Penn State in the pros: How are former Lions faring in the NFL through seven weeks?

Former Penn State linebacker Micah Parsons was closing in on Detroit quarterback Jared Goff deep in the backfield, but when Goff dumped the ball off to tight end Brock Wright, the second-year Dallas Cowboys linebacker pivoted and gave chase.

In an instant, Parsons closed the 5-yard gap between the two players, slamming into Wright from behind and stopping him just before the ball crossed the goal line. When the Lions fumbled on the next play, it seemed as though they had deprived themselves of a chance at a go-ahead touchdown early in the fourth quarter.

Really, though, it was Parsons who had deprived them by refusing to give up on a play on which he had seemed impossibly out of position. The Cowboys went on to win 24-6.

“I tell people I’m going to be tired, but you’re going to be more tired than me, because I’m never going to stop,” the former Penn State All-American told reporters afterward. “I practice that way, I work that way — just being relentless, understanding that anything can happen on the field.”

Faced with sky-high expectations coming off a debut season in which he ran away with NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year honors, Parsons has lived up to the hype, serving as the centerpiece of a fierce Cowboys defense.

How are he and the rest of the former Penn State players in the NFL faring through seven weeks of play? We have a full rundown below.

Check-in on Penn State players in the NFL: Offense

Saquon Barkley (2015-17, RB, New York Giants: While he was kept out of the end zone by Jacksonville in Week 7, the former Penn State running back ran for 135 yards on 28 carries to help lift the resurgent Giants to a 23-17 win. Barkley ranks second in the league with 726 rushing yards. He’s trailing Cleveland’s Nick Chubb by just 14 yards. 

Ryan Bates (2015-18), OL, Buffalo Bills: A starter on Buffalo’s offensive line this season, Bates overcame a Week 3 concussion and hasn’t missed a game.

Nick Bowers (2015-19), TE, Cincinnati Bengals: The Bengals added Bowers to their practice squad on Sept. 1, and he has remained there this season.

Jason Cabinda (2014-17), FB, Detroit Lions: Placed on the physically unable to perform list earlier this year due to an ankle injury, Cabinda has made his biggest impact away from the field, focusing on his charitable endeavors in Detroit-area schools.

Dan Chisena (2015, 2018-19), WR, Minnesota Vikings: The receiver has appeared in one game for the Vikings, making a tackle on special teams against Chicago in Week 5.

Jahan Dotson (2019-2021), WR, Washington Commanders: Dotson missed Washington’s games against Tennessee, Chicago and Green Bay with a lingering hamstring injury. He was doing well before getting hurt, ranking as one of only 11 players in the league with 4 or more touchdown catches through the season’s first six weeks.

Sam Ficken (2011-14), K, Detroit Lions: Ficken joined Detroit’s practice squad in October. 

Pat Freiermuth (2018-20), TE, Pittsburgh Steelers: Freiermuth ranks seventh in receiving among NFL tight ends, with 310 yards through seven games. He’s done that while missing a game due to a concussion and playing with a carousel of quarterbacks to start the year. 

More: How to watch Penn State football opposite Ohio State: Time, channel, streaming info, and more

Will Fries (2016-20), OL, Indianapolis Colts: Fries played against Tennessee in Week 4 but has only seen one snap since.

Mike Gesicki (2014-17), TE, Miami Dolphins: Gesicki’s integration into new head coach Mike McDaniel’s run-oriented system is an ongoing issue. He’s seen 25 targets, with 14 coming in Weeks 6 and 7. He ranks third on the team with 18 catches for 197 yards and 3 touchdowns. 

Chris Godwin (2014-16), WR, Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Godwin has at least 6 targets in every game except one in which he exited with an injury. Since his return, he’s been one of Tom Brady’s go-to receivers, with 26 receptions for 258 yards. 

Robbie Gould (2001-04), K, San Francisco 49ers: Gould has hit 9 of 12 field goals through the first seven games of the season and is a perfect 15 of 15 on extra points. 

KJ Hamler (2017-19), WR, Denver Broncos: The Broncos haven’t made the offensive strides they expected after acquiring quarterback Russell Wilson from Seattle in the offseason. Through seven games, Hamler has only 5 catches for 115 yards.

Jesse James (2012-14), TE, Cleveland Browns: James landed on the Browns’ injured reserve list after Week 2 due to a biceps problem and hasn’t played since. 

John Lovett (2021), RB, Carolina Panthers: The Panthers’ cut Lovett from the practice squad on Oct. 18.

More: Penn State practice report: Latest news, notes, and observations on the Lions before Ohio State

Connor McGovern (2016-18), OL, Dallas Cowboys: McGovern played his best game of the season in the Cowboys’ 26-6 victory over Detroit in Week 7. The former Nittany Lion allowed zero pressures on 28 pass-blocking attempts, while also helping pave the way for 139 yards rushing.

Trace McSorley (2014-18), QB, Arizona Cardinals: McSorley hasn’t attempted any passes since hitting 2 of 4 attempts for 12 yards in the Cardinals’ loss to Kansas City in Week 1.

Allen Robinson II (2011-13), WR, Los Angeles Rams: There was a strong belief that Robinson landing with the Rams would catapult his career. That has not been the case. He has just 17 catches on 29 targets this season for 170 yards and 2 touchdowns. Robinson is not a primary target in the Rams’ offense. 

Miles Sanders (2016-18), RB, Philadelphia Eagles: Sanders has had a terrific season in the Eagles’ multifaceted rushing attack, even if his stats — 105 carries, 485 yards, 4 touchdowns — are not eye-popping.

