Atlanta Falcons linebacker Arnold Ebiketie (17) works during the first half of an NFL football game against the Houston Texans, Sunday, Oct. 8, 2023, in Atlanta. The Atlanta Falcons won 21-19. (AP Photo/Danny Karnik)

Strange hauls in first NFL touchdown, Ebiketie posts career-best 1.5 sacks

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – A total of 44 Penn State football alumni are populating the rosters of 27 National Football League organizations. The Nittany Lions annually rank among the top 20 programs nationally in producing players in the NFL.

Brenton Strange caught his first NFL touchdown in the Jaguars’ win over the Colts on Sunday. The game marked Strange’s first start in the league as well, as Jacksonville took down Indianapolis 37-20. Saquon Barkley made his return from injury and made an immediate impact in New York’s gameplan, registering 24 carries for 93 yards on Sunday. Defensively, Arnold Ebiketie recorded a career-best 1.5 sacks against the Commanders and Micah Parsons posted his fifth sack of the season in the Cowboys’ win over the Chargers on Monday night.

On special teams, Jordan Stout pinned the Titans inside the 20-yard line twice and is now in sole possession of third place in the NFL in punts inside the 20-yard line with 13.

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

Jets 20, Eagles 14

Saw action on defense and special teams.

Troy Apke (2014-17) S, Washington Commanders

Commanders 24, Falcons 16

Apke began the season on the IR.

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

Bills 14, Giants 9

In his return from injury, Barkley toted the ball 24 times for 93 yards.

Hauled in four passes for 5 yards.

Ryan Bates (2016-18) OL, Buffalo Bills

Bills 14, Giants 9

Saw action on special teams.

Nick Bowers (2018-19) TE, Miami Dolphins

Dolphins 42, Panthers 21

Bowers is on Miami’s practice squad.

Jaquan Brisker (2019-21) S, Chicago Bears

Vikings 19, Bears 13

Posted six tackles (3 solo), including a half sack.

Added a quarterback hit.

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

Bills 14, Giants 9

Saw action on special teams.

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

Browns 19, 49ers 17

Saw action on special teams.

Jason Cabinda (2014-17) FB, Detroit Lions

Lions 20, Buccaneers 6

Active, but did not see action.

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

Commanders 24, Falcons 16

Was promoted to the active roster and made a solo tackle on special teams.

Dan Chisena (2015-19) WR, Minnesota Vikings

Vikings 19, Bears 13

Added to Minnesota’s practice squad on October 11.

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

Packers bye week

Jahan Dotson (2018-21) WR, Washington Commanders

Commanders 24, Falcons 16

Did not catch his only target.

Arnold Ebiketie (2021) DE, Atlanta Falcons

Commanders 24, Falcons 16

Totaled two tackles (1 solo), including a career-best 1.5 sacks.

Added a pair of quarterback hits.

Pat Freiermuth (2018-20) TE, Pittsburgh Steelers

Steelers bye week

Will Fries (2017-20) OL, Indianapolis Colts

Jaguars 37, Colts 20

Made his sixth consecutive start on the offensive line to start the season.

Played 100 percent of the Colts’ offensive snaps for the fifth time this year.

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

Raiders 21, Patriots 17

Caught three passes for 28 yards.

Blake Gillikin (2016-19) P, Arizona Cardinals

Rams 26, Cardinals 9

Punted three times for 134 yards, a 44.7 yards-per-punt average.

Dropped one punt inside the 20.

Had a long punt of 48 yards.

Chipped in a solo tackle.

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

Browns 19, 49ers 17

Made four tackles (2 solo).

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

Lions 20, Buccaneers 6

Caught six pases for a team-high 77 yards.

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

Dolphins 42, Panthers 21

Asisted on three tackles.

KJ Hamler (2017-2019) WR, Indianapolis Colts

Jaguars 37, Colts 20

Hamler is on Indianapolis’ practice squad.

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

Cowboys 20, Chargers 17

Totaled three solo stops, including a tackle for loss.

DaQuan Jones (2010-13) DL, Buffalo Bills

Bills 14, Giants 9

Is on injured reserve.

Jesse Luketa (2018-21) LB, Arizona Cardinals

Rams 26, Cardinals 9

Was inactive.

Connor McGovern (2016-18) OL, Buffalo Bills

Bills 14, Giants 9

Made his sixth start of the year on the offensive line.

Played 100 percent of the Bills’ offensive plays for the third time this season.

Trace McSorley (2014-2018) QB, Chicago Bears

Vikings 19, Bears 13

McSorley was signed to the Bears’ practice squad on Tuesday.

PJ Mustipher (2018-22) DL, Denver Broncos

Chiefs 19, Broncos 8

Mustipher is on Denver’s practice squad.

Amani Oruwariye (2015-18) CB, Jacksonville Jaguars

Jaguars 37, Colts 20

Signed to Jacksonville’s practice squad on Monday.

Odafe Oweh (2019-20) DE, Baltimore Ravens

Ravens 24, Titans 16

Was inactive due to injury.

Micah Parsons (2018-19) LB, Dallas Cowboys

Cowboys 20, Chargers 17

Pitched in two tackles (1 solo), including one sack.

Added three quarterback hits.

Tied for ninth in the NFL with seven tackles for loss on the season.

Tied for 12th in the NFL with 5.0 sacks this year.

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

Steelers bye week

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

Steelers bye week

Miles Sanders (2016-18) RB, Carolina Panthers

Dolphins 42, Panthers 21

Was inactive.

Nick Scott (2015-18) S, Cincinnati Bengals

Bengals 17, Seahawks 13

Made three tackles (2 solo).

Juice Scruggs (2018-22) OL, Houston Texans

Texans 20, Saints 13

Scruggs began the season on IR.

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

Chiefs 19, Broncos 8

Made his sixth start of the year on the offensive line.

Played 100 percent of the offensive snaps for the fifth time this season.

Chris Stoll (2017-22) LS, Seattle Seahawks

Bengals 17, Seahawks 13

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

Jordan Stout (2019-21) P, Baltimore Ravens

Ravens 24, Titans 16

Punted three times for 146 yards, a 48.7 average.

Landed a 56-yard punt for his longest of the day.

Dropped two punts inside the 20-yard line.

Third in the NFL with 13 punts landed inside the 20-yard line.

Brandon Smith (2019-21) LB, Philadelphia Eagles

Jets 20, Eagles 14

Smith is on Philadelphia’s practice squad.

Brenton Strange (2019-22) TE, Jacksonville Jaguars

Jaguars 37, Colts 20

Caught two passes for 27 yards, including his first NFL touchdown.

Mitchell Tinsley (2022) WR, Washington Commanders

Commanders 24, Falcons 16

Was inactive.

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

Packers bye week

Parker Washington (2020-22) WR, Jacksonville Jaguars

Jaguars 37, Colts 20

Active, but did not see action.

The No. 7/6 Nittany Lions travel to Columbus, Ohio this weekend for a noon game against Ohio State. The October 21 contest between the Nittany Lions and the Buckeyes will air on FOX.