Penn State in the NFL roundup: How are former Lions doing after six weeks?

Penn State fans are very familiar with all of the ways that Tyler Warren can hurt a defense. NFL teams are now very aware of that fact, too. The Indianapolis Colts tight end has had a sensational start to his time in the pros. Through six games, he has tallied 29 receptions for 307 yards and two touchdowns. He is up for Rookie of the Week honors following his team’s latest game in which he caught 6 passes for 63 yards and a touchdown during a 31-2 win over the Arizona Cardinals. 

Warren also has a rushing touchdown on the season. And, he’s been quite good as a blocker, which has long been the case for the former Nittany Lion.

“When you’ve got a guy with that type of skillset,” Colts head coach Shane Steichen said, “you want to be able to use that skillset.”

Added Warren:

“If you can [block and catch passes], you’re not only going to be more valuable to yourself, but add more value to the offense and make it a better offense. I think it’s really important.”

Warren’s quick success at the NFL level is not a surprise to former position coach Ty Howle. The two still stay in touch, the current Nittany Lion said in October, and he’s thrilled to see him have such an early impact in the pros.

“We talk once or twice a week and just checking in and making sure he’s good,” Howle said. “He’s doing great. He’s producing on the field and having a great experience. I talked to him for about 45-minutes the other night. He loves it, playing well, thinks they’re happy with him, and he’s a kid that, he just works and does his job and he’s doing well, producing, and having fun doing it.”

Penn State NFL recap ahead of Week 7

Here’s the full rundown:

Saquon Barkley (Played at Penn State from 2015-17), RB, Philadelphia Eagles: Barkley is not having as good of a start to the 2025 season as he did in 2024. The Eagles offense is a bit broken so far. No matter, the second-year Philadelphia back has carried 95 times for 325 yards and three touchdowns. He also has a receiving touchdown. 

Ryan Bates (2016-18), OL, Chicago Bears: Bates is playing only special teams for the Bears this year. He has 24 snaps. They are all on field goal and extra points. 

Jaquan Brisker (2019-21), S, Chicago Bears: Brisker had an interception that he returned for 32 yards in the Bears’ win over Washington last weekend. He has 24 tackles on the year and also a quarterback hurry. 

Ji’Ayir Brown (2020-22), S, San Francisco 49ers: Brown has started two of the team’s six games this year. He has 12 tackles and a pass breakup. 

Abdul Carter (2022-24), DE, New York Giants: Carter has started one of six games so far during his rookie season after shining at Penn State. He has netted 13 tackles (one for loss), half a sack, and eight quarterback hurries. 

Tariq Castro-Fields (2017-21), CB, Philadelphia Eagles: Former Penn State defender Castro-Field was elevated to the Eagles’ practice squad on Oct. 13.

Sean Clifford (2017-21), QB, Cincinnati Bengals: After being cut by Green Bay at the end of training camp, Clifford was signed to the Bengals’ practice squad on Sept. 16 after starting quarterback Joe Burrow suffered a long-term injury that required the team to shuffle its quarterback room.

Jahan Dotson (2018-21), WR, Philadelphia Eagles: Dotson has caught seven of 12 targets so far this season for 111 yards. He has yet to record his first touchdown. 

Arnold Ebiketie (2021), LB, Atlanta Falcons: Ebiketie has started in two of the team’s five games this season. He’s made 13 tackles (one for loss) and also has a quarterback hurry. 

Olumuyiwa Fashanu (2020-23), OL, New York Jets: Fashanu has started all six games for the Jets as the team’s top left tackle. He owns 373 snaps to date. PFF calls him the team’s second-best pass blocker. 

Pat Freiermuth (2018-20), TE, Pittsburgh Steelers: Freiermuth has started one of the team’s five games so far. He’s caught 8 of 11 targets for 76 yards and no touchdowns. 

Will Fries (2017-20), OL, Minnesota Vikings: Fries has started all of his team’s games at right guard. He has 292 sacks and is top three on the team in both pass and run blocking per PFF. 

Mike Gesicki (2014-17), TE, Cincinnati Bengals: Gesicki has started one of the team’s six games so far this year. He has 8 catches on 16 targets for just 61 yards and no touchdowns. 

Blake Gillikin (2016-19), P, Arizona Cardinals: Gillikin’s 51.7 yards per punt ranks third in the NFL. And his 45.4 net yards per punt ranks fourth. 

Kevin Givens (2016-18), DT, San Francisco 49ers: Givens suffered a pectoral injury in August. He has not yet made his 2025 season debut and continues to be on injured reserve. 

