UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – Week 18 in the National Football League saw 50 Penn State Football alums populate the rosters of 26 National Football League organizations. Two former Nittany Lion had big performances in the Jacksonville Jaguars’ win over the Tennessee Titans.
Jacksonville tight end Brenton Strange made six catches for 52 yards in the Jaguars’ 41-7 victory against the Titans. He hauled in a 7-yard touchdown reception in the first quarter.
Wide receiver Parker Washington continued a strong season for the Jaguars with five receptions for 87 yards on Sunday. He added a 23-yard touchdown grab and receptions of 29 and 23 yards.
Pittsburgh tight end Pat Freiermuth had three key catches in the Steelers’ 26-24 win over the Baltimore Ravens to clinch the AFC North title on Sunday night. Freiermuth totaled 51 yards, including receptions of 31 and 23 yards.
Kansas City offensive lineman Hunter Nourzad made his first career start for the Chiefs on Sunday and played all 64 offensive snaps.
On defense, Chicago safety Jaquan Brisker posted eight tackles, five solo, and two pass breakups in the Bears’ 19-16 setback against the Detroit Lions.
San Francisco safety Ji’Ayir Brown recorded eight tackles, including five solo, in the 49ers’ 13-3 loss to the Seattle Seahawks on Saturday.
Several Nittany Lions will be making appearances in the NFL playoffs this upcoming weekend.
In the AFC, the Buffalo Bills (DaQuan Jones, Connor McGovern), Houston (Jaylen Reed, Juice Scruggs), Jacksonville (Austin Johnson, Brenton Strange, Parker Washington, Sal Wormley), Los Angeles Chargers (Odafe Oweh), New England (Caedan Wallace) and Pittsburgh (Pat Freiermuth, Daequan Hardy, Joey Porter Jr.) include former Penn State players.
In the NFC, Chicago (Ryan Bates, Jaquan Brisker), Green Bay (Micah Parsons, Rasheed Walker), Los Angeles Rams (Jesse Luketa), Philadelphia (Saquon Barkley, Tariq Castro-Fields, Jahan Dotson), San Francisco (Ji’Ayir Brown, Kevin Givens, Yetur Gross-Matos), Seattle (Chris Stoll) and Tampa Bay (Chris Godwin) include former Nittany Lions.
Here’s how all 50 former Nittany Lions fared in Week 18:
Saquon Barkley, RB (2015-17), Philadelphia Eagles
Commanders 24, Eagles 17
- Second season with Philadelphia (eighth in the NFL)
- Did not play against Washington.
- Started 16 games in 2025.
- Rushed for 1,140 yards and seven touchdowns on 280 carries.
- Added 37 receptions for 273 yards and two touchdowns.
- Had three 100-yard rushing games and four games with 100+ scrimmage yards.
Ryan Bates, OL (2016-18), Chicago Bears
Lions 19, Bears 16
- Second season with Chicago (seventh in the NFL)
- Did not play against Detroit.
- Played in 16 games in 2025.
Jaquan Brisker, S (2019-21), Chicago Bears
Lions 19, Bears 16
- Fourth season with Chicago (fourth in the NFL)
- Collected eight tackles, including five solo.
- Added two pass breakups.
- Played all 73 defensive snaps and seven on special teams.
- Started in all 17 games in 2025.
- Collected 93 tackles (52 solo), one tackle for loss, one sack, one interception and eight pass breakups.
- Returned on interception 32 yards against Washington on October 13.
Ji’Ayir Brown, S (2020-22), San Francisco 49ers
Seahawks 13, 49ers 3
- Third season with San Francisco (third in the NFL)
- Collected eight tackles, including five solo.
- Played all 69 snaps on defense and two on special teams.
- Played in 17 games and made 12 starts in 2025.
- Tallied 76 tackles (44 solo), two tackles for loss, two interceptions, one forced fumble and six pass breakups.
- Was NFL Defensive Player of the Week in Week 12 after recording five tackles and two interceptions.
Abdul Carter, LB (2022-24), New York Giants
Giants 34, Cowboys 17
- First season with the New York Giants (first in the NFL)
- Had one quarterback hit.
- Played 52 defensive snaps.
- Played in 17 games and made six starts in 2025.
- Secured 43 tackles (25 solo), seven tackles for loss, four sacks, two forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries and 23 quarterback hits.
