Lions took the NFL stage in Week 1
Trending
UNIVERSITY PARK - Week one of the National Football League saw 48 Penn State football alums populate the rosters of 25 National Football League organizations.
Four players from Penn State's 2025 team made their NFL debuts, including Washington running back Kaytron Allen, Green Bay defensive end Dani Dennis-Sutton, Baltimore Ravens guard Olaivavega Ioane and Dallas tackle Drew Shelton. Ioane started and played all 68 offensive snaps in the Ravens' 41-23 win over Indianapolis.
On offense, Penn State tight ends continue to shine at the next level. Pittsburgh tight end Pat Freiermuth caught five passes for 46 yards, including a 6-yard touchdown, in the Steelers' 20-13 win over Atlanta. Cincinnati tight end Mike Gesicki hauled in five catches for 78 yards, including a 2-yard score. All five of Gesicki's catches went for first downs in the Bengals' 33-27 win over Tampa Bay. Jacksonville tight end Brenton Strange caught two passes for 23 yards, including a 14-yard touchdown, in the Jaguars' 34-10 win over Cleveland. Indianapolis tight end Tyler Warren had three receptions, including a 9-yard score, in the Colts' setback against Baltimore.
Jacksonville wide receiver Parker Washington hauled in five receptions for 83 yards and gained four first downs. He caught a 30-yard touchdown in the first quarter.
On defense, safety Jaquan Brisker made a major impact in his Steelers debut. Brisker picked off a pass in the second quarter and returned it 10 yards to setup Freiermuth's touchdown. Washington linebacker Odafe Oweh tallied three tackles, two tackles for loss and a sack in the Commanders' 24-22 loss against Philadelphia. Tennessee safety Kevin Winston Jr. collected 10 tackles in the Titans' 23-10 loss against the New York Jets.
Arizona punter Blake Gillikin averaged 52.7 yards on three punts in the Cardinals' 26-14 win over the Los Angeles Chargers. Gillikin landed one punt at the Chargers 12 and blasted punts of 60 and 61 yards.
Here's how all 48 former Nittany Lions fared in Week 1:
Drew Allar, QB (2022-25) – Pittsburgh Steelers
Steelers 20, Falcons 13
First season with Pittsburgh (First in the NFL)
Did not see any action in Pittsburgh's win over Atlanta.
Kaytron Allen, RB (2022-25), Washington Commanders
Eagles 24, Commanders 22
First season with Washington (First in the NFL)
Played seven snaps on offense and six on special teams.
Rushed for 16 yards on four carries with a long rush of five yards.
Saquon Barkley, RB (2015-17), Philadelphia Eagles
Eagles 24, Commanders 22
Third season with Philadelphia (Ninth in the NFL)
Played 39 snaps on offense.
Rushed for 83 yards on 15 carries with a long run of 42 yards.
Added one catch.
Jaquan Brisker, S (2019-21), Pittsburgh Steelers
Steelers 20, Falcons 13
First season with Pittsburgh (Fifth in the NFL)
Played all 60 snaps on defense.
Collected a total of six tackles and four solo tackles.
Picked off a pass in the second quarter and returned it 10 yards to setup a Steelers touchdown.
Ji'Ayir Brown, S (2020-22), San Francisco 49ers
49ers 27, Rams 7
Fourth season with San Francisco (Fourth in the NFL)
Played 55 snaps on defense and seven on special teams.
Tallied four tackles and two solo tackles.
Abdul Carter, LB (2022-24), New York Giants
Giants 28, Cowboys 20
Second season with the New York Giants (Second in the NFL)
Played 53 snaps on defense.
Collected three tackles, all solo, and added a QB hit.
Assisted on one tackle for loss.
Sean Clifford, QB (2017-22) – Cincinnati Bengals
Bengals 33, Buccaneers 27
Second season with Cincinnati (Fourth in the NFL)
Currently on practice squad.
Dominic DeLuca, LB (2021-25), Baltimore Ravens
Ravens 41, Colts 23
First season with Baltimore (First in the NFL)
Currently on practice squad.
Dani Dennis-Sutton, DE (2022-25), Green Bay Packers
Vikings 39, Packers 22
First season with Green Bay (First in the NFL)
Played 21 snaps on defense and 13 on special teams
Assisted on one tackle for loss.
