Penn State in the NFL updates: Chris Godwin's injury, Saquon's big homecoming, and more

The days leading up to Saquon Barkley’s return to MetLife Stadium may have been an ordeal for the former New York Giant turned Philadelphia Eagle. Throughout game week, Barkley had to answer plenty of questions about what it felt like to face the team he had left after six seasons.

But if that experience was weighing on his mind, it certainly didn’t show on game day. Barkley outgained his previous employer all by himself, carrying 17 times for 176 yards in a 28-3 victory by the visiting Eagles in Week 7. 

The former Penn State running back was booed throughout the game by New York fans, and their frustration was exacerbated by the Giants’ offensive efforts, which netted only 119 yards. Barkley was glad to put it all behind him.

“To be honest, I’m so happy this game’s over,” he said, per ESPN. “I don’t think I should get — besides today — any more questions about the Giants. Like I’ve always said, I’m thankful for that organization. They’re the team that drafted me. I’ve still got nothing but love and respect for all the guys over there, but I’m happy to be an Eagle.

“Most importantly, we got a win today against a division rival, and now it’s on to the next one.”

Barkley’s 176 yards were the most he had ever gained in a game at MetLife Stadium and were only 13 yards short of a career high. He was asked by Eagles coach Nick Sirianni if he wanted to continue playing in the blowout to set a new personal best, but he declined.

Barkley signed a three-year, $37.75 million contract with the Eagles in March and has been worth every penny. Heading into a Week 8 game at Cincinnati, he was third in the league with 658 rushing yards on 108 carries and had scored 5 touchdowns. He also had 16 receptions for 103 yards and a score. Barkley is on pace to have the best statistical season of his career.

“I’m just ecstatic for him, happy for him, not only how he performed, but how he was able to keep the main thing the main thing, amongst it all,” quarterback Jalen Hurts said following the Eagles’ victory in New York. “We’re building, he’s building, and I’m proud of him.”

Chris Godwin suffers season-ending injury

Former Penn State wide receiver Chris Godwin had gotten off to a blazing start, but his eighth NFL season appeared to come to a sudden end on Oct. 21 when he suffered a dislocated ankle while trying to help Tampa Bay rally in the final minutes of its “Monday Night Football” matchup against visiting Baltimore.

Godwin’s left ankle was badly injured on a tackle by Ravens linebacker Roquan Smith with 1:04 remaining and the Buccaneers trailing by 10. He had to be carted off the field in a game that the Bucs went on to lose, 41-31.

“This absolutely sucks,” Tampa Bay quarterback Baker Mayfield told reporters afterward. “Chris deserves better than that. He’s an unbelievable guy, an unbelievable teammate. Obviously, you guys have seen — he’s played extraordinary this year. Got a heavy heart right now.”

Godwin had caught a league-high 50 passes through seven games, amassing 576 yards and 5 touchdowns.

The veteran receiver, who starred for Penn State from 2014-16, has been with the Buccaneers since they selected him in the third round of the 2017 draft. He’s amassed 579 catches for 7,266 yards and 39 touchdowns in his career and will be a free agent after the 2024 season.

Penn State in the NFL recap as of Oct. 23

Ryan Bates (Played at Penn State from 2016-18), OL, Chicago Bears: Bates was placed on injured reserve Sept. 15 due to shoulder and elbow problems. Since playing 38 snaps in the Bears’ opener against Tennessee, he has not seen action.

Jaquan Brisker (2019-21), S, Chicago Bears: Brisker was seventh on the Bears with 293 defensive snaps through six games. He had 40 tackles, a forced fumble, an interception, and 2 pass breakups while playing in five of the team’s six games.

Cam Brown (2016-19), LB, Miami Dolphins: Brown was signed to the practice squad this offseason but has been on the Dolphins’ injury reserve list since August. The nature of his injury was not disclosed. 

Ji’Ayir Brown (2020-22), S, San Francisco 49ers: Brown had 4 tackles in the 49ers’ 28-18 loss to Kansas City in Week 7. The former Penn State star has netted 37 stops this season, including 3 for loss. 

Dan Chisena (2015-19), WR, Carolina Panthers: Chisena was on Arizona’s practice squad, but the team cut him on Oct. 11. Six days later, he joined the Panthers’ practice squad. 

Sean Clifford (2017-22), QB, Green Bay Packers: When quarterback Jordan Love returned after being injured in Green Bay’s opener against Philadelphia, Clifford went back to the practice squad. He has yet to see game action this season.

Jahan Dotson (2018-21), WR, Philadelphia Eagles: Dotson had caught 6 passes for 35 yards through the Eagles’ first six games.

Arnold Ebiketie (2021), LB, Atlanta Falcons: Ebiketie had 13 tackles, including 1 for loss, through six games.Olumuyiwa Fashanu (2020-23), OL, New York Jets: Listed as Tyron Smith’s backup at left tackle, the rookie played in three of New York’s first seven games and had received a 49.0 blocking grade from Pro Football Focus on 160 snaps.

More: Penn State College Football Playoff projections: Are the Lions picked to host a game at home?

Pat Freiermuth (2018-20), TE, Pittsburgh Steelers: Freiermuth had 3 catches for 51 yards in the Steelers’ Week 7 win over the New York Jets. For the season, he has 24 catches for 245 yards and 2 scores. 

Will Fries (2017-20), OL, Indianapolis Colts: Fries was placed on injured reserve Oct. 7 after his right tibia was fractured against Jacksonville. Before getting hurt, he had started four games at right guard for the Colts.

Mike Gesicki (2014-17), TE, Cincinnati Bengals: Gesicki had just 1 catch for 2 yards in the Bengals’ win over Cleveland in Week 7. For the season, he has totaled 18 receptions for 180 yards. 