- Tallied seven tackles, three tackles for loss, one sack, two forced fumbles and a fumble recovery against Washington on December 14.
Tariq Castro-Fields, CB (2017-21) - Philadelphia Eagles
Commanders 24, Eagles 17
- Second season with Philadelphia (fourth in the NFL)
- On practice squad
- Did not see game action after signing with the Eagles practice squad on October 13.
Dan Chisena, WR (2015-19) - Carolina Panthers
Buccaneers 16, Panthers 14
- First season with Carolina (fifth in the NFL)
- On practice squad
- Played in one game in 2025, seeing four snaps on offense and nine on special teams.
Sean Clifford, QB (2017-22) - Cincinnati Bengals
Browns 20, Bengals 18
- First season with Cincinnati (third in the NFL)
- On practice squad
- Did not see game action after signing with the Bengals practice squad on September 16.
Jahan Dotson, WR (2018-21), Philadelphia Eagles
Commanders 24, Eagles 17
- Second season with Philadelphia (fourth in the NFL)
- Caught three passes, on eight targets, for 40 yards.
- Had a long reception of 16 yards.
- Played 60 offensive snaps.
- Played in 17 games and made 10 starts in 2025.
- Caught 18 passes for 262 yards and one touchdown with a long reception of 51 yards.
- Added five punt returns for 48 yards.
- Had a 40-yard touchdown grab against the New York Giants on October 26.
Arnold Ebiketie, LB (2021), Atlanta Falcons
Falcons 19, Saints 17
- Fourth season with Atlanta (fourth in the NFL)
- Played 22 defensive snaps.
- Made 17 appearances and three starts in 2025.
- Tallied 36 tackles (17 solo), five tackles for loss, two sacks, one pass breakup and six quarterback hits.
- Had four tackles, including a sack, against Indianapolis on November 9.
Olumuyiwa Fashanu, OL (2020-23), New York Jets
Bills 35, Jets 8
- Second season with the New York Jets (second in the NFL)
- Started all 17 games at tackle this season
- Played all 48 offensive snaps.
- Played 1,040 of Jets’ 1,048 offensive snaps (99%) this season.
- In 1,040 offensive snaps, was only called for one holding penalty.
Pat Freiermuth, TE (2018-20), Pittsburgh Steelers
Steelers 26, Ravens 24
- Fifth season with Pittsburgh (fifth in the NFL)
- Caught three passes, on five targets, for 51 yards.
- Had a long reception of 31 yards and another reception for 23 yards.
- Played 52 offensive snaps.
- Made 17 appearances and eight starts in 2025.
- Caught 41 passes for 486 yards and four touchdowns with a long reception of 68 yards.
- Had a season-high 111 receiving yards and two touchdowns on five catches against Cincinnati in Week 7.
Will Fries, OL (2017-20), Minnesota Vikings
Vikings 16, Packers 3
- First season with Minnesota (fifth in the NFL)
- Started all 17 games this season
- Played all 67 offensive snaps and four on special teams.
- Played 989 of Vikings’ 1,001 offensive snaps (99%) this season.
- In 989 offensive snaps, had zero holding penalties.
Mike Gesicki, TE (2014-17), Cincinnati Bengals
Browns 20, Bengals 18
- Second season with Cincinnati (seventh in the NFL)
- Caught two passes for 13 yards.
- Had a long reception of 10 yards.
- Played 26 snaps on offense.
- Played in 13 games and made two starts in 2025.
- Recorded 28 receptions for 307 yards and two touchdowns.
- Had a season-high 86 yards and a touchdown on six receptions against Buffalo on December 7.
Blake Gillikin, P (2016-19), Arizona Cardinals
Rams 37, Cardinals 20
- Third season with Arizona (sixth in the NFL)
- Currently on injured reserve.
- Played in five games in 2025 before going on injured reserve on October 11.
- Averaged an NFL-best 51.7 yards on 22 punts (1,138 punt yards).
- Had a long punt of 63 yards and landed eight inside the 20.
Kevin Givens, DT (2016-18), San Francisco 49ers
Seahawks 13, 49ers 3
- Sixth season with San Francisco (sixth in the NFL)
- Did not see any action against Seattle.
- Played in five games in 2025 after returning from injured reserve.
- Recorded two tackles, including one solo.
- Played 116 snaps on defense and four on special teams.
