Nittany Lions in the NFL: Week 11

UNIVERSITY PARK, PA – A total of 46 Penn State football alumni are populating the rosters of 28 National Football League organizations. The Nittany Lions annually rank among the top 20 programs nationally in producing players in the NFL.

Micah Parsons continued his dominant defensive campaign in Week 11 of the NFL season. Against the Panthers, Parsons recorded 2.5 sacks, bringing his season total to 10.0, which is seventh in the NFL. The Harrisburg, Pa. native is also tied for fourth in the NFL in tackles for loss with 12. Additionally on the defensive side of the ball, 49ers rookie Ji’Ayir Brown posted his best game as a pro, recording four tackles, three passes defended, and his first NFL interception. Brown’s pick came with less than four minutes remaining in the game and helped the 49ers seal their victory over the Buccaneers.

Each week throughout the year, GoPSUSports.com provides updates on the feats of these former Nittany Lion greats.

Adrian Amos (2011-14) S, New York Jets
Bills 32, Jets 6

• Totaled four tackles (2 solo).

Troy Apke (2014-17) S, Washington Commanders
Giants 31, Commanders 19

• Apke began the season on the IR.

Saquon Barkley (2015-17) RB, New York Giants
Giants 31, Commanders 19

• Carried the ball 14 times for 83 yards, a whopping 5.9 yards-per-carry average.
• Added four catches for 57 yards and a pair of touchdowns.

Ryan Bates (2016-18) OL, Buffalo Bills
Bills 32, Jets 6

• Saw action on offense and special teams.

Nick Bowers (2018-19) TE, Miami Dolphins
Dolphins 20, Raiders 13

• Bowers is on Miami’s practice squad.

Jaquan Brisker (2019-21) S, Chicago Bears
Lions 31, Bears 26

• Totaled six tackles (5 solo).

Cam Brown (2016-19) LB, New York Giants
Giants 31, Commanders 19

• Made a solo tackle.

Ji’Ayir Brown (2020-22) S, San Francisco 49ers
49ers 27, Buccaneers 14

• Posted the best game of his young career, collecting four tackles (2 solo) and defending three passes.
• Hauled in the first interception of his NFL career.

Jason Cabinda (2014-17) FB, Detroit Lions
Lions 31, Bears 26

• Is on injured reserve.

Tariq Castro-Fields (2017-21) CB, Washington Commanders
Giants 31, Commanders 19

• Castro-Fields was inactive for this week’s game.

Dan Chisena (2015-19) WR, Minnesota Vikings
Broncos 21, Vikings 20

• Chisena is on Minnesota’s practice squad.

Sean Clifford (2017-22) QB, Green Bay Packers
Packers 23, Chargers 20

• Active, but did not see action.

Jahan Dotson (2018-21) WR, Washington Commanders
Giants 31, Commanders 19

• Hauled in three passes for 23 yards and a touchdown.

Arnold Ebiketie (2021) DE, Atlanta Falcons
Falcons bye week

Pat Freiermuth (2018-20) TE, Pittsburgh Steelers
Browns 13, Steelers 10

• Caught one pass for seven yards in his return from injury.

Will Fries (2017-20) OL, Indianapolis Colts
Colts bye week

Mike Gesicki (2014-17) TE, New England Patriots
Patriots bye week

Blake Gillikin (2016-19) P, Arizona Cardinals
Texans 21, Cardinals 16

• Punted twice for 107 yards, a 53.5 yards-per-punt average.
• Had a long punt of 59 yards.
• Fourth in the NFL in yards-per-punt average with 50.8.

Kevin Givens (2016-18) DT, San Francisco 49ers
49ers 27, Buccaneers 14

• Saw action on defense and special teams.

Chris Godwin (2014-16) WR, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
49ers 27, Buccaneers 14

• Caught six passes for 39 yards.

Yetur Gross-Matos (2017-19) DE, Carolina Panthers
Cowboys 33, Panthers 10

• Is on injured reserve.

KJ Hamler (2017-2019) WR, Indianapolis Colts
Colts bye week

• Hamler is on Indianapolis’ practice squad.

Jesse James (2012-14) TE, Las Vegas Raiders
Dolphins 20, Raiders 13

• Signed to the Raiders’ practice squad on Nov. 8.

