Penn State NFL Roundup: Saquon Barkley turns in 100-yard game, plus more

The NFL’s regular season is nearing its completion, and several former Penn State football players are contributing in key roles down the stretch.

Let’s dive into this week’s NFL roundup, starting with a big day for Saquon Barkley.

Saquon Barkley (Played at Penn State 2015-17), RB, New York Giants 

Barkley turned in his best rushing performance of the season in a lopsided loss to the Bears.

Surpassing the century mark for the first time this season, Barkley rushed 21 times for 102 yards.

Micah Parsons (2018-19), LB, Dallas Cowboys 

Parsons and the Cowboys had their four-game winning streak snapped on Saturday with a loss to Arizona.

Parsons racked up five total tackles, including two tackles for loss, in the defeat. He also registered a quarterback hit.

He needs 1.5 sacks in Week 18 to tie the rookie sack record.

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

Amos once again anchored a stellar Packers defensive performance.

Green Bay held the Vikings to 10 points, and the former Penn State defensive back registered four tackles and made a massive hit on Vikings’ tight end Tyler Conklin that led to a bizarre play.

BIG MAN WITH THE CATCH AND RUN 🤯

(via @NFL)pic.twitter.com/JE8j8wVWqx

— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) January 3, 2022

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

Gross-Matos started for the second consecutive week in Carolina’s loss to New Orleans. He played 49 snaps and made four tackles.

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. 

Penn State makes top transfer target’s top-5; offseason shuffling begins for Lions: Newsstand

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

Sanders did not play this week after breaking a bone in his hand.

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

Cabinda did not play this week due to a knee injury.

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.

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

The former Penn State defensive lineman started for the 16th week in a row, finishing with five tackles and a QB hit in a loss to the Bears.

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

Toney played three snaps in a loss to the Eagles and did not make a tackle.

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

Fries was a healthy scratch for the Colts in their loss to Las Vegas this week.

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

Oweh did not play this week due to a foot injury.

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

Signed by the Cardinals off Baltimore’s practice squad midseason, McSorley has yet to see the field, but remains on the active roster.

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

Freiermuth bounced back after missing last week due to a concussion, catching five of his six targets for 22 yards in a win over the Browns on Monday Night football. He also registered a special teams tackle.

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

The former Penn State standout brought down four of his seven targets for 51 yards in a loss to the Titans. He also attempted his first career pass on a trick play which fell incomplete.

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

Gillikin punted five times for 215 yards in a win over the Panthers.

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

James played 28 snaps — his second-highest total of the year — and caught one pass for four yards in a dominant win over the Giants.

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

Scott played 21 snaps on defense and made four tackles in a comeback Rams victory over the Ravens.

Carl Nassib (Played at Penn State 2011-15), DE, Las Vegas Raiders

Nassib did not play for the Raiders this week after he was placed on the COVID list.

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

The former Penn State wideout caught one of his two targets for four yards in a win over the Panthers.

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

Gould hit all three of his field-goal attempts and his two PATs in a win over Houston this week.

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

The former Penn State wideout returned to action this week for the first time since Week 14, hauling in four of his six targets for 35 yards.

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

McGovern played just five snaps — his second-lowest total of the year — in a loss to the Cardinals.

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

The former Penn State defensive lineman played 33 snaps for the Panthers in a loss to the Saints, finishing the game with one tackle and a QB hit.

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

Brown played 17 snaps on special teams in the loss to the Bears.

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

Bates started for the second week in a row in a win over the Falcons. It’s the first time in his career that he’s made two consecutive starts.

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

The former Penn State safety started at linebacker for the Steelers for the first time this season and just the third time in his career in this week’s win over Cleveland.

Allen finished the game with five tackles, playing 37 defensive snaps in total.

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

Givens played 19 snaps and came away with two tackles in a win over Houston.

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

Smith made his 16th consecutive start this season at left tackle and played all 74 offensive snaps for the Bucs as they came back to beat the Jets.

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

The former Penn State walk-on played 18 special teams snaps in a loss to Green Bay.

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

Apke has played exclusively on special teams in 2021, registering 18 snaps there and making one tackle in this week’s loss to the Eagles.

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

Bowers played four snaps on offense and five snaps on special teams in a win over the Colts this week.

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

The former Penn State corner started for the second week in a row for the Seahawks, making three tackles and playing 38 snaps in a blowout win over the Rams.

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

Haley played 12 snaps on special teams with the Rams in their win over the Ravens.