Chris Godwin, WR (2014-16), Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Buccaneers 16, Panthers 14
- Ninth season with Tampa Bay (ninth in the NFL)
- Had one catch for 8 yards.
- Recorded 47 offensive snaps.
- Played in nine games and made six starts in 2025 after returning from injured reserve.
- Caught 33 passes for 360 yards and two touchdowns.
- Had seven catches for 108 yards and a touchdown against Miami.
Yetur Gross-Matos, DE (2017-19), San Francisco 49ers
Seahawks 13, 49ers 3
- Second season with San Francisco (sixth in the NFL)
- Recorded three tackles, including two solo.
- Played 29 snaps on defense.
- Made eight appearances after returning from injury.
- Tallied eight tackles, three solo, one pass breakup and two quarterback hits.
Daequan Hardy, CB (2019-23), Pittsburgh Steelers
Steelers 26, Ravens 24
- First season with Pittsburgh (second in the NFL)
- On practice squad
- Did not see game action after signing with Steelers practice squad on November 4.
Adisa Isaac, DE (2019-23), Baltimore Ravens
Steelers 26, Ravens 24
- Second season with Baltimore (second in the NFL)
- Spent entire 2025 season on injured reserve.
Coziah Izzard, DT (2020-24), New Orleans Saints
Falcons 19, Saints 17
- First season with New Orleans (first in the NFL)
- On practice squad
- Did not see game action after signing with Saints practice squad on November 5.
Austin Johnson, DT (2013-15), Jacksonville Jaguars
Jaguars 41, Titans 7
- First season with Jacksonville (ninth in the NFL)
- Tallied two solo tackles.
- Played 22 snaps on defense and two on special teams.
- Made 14 appearances in 2025.
- Recorded 12 tackles, four solo, one tackle for loss, one forced fumble, one pass breakup and one quarterback hit.
- Had a sack and a forced fumble on November 30 against Tennessee.
Theo Johnson, TE (2020-23), New York Giants
Giants 34, Cowboys 17
- Second season with the New York Giants (second in the NFL)
- Did not play due to illness.
- Started in 15 games in 2025.
- Recorded 45 receptions for 528 yards and five touchdowns with a long reception of 25 yards.
- Caught two touchdown passes against New Orleans on October 5.
DaQuan Jones, DT (2010-13), Buffalo Bills
Bills 35, Jets 8
- Fourth season with Buffalo (12th in the NFL)
- Was inactive due to injury.
- Started in 12 games in 2025.
- Notched 22 tackles, 11 solo, three sacks, one forced fumble, one interception, two pass breakups and eight quarterback hits.
- Had a sack and a forced fumble on November 16 against Tampa Bay.
Jalen Kimber, CB (2024) - Cincinnati Bengals
Browns 20, Bengals 18
- First season with Cincinnati (first in the NFL)
- On practice squad
- Did not see game action after signing with the Bengals practice squad on December 2.
Kalen King, CB (2021-23), Arizona Cardinals
Rams 37, Cardinals 20
- First season with Arizona (second in the NFL)
- Signed from Carolina Panthers practice squad on December 23
- Did not see any action against Los Angeles.
- Played in one game in 2025.
Kobe King, LB (2021-24), New York Jets
Bills 35, Jets 8
- First season with New York (first in the NFL)
- Played 13 snaps, all on special teams.
- Made 14 appearances in 2025, including five with Minnesota and nine with the Jets.
- Recorded 10 tackles, including five solo.
Jesse Luketa, LB (2018-21), Los Angeles Rams
Rams 37, Cardinals 20
- First season with Los Angeles (fourth in the NFL)
- On practice squad.
- Did not see game action after signing with the Rams practice squad on November 18.
Connor McGovern, OL (2016-18), Buffalo Bills
Bills 35, Jets 8
- Third season with Buffalo (seventh in the NFL)
- Did not play against the Jets.
- Started 16 games in 2025.
- Played 1,037 of Bills’ 1,132 offensive snaps (98%) this season.
PJ Mustipher, DT (2018-22), Arizona Cardinals
Rams 37, Cardinals 20
- Second season with Arizona (second in the NFL)
- Did not see any action against Los Angeles.
- Played in 15 games in 2025.
- Made 32 tackles, 11 solo, one tackle for loss and one pass breakup.
- Had a season-high seven tackles against the Los Angeles Rams on December 7.