Austin Johnson (2013-15) DT, Los Angeles Chargers
Packers 23, Chargers 20

• Made two tackles (1 solo).

DaQuan Jones (2010-13) DL, Buffalo Bills
Bills 32, Jets 6

• Is on injured reserve.

Jesse Luketa (2018-21) LB, Arizona Cardinals
Texans 21, Cardinals 16

• Saw action on special teams.

Connor McGovern (2016-18) OL, Buffalo Bills
Bills 32, Jets 6

• Made his 11th start of the year on the Bills’ offensive line.

Trace McSorley (2014-2018) QB, Chicago Bears
Lions 31, Bears 26

• McSorley is on the Bears’ practice squad.

PJ Mustipher (2018-22) DL, Denver Broncos
Broncos 21, Vikings 20

• Mustipher is on Denver’s practice squad.

Amani Oruwariye (2015-18) CB, Jacksonville Jaguars
Jaguars 34, Titans 14

• Oruwariye is listed on Jacksonville’s active roster.

Odafe Oweh (2019-20) DE, Baltimore Ravens
Ravens 34, Bengals 20

• Made three solo stops, including his fourth sack of the season.
• Added a quarterback hit.

Micah Parsons (2018-19) LB, Dallas Cowboys
Cowboys 33, Panthers 10

• Posted six tackles (2 solo), including 2.5 sacks and 2 tackles for loss.
• Added three quarterback hits in a dominant defensive performance.
• Tied for fourth in the NFL with 12 tackles for loss.
• Seventh in the NFL with 10.0 sacks.

Joey Porter Jr. (2019-22) CB, Pittsburgh Steelers
Browns 13, Steelers 10

• Made six tackles (5 solo).
• Defended a pass.

Allen Robinson II (2011-13) WR, Pittsburgh Steelers
Browns 13, Steelers 10

• Caught three passes for 20 yards.

Miles Sanders (2016-18) RB, Carolina Panthers
Cowboys 33, Panthers 10

• Rushed 11 times for 50 yards.
• Hauled in his only target for two yards.

Nick Scott (2015-18) S, Cincinnati Bengals
Ravens 34, Bengals 20

• Made his tenth start of the season, saw action on offense and special teams.

Juice Scruggs (2018-22) OL, Houston Texans
Texans 21, Cardinals 16

• Scruggs began the season on IR.

Brandon Smith (2019-21) LB, Philadelphia Eagles
Eagles 21, Chiefs 17

• Smith is on Philadelphia’s practice squad.

Donovan Smith (2012-14) OT, Kansas City Chiefs
Eagles 21, Chiefs 17

• Made his tenth start of the year on the offensive line.
• Played 100% the offensive snaps for the eighth time this season.

Chris Stoll (2017-22) LS, Seattle Seahawks
Rams 17, Seahawks 16

• Saw action on special teams as Seattle’s primary long snapper.

Jordan Stout (2019-21) P, Baltimore Ravens
Ravens 34, Bengals 20

• Punted four times for 182 yards.
• Dropped one punt inside the 20-yard line.
• Landed 56-yard punt for his longest of the day.
• Tied for eighth in the NFL with 19 punts downed inside the 20.

Brenton Strange (2019-22) TE, Jacksonville Jaguars
Jaguars 34, Titans 14

• Made his second career start for the Jaguars, seeing action on offense and special teams.

Jonathan Sutherland (2017-22) S, Seattle Seahawks
Rams 17, Seahawks 16

• Is on Seattle’s practice squad.

Mitchell Tinsley (2022) WR, Washington Commanders
Giants 31, Commanders 19

• Was inactive.

Rasheed Walker (2019-21) OL, Green Bay Packers
Packers 23, Chargers 20

• Made his eighth start of the season for the Packers.

Parker Washington (2020-22) WR, Jacksonville Jaguars
Jaguars 34, Titans 14

• Saw action on offense and special teams in his first game back from injured reserve.

The No. 12/11/11 Nittany Lions will play their regular season finale on Friday, Nov. 24 against Michigan State at Ford Field. The game is slated for a 7:30 p.m. kick in Detroit and will be televised on NBC.

The 2023 Penn State football season is presented by PSECU.