Khalil Dinkins, TE (2021-25), San Francisco 49ers
49ers 27, Rams 7
First season with San Francisco (First in the NFL)
Currently on practice squad.
Jahan Dotson, WR (2018-21), Atlanta Falcons
Steelers 20, Falcons 13
First season with Atlanta (Fifth in the NFL)
Started and played 38 snaps on offense.
Caught one pass for 19 yards.
Zane Durant, DT (2022-25), Buffalo Bills
Bills 36, Texans 31
First season with Buffalo (First in the NFL)
Currently on injured reserve
Arnold Ebiketie, LB (2021), Philadelphia Eagles
Eagles 24, Commanders 22
First season with Philadelphia (Fifth in the NFL)
Played 28 snaps on defense and nine on special teams.
Recorded a solo tackle.
Olumuyiwa Fashanu, OL (2020-23), New York Jets
Jets 23, Titans 10
Third season with the New York Jets (Third in the NFL)
Started at left tackle.
Played all 67 snaps on offense and six snaps on special teams.
Pat Freiermuth, TE (2018-20), Pittsburgh Steelers
Steelers 20, Falcons 13
Sixth season with Pittsburgh (Sixth in the NFL)
Played 49 snaps on offense
Caught all five targets for 46 yards with a long catch of 19 yards.
Hauled in a 6-yard touchdown pass in the second quarter.
Will Fries, OL (2017-20), Minnesota Vikings
Vikings 39, Packers 22
Second season with Minnesota (Sixth in the NFL)
Started at right guard.
Played all 65 snaps on offense and five snaps on special teams.
Mike Gesicki, TE (2014-17), Cincinnati Bengals
Bengals 33, Buccaneers 27
Third season with Cincinnati (Eighth in the NFL)
Played 21 snaps on offense.
Caught five of seven targets for 78 yards with a long catch of 25 yards.
All five catches went for first downs and had a 24-yard grab.
Hauled in a 2-yard touchdown in the first quarter.
Blake Gillikin, P (2016-19), Arizona Cardinals
Cardinals 26, Chargers 14
Fourth season with Arizona (Seventh in the NFL)
Played 10 special teams snaps.
Punted three times for 158 yards, averaging 52.7 yards per punt.
Landed one punt at the Chargers 12 and blasted punts of 60 and 61 yards.
Kevin Givens, DT (2016-18), San Francisco 49ers
49ers 27, Rams 7
Seventh season with San Francisco (seventh in the NFL)
Currently on practice squad
Chris Godwin, WR (2014-16), Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Bengals 33, Buccaneers 27
10th season with Tampa Bay (10th in the NFL)
Played 49 snaps on offense.
Caught four passes for 40 yards including a long catch of 30 yards.
Added a three-yard rush.
Olaivavega Ioane, OL (2022-25), Baltimore Ravens
Ravens 41, Colts 23
First season with Baltimore (First in the NFL)
Started at right guard in his NFL debut.
Played all 68 snaps on offense and seven snaps on special teams.
Adisa Isaac, DE (2019-23), Baltimore Ravens
Ravens 41, Colts 23
Third season with Baltimore (Third in the NFL)
Currently on practice squad.
DaQuan Jones, DT (2010-13), New England Patriots
Seahawks 13, Patriots 10
First season with New England (13th in the NFL)
Played 42 snaps on defense and six snaps on special teams.
Theo Johnson, TE (2020-23), New York Giants
Giants 28, Cowboys 20
Third season with the New York Giants (Third in the NFL)
Played 32 snaps on offense and seven snaps on special teams.
Caught one pass for nine yards.
Kalen King, CB (2021-23), Arizona Cardinals
Cardinals 26, Chargers 14
First season with Arizona (Third in the NFL)
Currently on practice squad.
Played five snaps on defense and nine snaps on special teams.
Connor McGovern, OL (2016-18), Buffalo Bills
Bills 36, Texans 31
Fourth season with Buffalo (Eighth in the NFL)
Started at center.
Played all 58 snaps on offense.
Hunter Nourzad, OL (2022-23), Kansas City Chiefs
Chiefs 31, Broncos 30
Third season with Kansas City (Third in the NFL)
Played four snaps on offense and five on special teams.
Odafe Oweh, LB (2019-20), Washington Commanders
Eagles 24, Commanders 22
First season with Washington (Sixth in the NFL)
Played 46 snaps on defense.
Tallied three tackles, including two solo.