Hunter Nourzad, OL (2022-23), Kansas City Chiefs
Raiders 14, Chiefs 12
- Second season with Kansas City (second in the NFL)
- Made first career start.
- Played all 64 snaps on offense and four on special teams.
- Made 11 appearances and one start in 2025.
- Played 92 offensive snaps and 43 special teams snaps this season.
Amani Oruwariye, CB (2015-18), Baltimore Ravens
Steelers 26, Ravens 24
- First season with Baltimore (sixth in the NFL)
- On practice squad.
- Played in one game in 2025, recording one tackle.
Odafe Oweh, LB (2019-20), Los Angeles Chargers
Broncos 19, Chargers 3
- First season with the Los Angeles Chargers (fifth in the NFL)
- Recorded four tackles, including one solo.
- Had a half-sack and a quarterback hit.
- Played 29 defensive snaps and seven special teams snaps.
- Made 17 appearances and four starts in 2025, including five appearances (two starts) for Baltimore and 12 appearances (two starts) for Los Angeles.
- Collected 38 tackles, 20 solo, nine tackles for loss, 7.5 sacks and 18 quarterback hits.
- Recorded four tackles, three tackles for loss and two sacks against Kansas City on December 14.
Micah Parsons, DL (2018-19), Green Bay Packers
Vikings 16, Packers 3
- First season with Green Bay (fifth in the NFL)
- On injured reserve.
- Selected to the Pro Bowl for the fifth time in his career.
- Played in 14 games and made 13 starts in 2025 before a season-ending injury.
- Recorded 41 tackles, 19 solo, 12 tackles for loss, 12.5 sacks, two forced fumbles, one pass breakup and 26 quarterback hits.
- Had five tackles, four tackles for loss, three sacks and five quarterback hits against Arizona on October 19.
Joey Porter Jr., CB (2019-22), Pittsburgh Steelers
Steelers 26, Ravens 24
- Third season with Pittsburgh (third in the NFL)
- Made one tackle.
- Played all 51 defensive snaps.
- Started in 14 games in 2025.
- Recorded 52 tackles, 35 solo, one sack, one interception and 13 pass breakups.
- Had eight tackles, one sack and an interception against Indianapolis on November 2.
Jaylen Reed, S (2021-24), Houston Texans
Texans 38, Colts 30
- First season with Houston (first in the NFL)
- On injured reserve.
- Played in seven games and made one start in 2025 before a season-ending injury.
- Notched 14 tackles, nine solo, and one fumble recovery.
- Secured 12 tackles, nine solo, and a fumble recovery against Buffalo on November 20.
Chop Robinson, LB (2022-23), Miami Dolphins
Patriots 38, Dolphins 10
- Second season with Miami (second in the NFL)
- Did not play against New England.
- Played in 15 games and started three in 2025.
- Tallied 21 tackles, 10 solo, four tackles for loss, four sacks, one forced fumble, one pass breakup and seven quarterback hits.
- Had five tackles and 1.5 sacks against New Orleans on November 30.
Miles Sanders, RB (2016-18), Dallas Cowboys
Giants 34, Cowboys 17
- First season with Dallas (seventh in the NFL)
- On injured reserve
- Played in four games before a season-ending injury.
- Rushed for 112 yards and one touchdown on 20 carries.
- Added eight receptions for 30 yards.
- Had a season-high 53 rushing yards on four carries against Philadelphia on September 4.
Nick Scott, S (2015-18), Carolina Panthers
Buccaneers 16, Panthers 14
- Second season with Carolina (seventh in the NFL)
- Tallied nine tackles, including six solo.
- Played all 67 snaps on defense and three on special teams.
- Started all 17 games in 2025.
- Recorded 111 tackles, 64 solo, one interception, one fumble recovery and two pass breakups.
- Had nine tackles and an interception against the Los Angeles Rams on November 30.
Juice Scruggs, OL (2018-22), Houston Texans
Texans 38, Colts 30
- Third season with Houston (three in the NFL)
- Played 14 snaps on offense and eight snaps on special teams.
- Played in 17 games and made one start in 2025.
- Recorded 351 snaps on offense and 83 on special teams.
Chris Stoll, LS (2017-22), Seattle Seahawks
Seahawks 13, 49ers 3
- Third season with Seattle (third in the NFL)
- Played six snaps on special teams.
