Penn State Thanksgiving Day NFL viewing guide: When are former Lions in action?

We hope you are enjoying Thanksgiving Day, Penn State fans. If you choose to spend it by mixing NFL action with lunch, dinner, and leftovers, you will see numerous former Nittany Lions in action. In full, a handful of lettermen are with one of the six teams playing today. However, most are hurt. What is the latest on them and the ones who are set to suit up? We break it down below.

12:30 p.m. ET: Chicago Bears (4-7) at Detroit Lions (10-1)

The first pro game of the day kicks off on CBS. It is also the game with the least relevance to Penn State. Former star Nittany Lions safety Jaquan Brisker is on injured reserve after suffering his third concussion in as many pro seasons earlier this year. He has not played since Oct. 6 and has been on the IR since Nov. 14 with no indication yet that he will return at any point during the regular season.

On the other side of the ball, former Nittany Lions lineman Ryan Bates is trying to clear concussion protocol to be cleared to return to action for the Bears. On injured reserve earlier in the season with shoulder and elbow problems, Bates was then forced out of Chicago’s game against Green Bay in Week 11 with a concussion. He was a limited practice participant earlier this week and was trending in the right direction to be cleared. But, we’ll see at game time.

More: Why did Penn State stay ahead of Notre Dame in latest CFP rankings? Warde Manuel explains

Allen Robinson II is the only former Penn State player on the Lions’ roster. He has just two catches for nine yards over six games in Detroit. His role in the offense is small and, while you may see him on the field for a handful of snaps, that will probably be about it.

Detroit is a 10-point favorite.

4:30 p.m. ET: New York Giants (2-9) at Dallas Cowboys (4-7)

FOX will air this NFC East clunker. Neither team is having the season it hoped to. The Giants probably knew internally a struggle like this was possible. It’s hard to say the Cowboys felt the same way back in August. Injuries have not been kind to either side. The Giants are starting to use Penn State letterman Theo Johnson much more down the stretch. He has six targets in each of the team’s last three games and has topped the 30-yard receiving mark in six of the team’s last seven games. Expect him to get plenty of work today.

Micah Parsons is, of course, the Penn State headliner for Dallas. After missing multiple weeks due too injury, the edge rusher has 11 tackles (three for loss) and four sacks over the team’s last three games. He will look to take over this contest. The same cannot be said for Amani Oruwariye. He secured 20 tackles, 3 passes defended and an interception in four games before being placed on injured reserve Oct. 30 with a back problem. He is still on the IR and will likely end the season on it.

Dallas is a 3.5-point favorite.

8:20 p.m. ET: Miami Dolphins (5-6) at Green Bay Packers (8-3)

The NFL Thanksgiving night cap is on NBC. Chop Robinson is picking up the pace for Miami in his rookie season. Per The 33rd Team: “In the last four weeks, Robinson leads NFL defenders with 25 pressures and a 25.8 percent pressure rate. He has also recorded 3.5 sacks since Week 9.” He will now be tasked with keeping Jordan Love and the Packers’ offense in check during a primetime showdown at Lambeau Field.

“It’s been very timely, I’ll tell you that,” Miami coach Mike McDaniel said this week, per the Miami Herald. “The NFL season is brutal for rookies. So to see him come on and continue to have a bigger effect on NFL games, during the period of time where every other football season he’s ever played in his life is ending, it speaks to who he is.”

Former Lions linebacker Cam Miller is also on the Dolphins. However, he is on the team’s injured reserve list.

On the other side of the field, two former Penn State players are on Green Bay’s practice squad: Quarterback Sean Clifford and cornerback Kalen King. Then, there is starting tackle Rasheed Walker. He was on the injury report this week but is still expected to man the left side for the Packers tonight. Entering the game, he has an 81.2 pass-blocking grade from PFF, the third-highest among Green Bay’s offensive linemen.