UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — A total of 34 Penn State football alumni are populating the rosters of 21 National Football League teams. The Nittany Lions are perennially a top-20 program in producing players in the NFL. Each week throughout the year, GoPSUsports.com provides updates on the exploits of these former Nittany Lion greats.
Former Nittany Lions enjoyed season- and career-best games on both sides of the ball in Week Five.
On defense, third-year defensive back Jordan Lucas had a breakout game with the Chiefs, posting a career-high six tackles and had a highlight-reel 49-yard interception return. The Penn Staters on the Titans' defensive line had solid outing against the Bills, as defensive end DaQuan Jones totaled a career-high nine tackles and nose tackle Austin Johnson made a season-high five tackles.
On offense, a pair of rookies made their mark on the stat sheet, as wide receiver DaeSean Hamilton made his first career receptions with the Broncos and Giants running back Saquon Barkley joined elite company with his fifth-straight game with 100 yards from scrimmage and found paydirt twice.
Marcus Allen (2014-17) S, Pittsburgh Steelers
Steelers 41, Falcons 17
Allen was inactive.
Adrian Amos (2011-14) FS, Chicago Bears
Bye Week
Troy Apke (2014-17) S, Washington Redskins
Saints 43, Redskins 19
Apke was inactive for the Monday night contest with a hamstring injury.
Saquon Barkley (2015-17) RB, New York Giants
Panthers 33, Giants 31
Barkley surpassed 100 yards from scrimmage for a fifth consecutive week, joining Adrian Peterson and Kareem Hunt as the only players in league history to accomplish the feat in each of their first five career games. Barkley rushed for 48 yards on 15 carries and totaled 81 yards with two touchdowns on four receptions, including a 57-yard touchdown catch from wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr.
Saeed Blacknall (2014-17) WR, Oakland Raiders
Chargers 26, Raiders 10
Blacknall is on the Raiders practice squad.
Jason Cabinda (2014-17) LB, Oakland Raiders
Chargers 26, Raiders 10
Cabinda is on the Raiders practice squad.
Curtis Cothran (2013-17) DT, Minnesota Vikings
Vikings 23, Eagles 21
Cothran is on the Vikings practice squad.
Jack Crawford (2008-11) DE, Atlanta Falcons
Steelers 41, Falcons 17
Crawford saw time at defensive tackle for the Falcons and recorded a solo stop for a loss.
Mike Gesicki (2014-17) TE, Miami Dolphins
Bengals 27, Dolphins 17
Gesicki caught three passes for 26 yards against the Bengals.
Garry Gilliam (2010-12) OL, San Francisco 49ers
Cardinals 28, 49ers 18
Gilliam was active but did not play against the Cardinals on Sunday.
Chris Godwin (2014-16) WR, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Bye Week
Malik Golden (2012-16) S, Pittsburgh Steelers
Steelers 41, Falcons 17
Golden is on injured reserve with a knee injury.
Robbie Gould (2001-04) K, San Francisco 49ers
Cardinals 28, 49ers 18
Gould's streak of 33-straight field goals made, a 49ers franchise record, came to an end on Sunday against the Chargers when he failed to convert a 46-yard attempt. It was his first missed field goal since Week 9 of the 2017 season.
Christian Hackenberg (2013-15) QB, Cincinnati Bengals
Bengals 27, Dolphins 17
Hackenberg is on the Bengals practice squad.
Grant Haley (2014-17) CB, New York Giants
Panthers 33, Giants 31
Haley is on the Giants practice squad.
DaeSean Hamilton (2014-17) WR, Denver Broncos
Jets 34, Broncos 16
Hamilton had the first three catches of his NFL career, totaling 44 yards. He also fair caught one punt.
Gerald Hodges (2009-12) LB, Arizona Cardinals
Cardinals 28, 49ers 18
Hodges saw action primarily on special teams and made one tackle.
Chris Hogan (men's lacrosse - 2007-10) WR, New England Patriots
Patriots 38, Colts 24
Hogan had three receptions for 34 yards in Thursday night's win over the Colts.
Mike Hull (2011-14) LB, Miami Dolphins
Bengals 27, Dolphins 17
Hull is on injured reserve with an MCL injury.
Jesse James (2012-14) TE, Pittsburgh Steelers
Steelers 41, Falcons 17
James caught two passes for 20 yards in the win over the Falcons.
DaQuan Jones (2010-13) DE, Tennessee Titans
Bills 13, Titans 12
Jones started at defensive end for the Titans and had a career-high nine tackles, including six solo stops and two tackles for loss.
Austin Johnson (2012-15) DL, Tennessee Titans
Bills 13, Titans 12
Johnson started on the defensive line and made a season-high five tackles, with one stop coming behind the line.
Sean Lee (2005-07, 2009) MLB, Dallas Cowboys
Texans 19, Cowboys 16 (OT)
Lee was inactive with a hamstring injury.
Jordan Lucas (2012-15) CB, Kansas City Chiefs
Chiefs 30, Jaguars 14
Lucas enjoyed a career game in the Chiefs' win over the Jaguars, making a career-high six tackles and hauling in his first career interception. He made the pick in the end zone in the fourth quarter and broke several tackles as he returned it 49 yards to midfield.
Brendan Mahon (2013-17) OL, Carolina Panthers
Panthers 33, Giants 31
Mahon was listed as inactive Sunday against the Giants.
Carl Nassib (2011-15) DE, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Bye Week
Allen Robinson (2011-13) WR, Chicago Bears
Bye Week
A.Q. Shipley (2005-08) C, Arizona Cardinals
Cardinals 28, 49ers 18
Shipley is on injured reserve with an ACL injury and will miss the 2018 season.
Garrett Sickels (2013-16) LB, Los Angeles Rams
Rams 33, Seahawks 31
Sickels is on injured reserve.
Donovan Smith (2012-13) T, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Bye Week
Nate Stupar (2008-11) LB, New York Giants
Panthers 33, Giants 31
Stupar saw action on special teams in Sunday's game against the Panthers.
Ross Travis (men's basketball - 2011-14) TE, Indianapolis Colts
Patriots 38, Colts 24
Travis is on injured reserve and will miss the season with a torn ACL.
Cameron Wake (2000, 02-04) DE, Miami Dolphins
Bengals 27, Dolphins 17
Wake was inactive with a knee injury.
Trevor Williams (2012-15) CB, Los Angeles Chargers
Chargers 26, Raiders 10
Williams started at cornerback, breaking up two passes and making four tackles.
Stefen Wisniewski (2007-10) G/C, Philadelphia Eagles
Vikings 23, Eagles 21
Wisniewski saw limited action on special teams.
Anthony Zettel (2012-15) DL, Cleveland Browns
Browns 12, Ravens 9
Zettel appeared on the Browns' defensive line.