- Appeared in all 17 games in 2025 and made one tackle.
- Played 150 special teams snaps.
Jordan Stout, P (2019-21), Baltimore Ravens
Steelers 26, Ravens 24
- Fourth season with Baltimore (fourth in the NFL)
- Had four punts for 191 yards, averaging 47.8 yards per punt.
- Longest punt was 54 yards, which landed at the Pittsburgh 15.
- Added a pair of 52-yard punts, including one placed at the Pittsburgh 12, and a 33-yard punt that landed at the Pittsburgh 9.
- Played nine snaps on special teams
- Selected to the Pro Bowl for the first time in his career.
- Played in all 17 games.
- Averaged 50.1 yards on 53 punts (2,657 total yards), ranking fifth in the league in punt average.
- Had a long punt of 74 yards and landed 24 inside the 20.
Brenton Strange, TE (2019-22), Jacksonville Jaguars
Jaguars 41, Titans 7
- Third season with Jacksonville (third in the NFL)
- Recorded six catches, on six targets, for 52 yards.
- Hauled in a 7-yard touchdown reception in the second quarter.
- Had a long reception of 11 yards.
- Played 38 snaps on offense.
- Started in 12 games in 2025. Missed five games due to injury.
- Caught 46 passes for 540 yards and three touchdowns.
- Had a season-high 93 yards on five catches against Arizona on November 23.
Mitchell Tinsley, WR (2022), Cincinnati Bengals
Browns 20, Bengals 18
- First season with Cincinnati (third in the NFL)
- Played eight offensive snaps and seven on special teams.
- Made 17 appearances and four starts in 2025.
- Recorded eight catches for 116 yards and two touchdowns.
- Added a 10-yard punt return.
- Had two catches for 29 yards and a touchdown against New England on November 23.
Rasheed Walker, OL (2019-21), Green Bay Packers
Vikings 16, Packers 3
- Fifth season with Green Bay (fifth in the NFL)
- Recorded one snap on special teams.
- Appeared in 17 games and made 16 starts in 2025.
- Played 988 offensive snaps (94% of Green Bay’s offensive snaps) and 76 special teams snaps this season.
Caedan Wallace, OL (2019-23), New England Patriots
Patriots 38, Dolphins 10
- Second season with New England (second in the NFL)
- Did not play against Miami.
- Played in four games in 2025.
- Saw eight offensive snaps and 24 special teams snaps this season.
Tyler Warren, TE (2020-24), Indianapolis Colts
Texans 38, Colts 30
- First season with Indianapolis (first in the NFL)
- Caught five passes for 26 yards.
- Longest reception was nine yards.
- Played 53 snaps on offense.
- Appeared in 17 games and made 12 starts in 2025.
- Caught 76 passes for 817 yards and four touchdowns.
- Added six carries for 8 yards and a touchdown.
- Tied for sixth-most receptions among NFL tight ends, while ranking fifth in receiving yards.
- Had a season-best eight catches for 99 yards against Atlanta on November 9.
Parker Washington, WR (2020-22), Jacksonville Jaguars
Jaguars 41, Titans 7
- Third season with Jacksonville (third in the NFL)
- Caught five passes, on nine targets, for 87 yards.
- Had a 23-yard touchdown grab.
- Had catches of 29, 23 and 23 yards.
- Had two punt returns.
- Played 45 snaps on offense and five on special teams.
- Appeared in 16 games and made seven starts in 2025.
- Recorded 58 catches for 847 yards and five touchdowns with a long reception of 63 yards.
- Added 25 punt returns for 341 yards and two touchdowns and three kickoff returns for 75 yards.
- Tied for NFL lead with two punt return touchdowns.
- Had six catches for a season-high 145 yards and one touchdown against Denver on December 21.
Kevin Winston Jr., S (2022-24), Tennessee Titans
Jaguars 41, Titans 7
- First season with Tennessee (first in the NFL)
- On injured reserve.
- Played in 10 games and made six starts in 2025.
- Recorded 34 tackles, 21 solo, four tackles for loss, one sack, two pass breakups and four quarterback hits.
Sal Wormley, OL (2019-24), Jacksonville Jaguars
Jaguars 41, Titans 7
- First season with Jacksonville (first in the NFL)
- On practice squad
- Did not see game action after signing with the Jaguars practice squad.
The 2025 Penn State football season is presented by PSECU.