Blake Gillikin (2016-19), P, Arizona Cardinals: Gillikin was averaging 49.3 yards through seven games, with 7 of his 22 punts landing inside the opponent’s 20.

Kevin Givens (2016-18), DT, San Francisco 49ers: Listed as the 49ers’ backup nose tackke, Givens has 10 tackles and 3.5 sacks through seven games.

Yetur Gross-Matos (2017-19), DE, San Francisco 49ers: According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, Gross-Matos is still recovering from a knee sprain suffered in preseason camp. He is on injured reserve and has yet to play this season. 

KJ Hamler (2017-2019), WR, Buffalo Bills: Hamler is on Buffalo’s practice squad.

Daequan Hardy (2019-23), CB, Buffalo Bills: Hardy is on Buffalo’s practice squad.

Adisa Isaac (2019-23), LB, Baltimore Ravens: Slowed by a hamstring injury, Isaac played in only one of the Ravens’ first seven games, totaling 3 tackles against Buffalo in Week 4.

Curtis Jacobs (2020-23), LB, New England Patriots: The rookie linebacker saw action in four of New England’s first seven games, totaling 1 solo tackle.

Austin Johnson (2013-15), DT, Buffalo Bills: Listed as the Bills’ backup left defensive tackle behind fellow Penn State alum DaQuan Jones, Johnson had 4 tackles through seven games.

Theo Johnson (2020-23), TE, New York Giants: Johnson played in all of New York’s first seven games, totaling 11 catches for 115 yards.

DaQuan Jones (2010-13), DL, Buffalo Bills: Jones netted a sack in the Bills’ 34-10 win over Tennessee in Week 7. He has 12 tackles and 2 sacks through seven games. 

Kalen King (2021-23), CB, Green Bay Packers: King is on Green Bay’s practice squad.

Jesse Luketa (2018-21), LB, Arizona Cardinals: Luketa played in three of Arizona’s first seven games, totaling 7 tackles and a forced fumble.

Connor McGovern (2016-18), OL, Buffalo Bills: McGovern had played on 330 snaps for the Bills and was tied for 11th among centers with a 69.5 offensive grade from PFF. 

PJ Mustipher (2018-22), DL, Arizona Cardinals: Mustipher is on Arizona’s practice squad.

Hunter Nourzad (2022-23), OL, Kansas City Chiefs: Nourzad is listed as Kansas City’s second-team center but had seen only 29 snaps through six games, all on special teams.

Amani Oruwariye (2015-18), CB, Dallas Cowboys: Activated for the Cowboys’ Week 4 game against the New York Giants, Oruwariye recorded 3 tackles and made a game-sealing interception in a 20-15 win. He had 4 tackles in the Cowboys’ victory over Pittsburgh the following week and 3 stops in a loss to Detroit. 

Odafe Oweh (2019-20), LB, Baltimore Ravens: Oweh was second on the Ravens with 4.5 sacks through seven games.

Micah Parsons (2018-19), LB, Dallas Cowboys: Parsons suffered a high-ankle sprain during the Cowboys’ Week 4 win over the New York Giants. He was hoping to be able to return for Dallas’ game at San Francisco in Week 8. Before his injury, Parsons had amassed 14 tackles, including 3 for loss and a sack.

Joey Porter Jr. (2019-22), CB, Pittsburgh Steelers: Porter had 24 tackles, including 2 for loss, 3 passes defended and an interception through seven games for the Steelers.

Chop Robinson (2022-23), LB, Miami Dolphins: Robinson saw action in all of Miami’s first six games and started one, totaling 9 tackles, a tackle for loss and a quarterback hit. 

Allen Robinson II (2011-13), WR, Detroit Lions: In his first season with the Lions, Robinson had played only 10 snaps without a catch through six games.

Miles Sanders (2016-18), RB, Carolina Panthers: Through seven games, Sanders had carried 30 times for 98 yards and a touchdown for the 1-6 Panthers.

Nick Scott (2015-18), S, Carolina Panthers: The Panthers’ starting strong safety, the former Penn State defender totaled 28 tackles and 2 passes defended in seven games.

Juice Scruggs (2018-22), OL, Houston Texans: Scruggs had seen action on 355 snaps for the Texans, earning a 68.3 offensive grade from PFF to rank 15th among centers. 

Brandon Smith (2019-21), LB, New York Jets: Smith was cut by Philadelphia in September and has since landed on the Jets’ practice squad. 

Chris Stoll (2017-22), LS, Seattle Seahawks: Stoll had logged 63 snaps through seven games as the Seahawks’ starting long snapper.

Jordan Stout (2019-21), P, Baltimore Ravens: Stout was averaging 45.2 yards as the Ravens’ starting punter. 

Brenton Strange (2019-22), TE, Jacksonville Jaguars: Through seven games, Strange was the Jaguars’ fourth-leading pass catcher with 13 receptions for 131 yards and 2 touchdowns. 

Mitchell Tinsley (2022), WR, Washington Commanders: Tinsley is on the Commanders’ practice squad. 

Rasheed Walker (2019-21), OL, Green Bay Packers: Walker was one of only two players on Green Bay’s offense to play every snap through seven games. He had earned a pass-blocking grade of 79.6 from PFF.

Caedan Wallace (2019-23), OL, New England Patriots: Wallace was placed on injured reserve Oct. 4 after his ankle was hurt in a loss to San Francisco in Week 4.

Parker Washington (2020-22), WR, Jacksonville Jaguars: Washington had a 96-yard punt return for a touchdown in the Jaguars’ 32-16 victory over New England in Week 7. It was the longest punt-return TD in franchise history. Washington was averaging 41 yards on 3 returns through seven games and had caught 3 passes for 21 yards.