Penn State NFL Roundup: Micah Parsons leads the way again

Led by Micah Parsons, Penn State Nittany Lions football alumni in the NFL had another noteworthy week as the regular season enters its stretch run.

Let’s dive into our weekly roundup, starting with Parsons.

Micah Parsons (Played at Penn State 2018-19), LB, Dallas Cowboys 

Micah Parsons was back to his game-wrecking best in Week 16, as the Cowboys obliterated the Washington Football Team to clinch the NFC East. 

Parsons registered his 13th sack of the season, hit the quarterback twice and also picked up a tackle for loss in the victory, playing only 33 snaps in a game that was over by halftime. 

Parsons needs 1.5 more sacks to tie the NFL rookie record set by Jevon Kearse. 

Adrian Amos (2011-14), S, Green Bay Packers

Amos made five solo tackles while playing every snap for the Packers on defense for the 14th consecutive week in a Christmas Day win over the Browns. 

Amos is up to 84 total tackles for the year. 

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

Gross-Matos got his first start of the season in Carolina’s 32-6 loss to Tampa Bay in Week 16 action, making three total tackles and a tackle for loss, while also breaking up a pass. 

Amani Oruwariye (2014-18), CB, Detroit Lions

The Lions placed Oruwariye on injured reserve prior to a Week 16 loss to Atlanta, ending what has been a phenomenal season for the cornerback. 

Oruwariye finished the year with six interceptions, 11 pass breakups and a fumble recovery to go along with 44 tackles in 14 games. 

Miles Sanders (2016-18), RB, Philadelphia Eagles

Former Penn State running back Miles Sanders broke a bone in his hand in a win over the Giants in Week 16, according to reports. 

It is unclear as of this writing whether he can play through the injury. 

Sanders carried the ball seven times for 45 yards in the victory despite the setback.

Jason Cabinda (2014-17), FB, Detroit Lions

After scoring his first career touchdown in a win over the Cardinals in Week 15, Cabinda was involved again for the Lions on offense. 

He played seven snaps at fullback, and caught two passes for a total of six yards in a loss to Atlanta. 

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

The former Penn State wideout suffered a season-ending injury in Week 15 against the Saints, tearing his ACL and MCL on a hit to his knee. 

He finished the year with 98 receptions for 1,103 yards and six scores.

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

Barkley struggled to get anything going in a Week 16 loss to the Eagles, carrying the ball 15 times for 23 yards. 

Austin Johnson (2012-15), DT, New York Giants

Johnson played 34 snaps on defense during that loss to the Eagles and registered a pair of tackles. 

Johnson now has 63 tackles on the season to go with 3.5 sacks. 

Shaka Toney (2016-20), DE, Washington Football Team 

Toney played 12 snaps on defense for Washington in a loss to Dallas and did not pick up a tackle. 

Will Fries (2016-20), OL, Indianapolis Colts 

Fries saw the most action of his career during a win over Arizona on Christmas Day, playing 12 snaps on offense as he appeared in the third game of his rookie season. 

Odafe Oweh (2018-20), DE, Baltimore Ravens 

The former Penn State defensive end started for the second time this season in a blowout loss to Cincinnati. 

Oweh did not register a sack — and hasn’t since November — but he did make an impact, hitting Joe Burrow twice in 55 snaps. 

Through Week 16, Oweh has 33 tackles, five sacks and three forced fumbles on his rookie ledger. 

Trace McSorley (2014-18), QB, Arizona Cardinals

Signed by the Cardinals off Baltimore’s practice squad midseason, McSorley did not play in Arizona’s Week 16 loss to Indianapolis. 

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

Freiermuth did not play this week after suffering a concussion during a win over the Titans last week. 

Mike Gesicki (2014-17), TE, Miami Dolphins

Gesicki and the Dolphins are set to take on the Saints on Monday Night Football. 

Blake Gillikin (2016-19), P, New Orleans Saints

Gillikin and the Saints take on the Dolphins on Monday Night Football. 

Jesse James (2012-14), TE, Chicago Bears 

James played 15 snaps in Week 16 but was not targeted in the passing games. 

Nick Scott (2014-18), S, Los Angeles Rams

Scott saw action on special teams and defense in a win over the Vikings, playing 18 snaps on the defensive side of the ball and 25 on special teams. 

The former Penn State safety finished the game with three tackles. 

Carl Nassib (2011-15), DE, Las Vegas Raiders

Nassib continues to play sparingly for the Raiders on defense, with three tackles on 11 snaps in a win over Denver in Week 16. 

Juwan Johnson (2015-18), TE, New Orleans Saints

Johnson and the Saints take on the Dolphins on Monday Night Football. 

Robbie Gould (2001-04), K, San Francisco 49ers

Gould connected on his only field goal attempt in a loss to Tennessee, also knocking through a pair of PATs. 

Allen Robinson II (2011-13), WR, Chicago Bears

Robinson did not play in Week 16, having previously been placed on the COVID-19 list. 

Robinson has played just once since Week Nine, and has 32 receptions for 353 yards and a touchdown on the season. 

Connor McGovern (2016-18), OL, Dallas Cowboys

McGovern played 20 snaps for the Cowboys on offense in their Week 16 steamrolling of the Washington Football Team. 

McGovern started a stretch of four games in a row for Dallas recently, but has slid back into a reserve role in the last two games. 

DaQuan Jones (2010-13), DT, Carolina Panthers 

Jones made five tackles for the Panthers in their lopsided loss to the Bucs. 

He’s up to 34 tackles for Carolina this season, and has started all 15 games. 

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

Brown made two special teams tackles for the Giants in their loss to Philly. 

He hasn’t played on defense since Week Eight, but has carved out a nice role for himself on New York’s special teams unit. 

Ryan Bates (2015-18),OL, Buffalo Bills

Bates earned his second start of the season for the Bills in their win over the Patriots and played a career-high 79 offensive snaps. 

Marcus Allen (2014-17), LB, Pittsburgh Steelers

Allen did not play in Week 16 after he was placed on the COVID-19 list. 

Kevin Givens (2015-18), DT, San Francisco 49ers 

Givens played 15 snaps on defense and came away with two tackles for the 49ers in their loss to the Titans. 

Donovan Smith (2011-14), OL, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Smith played 96 percent of snaps on offense for the Bucs in their win over the Panthers in Week 16. 

Dan Chisena (2015-19), WR, Minnesota Vikings 

The former Penn State walk-on returned from the COVID list to play 20 snaps on special teams on one snap on offense for the Vikings in their Week 16 loss to the Rams. 

Troy Apke (2014-17), S, Washington Football Team 

Apke has played exclusively on special teams in 2021, registering another 31 snaps there for Washington in a loss to Dallas. 

Nick Bowers (2015-19), TE, Las Vegas Raiders

Two weeks after returning from a lengthy stint on the injured reserve, Bowers played 26 snaps for Las Vegas in a win over Denver. 

John Reid (2015-19), CB, Seattle Seahawks 

Reid played a career-high 71 snaps for the Seahawks in their loss to the Bears in Week 16. 

He totaled five tackles and also broke up a pair of passes for Seattle. 

Grant Haley (2014-17), CB, LA Rams

Haley played in his third game of the year, having joined the Rams late in the campaign, registering 20 special teams snaps in a win over Minnesota.