Donovan Smith (2011-14), OT, Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Smith started the season with an injury in Week 1 that kept him out for two games. However, he has played 100 percent of Tampa Bay’s snaps at left tackle each of the past four weeks. 

Rasheed Walker (2018-21), OT, Green Bay Packers: Walker is on the Packers’ active roster but has yet to play this season. 

Check-in on Penn State players in the NFL: Defense

Marcus Allen (played at Penn State from 2014-17), LB, Pittsburgh Steelers: Allen has been a special teams fixture for the Steelers this season, notching 2 tackles on coverage teams while appearing in all seven games. 

Adrian Amos (2011-14), S, Green Bay Packers: Of Amos’ 30 tackles this, 10 came in Green Bay’s 23-21 loss to Washington in Week 7. 

Troy Apke (2014-17), S, Washington Commanders: Released by the Commanders in early October, Apke was re-signed two weeks later to the practice squad. He has not appeared in any games this season.

Jaquan Brisker (2019-21), S, Chicago Bears: Brisker’s first career interception was a spectacular one, a one-handed grab of a pass that New England quarterback Mac Jones floated into coverage during the second quarter of the Bears’ 33-14 win Oct. 24 on “Monday Night Football.”

Cam Brown (2016-19), LB, New York Giants: Brown has carved out a role on special teams this season, making 4 tackles on coverage teams.

Tariq Castro-Fields (2017-21), CB, Washington Commanders: After being waived by San Francisco, Washington picked up Castro-Fields just before the season began. He is now on the injured reserve.

Arnold Ebiketie (2021), DE, Atlanta Falcons: Ebiketie has been solid for the Falcons, getting 6 quarterback hits through seven games this year. That figure is 13th among edge rushers in the NFL.

Blake Gillikin (2016-19), P, New Orleans Saints: Gillikin is averaging 48.3 yards per punt to rank 13th in the league. However, he has struggled on kickoffs, allowing 61.3 percent of his attempts to be returned, which is the fourth-most in the NFL.

More: Predictions: Can Lions upset Buckeyes for the first time since 2016?

Kevin Givens (2016-18), DT, San Francisco 49ers: Injuries to the 49ers’ defensive line have pushed Givens into a starting role for several games this season. He has responded with a sack and 7 solo tackles.

Yetur Gross-Matos (2017-19), DE, Carolina Panthers: The Panthers have looked to take advantage of Gross-Matos’ size and length by playing the former Nittany Lion all over the formation. However, that hasn’t translated into sacks or pressures; for the season, he has only 1 QB hit to his name.

Grant Haley (2014-17), CB, Los Angeles Rams: Injuries have hampered Haley, who began the season as the Rams’ starting nickel cornerback. He played well in three games to open the year, allowing no touchdowns and breaking up 3 passes. However, he sprained his ACL in a win against the Panthers in Week 6 and was placed on the short-term injured reserve.

Austin Johnson (2012-15), DT, Los Angeles Chargers: Johnson has amassed 19 tackles for the Chargers. He had his best afternoon of the season in Los Angeles’ 37-23 loss to Seattle in Week 7, totaling 5 tackles and a sack. 

DaQuan Jones (2010-13), DL, Buffalo Bills: Jones has 13 tackles for the Bills, with a season-best 3 stops in games against the Los Angeles Rams and Miami. 

Jesse Luketa (2018-21), LB, Arizona Cardinals: Luketa joined the active roster on Sept. 27. He made his first NFL tackle in the Cardinals’ 42-34 victory over New Orleans in Week 7.

Carl Nassib (2011-15), DE, Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Nassib has played a limited role since joining the Buccaneers ahead of the 2022 season, recording 11 tackles and 2 sacks. 

More: 2023 schedule reaction: Lions face eighth Big Ten road opener; when will the White Out be?

Amani Oruwariye (2014-18), CB, Detroit Lions: Oruwariye has 23 tackles but no interceptions for a Detroit defense that has struggled all season. Through their first six games, the Lions are allowing a league-worst 412.2 yards per game.

Odafe Oweh (2018-20), DE, Baltimore Ravens: Sacks have been elusive for Oweh. He didn’t get one in the Ravens’ 23-20 win over the Browns in Week 7 but did manage 2 quarterback hits and 5 total pressures. Oweh is a curious player in that regard. He’s 16th in the NFL among edge rushers with 23 pressures but has by far the fewest sacks in that group with only 1.

John Reid (2015-19), CB, Seattle Seahawks: Reid started the season on the Seahawks’ injured reserve. He was released on Oct. 13. And, he has not signed elsewhere.

Nick Scott (2014-18), S, Los Angeles Rams: Scott has played almost every snap in each of the Rams’ games this season. He has 16 tackles, an interception and a forced fumble.

More: Ohio quarterback Ryan Montgomery on Penn State White Out: ‘It truly is unrivaled’

Brandon Smith (2019-21), LB, Carolina Panthers: Smith has carved out a special teams role as a rookie. He has been active in six of Carolina’s seven games but has played just 2 defensive snaps to date. He is playing on about 70 percent of the team’s special teams snaps. 

Jordan Stout (2019-21), P, Baltimore Ravens: Stout continues to be the Ravens’ starting punter. He has 21 attempts so far for an average of 48.2 yards.

Derrick Tangelo (2021), DT, Atlanta Falcons: Tangelo is on the Falcons’ practice squad and has yet to see any game action.

Shaka Toney (2016-20), DE, Washington Commanders: Toney has played in just one game through October 24, logging 32 snaps and making 4 tackles in Washington’s 24-8 loss to Philadelphia in Week 3.

BWI’s Matt Herb, Nate Bauer, and Thomas Frank Carr contributed to this report.