caught three passes on four targets for 22 yards and a touchdown.
- Longest reception was a 12-yard touchdown catch.
- Had one fumble, first of his career.
- Played 47 snaps on offense.
Parker Washington, WR (2020-22), Jacksonville Jaguars
Jaguars 25, Titans 3
- Third season with Jacksonville (third in the NFL)
- Caught one pass on three targets for 26 yards.
- Had one punt return for 14 yards.
- Played 24 offensive snaps and three on special teams.
Kevin Winston Jr., S (2022-24), Tennessee Titans
Jaguars 25, Titans 3
- First season with Tennessee (first in the NFL)
- Had eight combined tackles, five of which were solo.
- Recorded a solo tackle for loss.
- Had first career sack, and a quarterback hit.
- Played 63 defensive snaps and one on special teams
Sal Wormley, OL (2019-24), Jacksonville Jaguars
Jaguars 25, Titans 3
- First season with Jacksonville (first in the NFL)
- On practice squad
The 2025 Penn State football season is presented by PSECU.