Notched two tackles for loss and one sack.
Added a QB hit.
Micah Parsons, EDGE (2018-19), Green Bay Packers
Vikings 39, Packers 22
Second season with Green Bay (Sixth in the NFL)
Currently on physically unable to perform list.
Trebor Peña, WR (2025), Jacksonville Jaguars
Jaguars 34, Browns 10
First season with Jacksonville (First in the NFL)
Currently on practice squad.
Joey Porter Jr., CB (2019-22), Pittsburgh Steelers
Steelers 20, Falcons 13
Fourth season with Pittsburgh (Fourth in the NFL)
Did not see any action in the Pittsburg's win over Atlanta.
Jaylen Reed, S (2021-24), New England Patriots
Seahawks 13, Patriots 10
First season with New England (Second in the NFL)
Played eight snaps on special teams
Chop Robinson, LB (2022-23), Miami Dolphins
Raiders 27, Dolphins 13
Third season with Miami (Third in the NFL)
Played 42 snaps on defense and one on special teams.
Registered one tackle.
Nolan Rucci, OL (2024-25), Indianapolis Colts
Ravens 41, Colts 23
First season with Indianapolis (First in the NFL)
Currently on practice squad.
Nick Scott, S (2015-18), Carolina Panthers
Bears 59, Panthers 37
Third season with Carolina (Eighth in the NFL).
Played 72 snaps on defense.
Recorded seven total tackles, including five solo.
Juice Scruggs, OL (2018-22), Detroit Lions
Lions 31, Saints 30
First season with Detroit (Fourth in the NFL)
Started at center.
Played all 77 snaps on offense and five on special teams.
Drew Shelton, OL (2022-25), Dallas Cowboys
Giants 28, Cowboys 20
First season with Dallas (First in the NFL)
Played three snaps on offense and three snaps on special teams.
Nicholas Singleton, RB (2022-25), Tennessee Titans
Jets 23, Titans 10
First season with Tennessee (First in the NFL)
Did not see any action in Tennessee’s loss to New York.
Chris Stoll, LS (2017-22), Seattle Seahawks
Seahawks 13, Patriots 10
Fourth season with Seattle (Fourth in the NFL)
Played eight special teams snaps.
Jordan Stout, P (2019-21), New York Giants
Giants 28, Cowboys 20
First season with New York (Fifth in the NFL)
Played five snaps on special teams.
Punted once for 46 yards, which was downed at the Dallas 15.
Brenton Strange, TE (2019-22), Jacksonville Jaguars
Jaguars 34, Browns 10
Fourth season with Jacksonville (Fourth in the NFL)
Played 39 snaps on offense.
Hauled in two catches for 23 yards.
Caught a 14-yard touchdown in the second quarter.
Mitchell Tinsley, WR (2022), Houston Texans
Bills 36, Texans 31
First season with Houston (Fourth in the NFL)
Currently on practice squad.
Rasheed Walker, OL (2019-21), Carolina Panthers
Bears 59, Panthers 37
First season with Carolina (Sixth in the NFL)
Started at left tackle.
Played all 68 snaps on offense, plus six snaps on special teams.
Caedan Wallace, OL (2019-23), Miami Dolphins
Raiders 27, Dolphins 13
First season with Miami (First in the NFL)
Played in one snap on offense and four snaps on special teams.
Tyler Warren, TE (2020-24), Indianapolis Colts
Ravens 41, Colts 23
Second season with Indianapolis (Second in the NFL)
Played 50 snaps on offense
Made three receptions for 13 yards.
Caught a 9-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter.
Parker Washington, WR (2020-22), Jacksonville Jaguars
Jaguars 34, Browns 10
Fourth season with Jacksonville (Fourth in the NFL)
Played 35 snaps on offense and three on special teams.
Hauled in five receptions for 83 yards with four catches resulting in first downs.
Caught a 30-yard touchdown in the first quarter.
Added one punt return.
Zakee Wheatley, S (2021-25), Carolina Panthers
Bears 59, Panthers 37
First season with Carolina (First in the NFL).
Did not see any action in Carolina's loss to Chicago.
Kevin Winston Jr., S (2022-24), Tennessee Titans
Jets 23, Titans 10
Second season with Tennessee (Second in the NFL)
Played 67 snaps on defense, plus three on special teams.
Collected 10 tackles with four solo stops.