Nov. 1, 2017
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - A total of 29 Penn State football alumni are populating the rosters of 21 National Football League teams. The Nittany Lions annually are among the top-20 programs nationally in producing players in the NFL. Each week throughout the year, GoPSUsports.com has provided updates on the exploits of these former Nittany Lion greats.
Penn State standouts in Week 8 included Linebacker U and secondary alums. Linebackers Navorro Bowman and Sean Lee led the Raiders and Cowboys in tackles, respectively, while safety Adrian Amos made six tackles and forced and recovered a fumble for the Bears and cornerback Trevor Williams made a career-high eight tackles for the Chargers. Unfortunately, the injury bug bit again, as tackle Garry Gilliam suffered a knee injury and was placed on injured reserve Monday and men's lacrosse alum Chris Hogan could miss time with a shoulder injury.
Adrian Amos (2011-14) FS, Chicago Bears
Saints 20, Bears 12
Amos started at safety for the Bears and had six tackles (all solo), including two tackles for a loss and one on special teams. Amos also forced and recovered a fumble in the fourth quarter.
Brandon Bell (2013-16) LB, Cincinnati Bengals
Bengals 24, Colts 23
Bell is on the Bengals practice squad.
Navorro Bowman (2007-09) LB, Oakland Raiders
Bills 34, Raiders 14
Bowman led the team with 11 tackles for the second week in a row, including seven solo stops and a tackle for a loss.
Kyle Carter (2012-15) TE, Minnesota Vikings
Vikings 33, Browns 16
Carter is on the Vikings practice squad.
Jack Crawford (2008-11) DE, Atlanta Falcons
Falcons 25, Jets 20
Crawford is on injured reserve with a torn bicep.
Garry Gilliam (2010-12) T, San Francisco 49ers
Eagles 33, 49ers 10
Gilliam started at right tackle for the 49ers for the first time this season, but left the game in the second quarter with a knee injury. He was placed on injured reserve Monday.
Chris Godwin (2014-16) WR, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Panthers 17, Buccaneers 3
Godwin had one catch for eight yards against the Panthers. He also saw extensive action on special teams.
Robbie Gould (2001-04) K, San Francisco 49ers
Eagles 33, 49ers 10
Gould converted a 50-yard field goal and his only extra point attempt against the Eagles.
Christian Hackenberg (2013-15) QB, New York Jets
Falcons 25, Jets 20
Hackenberg was inactive this week.
Tamba Hali (2002-05) LB, Kansas City Chiefs
Chiefs 29, Broncos 19
Hali is on the physically-unable-to-perform (PUP) list.
Jordan Hill (2009-12) DT, Detroit Lions
Steelers 20, Lions 15
Hill is on injured reserve with a bicep injury.
Chris Hogan (men's lacrosse - 2007-10) WR, New England Patriots
Patriots 21, Chargers 13
Hogan started at wide receiver for the Patriots and had five catches for 60 yards, including two 19-yard catches. However, he left the game late in the fourth quarter with a shoulder injury.
Mike Hull (2011-14) LB, Miami Dolphins
Ravens 40, Dolphins 0
Hull played on special teams against the Ravens and had one tackle on a kick return.
Jesse James (2012-14) TE, Pittsburgh Steelers
Steelers 20, Lions 15
James started at tight end for the Steelers and had two catches for 42 yards, including a career-long 32-yard catch, in a Sunday night win over the Lions.
DaQuan Jones (2010-13) DE, Tennessee Titans
Bye Week
Austin Johnson (2012-15) DT, Tennessee Titans
Bye Week
Sean Lee (2005-07, 2009) MLB, Dallas Cowboys
Cowboys 33, Redskins 19
Sean Lee started at linebacker for the Cowboys and led the team with nine tackles, including five solo stops, in a win over the Redskins.
Jordan Lucas (2012-15) CB, Miami Dolphins
Ravens 40, Dolphins 0
Lucas saw limited action against the Ravens special teams.
Michael Mauti (2008-12) LB, New Orleans Saints
Saints 20, Bears 12
Mauti saw extensive action on special teams in a win over the Bears.
Carl Nassib (2011-15) DE, Cleveland Browns
Vikings 33, Browns 16
Nassib had three tackles (all solo), including a sack in the first quarter, in a game played in Twickenham Stadium in London. He also added one quarterback hit and two passes defended.
Paul Posluszny (2003-06) LB, Jacksonville Jaguars
Bye Week
Allen Robinson (2011-13) WR, Jacksonville Jaguars
Bye Week
Robinson is on injured reserve with an ACL injury to his left knee.
Evan Schwan (2013-16) DE, New York Giants
Bye Week
Schwan is on injured reserve with a broken foot.
A.Q. Shipley (2005-08) C, Arizona Cardinals
Bye Week
Donovan Smith (2012-13) OT, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Panthers 17, Buccaneers 3
Smith started at left tackle against the Panthers and has started all 38 games of his NFL career.
Nate Stupar (2008-11) LB, New Orleans Saints
Saints 20, Bears 12
Stupar is on injured reserve with a torn ACL.
Ross Travis (men's basketball - 2011-14) TE, Kansas City Chiefs
Chiefs 29, Broncos 19
Travis started at tight end for the Chiefs and was targeted twice in a Monday night win over the Broncos.
Cameron Wake (2000, 02-04) DE, Miami Dolphins
Ravens 40, Dolphins 0
Wake started for the Dolphins and two tackles and a quarterback hit against the Ravens.
Trevor Williams (2012-15) CB, Los Angeles Chargers
Patriots 21, Chargers 13
Williams started at cornerback and had a career high eight tackles (all solo) against the Patriots.
Stefen Wisniewski (2007-10) G/C, Philadelphia Eagles
Eagles 33, 49ers 10
Wisniewski started at left guard in the win over the 49ers and played on all but one snap.
Anthony Zettel (2012-15) DL, Detroit Lions
Steelers 20, Lions 15
Zettel started for the Lions and forced the first fumble of his career to go with his two solo stops, including a tackle for a loss.