Chris Godwin (2014-16), WR, Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Godwin is hurt again and will miss more regular season games. He’s made six receptions on 14 targets over two games for 52 yards. 

Yetur Gross-Matos (2017-19), DE, San Francisco 49ers: Gross-Matos has four tackles over five games so far this season. 

Adisa Isaac (2019-23), LB, Baltimore Ravens: Isaac dislocated his elbow during a preseason game in August. He has yet to play this season but is expected to return at some point this fall. 

Coziah Izzard (2020-24), DT, New Orleans Saints: Izzard was signed to the NFC South franchise’s practice squad on Sept. 1.
Curtis Jacobs (2020-2023), LB, New York Giants: Jacobs was signed to the team’s practice squad on Sept. 16.

Austin Johnson (2013-15), DT, Jacksonville Jaguars: Johnson has five tackles over six games so far this season.
Theo Johnson (2020-23), TE, New York Giants: Johnson has 17 receptions on 26 targets for 126 yards and three touchdowns over six games this season. 

DaQuan Jones (2010-13), DL, Buffalo Bills: Jones has eight tackles and two sacks so far this season. He also has two tackles for loss. 

Jalen Kimber (2024), CB, Buffalo Bills: Kimber was signed to the team’s practice squad on Oct. 7.

Kalen King (2021-23), CB, Carolina Panthers: King is on the Panthers’ practice squad. 

Kobe King (2021-24), LB, Minnesota Vikings: King has four tackles over five games this season.

Connor McGovern (2016-18), OL, Buffalo Bills: McGovern is the team’s starting center. He’s been in for 395 snaps to date. PFF ranks him as the team’s third-best blocker. 

PJ Mustipher (2018-22), DL, Arizona Cardinals: Mustipher has 12 tackles (one for loss) and a pass breakup through six games this year. 

Hunter Nourzad (2022-23), OL, Kansas City Chiefs: Nourzad made his season debut in Week 6 when he took five snaps on the team’s field goal and extra point units. 

Odafe Oweh (2019-20), LB, Los Angeles Chargers: Oweh had two tackles and two quarterback hits in his Chargers debut after being traded by the Baltimore Ravens before Week 6.

Joey Porter Jr. (2019-22), CB, Pittsburgh Steelers: Porter Jr., has played in just two games so far this season after overcoming a hamstring injury. He started both. So far, he has six tackles and two pass breakups. 

Jaylen Reed (2021-24), S, Houston Texans: Reed is currently on the injured reserve list. 

Chop Robinson (2022-23), DE, Miami Dolphins: Robinson has six tackles (two for loss) and a sack over six games this season. 

Miles Sanders (2016-18), RB, Dallas Cowboys: Sanders is on the season-ending injured reserve after suffering knee and ankle injuries earlier this year. He finishes the year with 20 carries for 117 yards and a touchdown. 

Nick Scott (2015-18), S, Carolina Panthers: Scott has 26 tackles and two pass breakups over six games this season. 

Juice Scruggs (2018-22), OL, Houston Texans: Scruggs started at left guard in Week 5 for the Texans’ struggling offensive line. He has 163 snaps on offense so far this year. 

Chris Stoll (2017-22), LS, Seattle Seahawks: Stoll is the team’s starting long snapper. 

Jordan Stout (2019-21), P, Baltimore Ravens: Stout’s 46.2 net yards per punt is No. 2 in the NFL. His 50.2 average yards per punt ranks fifth. 

Brenton Strange (2019-22), TE, Jacksonville Jaguars: Strange has 20 receptions on 24 targets for 204 yards. He has not yet found the end zone.

Mitchell Tinsley (2022), WR, Cincinnati Bengals: Gesicki has started one of six games so far this season. He has eight receptions on 16 targets for 61 yards and no touchdowns. 

Rasheed Walker (2019-21), OL, Green Bay Packers: Walker is the team’s starting left tackle. He has 322 snaps on the year. He is the team’s top-rated run blocker per PFF. 

Caedan Wallace (2019-23), OL, New England Patriots: Wallace has not yet played for the Patriots this season.

Tyler Warren (2020-24), TE, Indianapolis Colts: Stats above but leaving for next month.

Parker Washington (2020-22), WR, Jacksonville Jaguars: Washington has 13 receptions on 25 targets for 155 yards and a touchdown. `

Kevin Winston Jr. (2022-24), S, Tennessee Titans: Winston Jr., has yet to suit up for the Titans during the regular season. It’s unclear if he is still recovering from the partial ACL tear that cost him much of the 2024 season at Penn State. 

Sal Wormley (2019-24), OG, Jacksonville Jaguars: Wormley is on the Jaguars’ practice squad.