Penn State NFL Roundup: Micah Parsons, Odafe Oweh stand out, Shaka Toney gets big moment
The defensive rookies out of Penn State put on a show in the NFL this week, with Micah Parsons, Odafe Oweh and Shaka Toney all registering sacks.
Let’s start our full roundup by ranking the top five performances by Nittany Lions in the NFL in Week 12.
1.) Odafe Oweh (Played at Penn State 2018-20), DE, Baltimore Ravens
Odafe Oweh helped ensure Baker Mayfield had a difficult night, as the Ravens bested the Browns in an ugly affair on Sunday Night Football.
Oweh came away with his fifth sack of the season on a Browns trick play, while also forcing and recovering a fumble in the 16-10 Ravens win.
2.) Amani Oruwariye (2014-18), CB, Detroit Lions
Make it back-to-back weeks with an interception for former Penn State DB Amani Oruwariye.
Oruwariye intercepted Bears quarterback Andy Dalton in the end zone to deny Chicago points near the end of the first half.
He also provided a strong, Thanksgiving-themed celebration to go with it:
Oruwariye now has five interceptions on the season, which ties him for third in the NFL.
3.) Micah Parsons (2018-19), LB, Dallas Cowboys
We’ve reached the point of Micah Parsons’ rookie season where only one sack can be considered a somewhat down week.
Parsons sacked Raiders quarterback Dereck Carr once during a loss on Thanksgiving day.
Parsons has now tallied at least one sack in four consecutive games, giving him 6.5 sacks total in that span. The former Penn State standout also registered five tackles, and five quarterback hits.
Parsons can now claim the most sacks (9), tackles for loss (15), pressures (44) and QB hits (23) among NFL rookies this season.
4.) Pat Freiermuth (2018-20), TE, Pittsburgh Steelers
It wasn’t a pretty afternoon for the Steelers, who suffered a 41-10 loss to the Bengals on the road.
Freiermuth accounted for Pittsburgh’s only touchdown — his fifth in the last five weeks. He racked up 40 yards, catching all four of his targets on the day.
However, Steelers coach Mike Tomlin told the media postgame that Freiermuth was being evaluated for a concussion, putting his status for next week in doubt.
5.) Shaka Toney (2016-20), DE, Washington Football Team
Rookie defensive end Shaka Toney got his first big moment in the NFL on Monday against the Seahawks.
Toney sacked Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson late in the game for his first NFL sack. Toney played only five snaps on defense, but made the most of them with a pair of tackles.
Chris Godwin (2014-16), WR, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Chris Godwin caught four of his five targets for 24 yards in a win over the Colts in Week 12.
Miles Sanders (2016-18), RB, Philadelphia Eagles
Sanders didn’t see much volume, but posted an efficient game for the Eagles in Week 12, with nine carries for 64 yards.
Unfortunately, Sanders reportedly suffered an ankle injury in this game. Eagles coach Nick Sirianni says he is trending in the right direction as the Eagles prepare for the Jets this week.
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Trace McSorley (2014-18), QB, Arizona Cardinals
McSorley and the Cardinals had their bye this week.
Adrian Amos (2011-14), S, Green Bay Packers
Amos and the Packers rebounded nicely from their loss last week, earning a big win over the Rams.
The former Penn State defensive back registered four tackles while playing every defensive snap for the 11th week in a row.
Mike Gesicki (2014-17), TE, Miami Dolphins
Gesicki caught each of his three targets for 17 yards in a comfortable win over the Panthers.
Blake Gillikin (2016-19), P, New Orleans Saints
Gillikin got plenty of work in during a Thanksgiving loss to the Bills, punting five times for 235 yards.
He also attempted his first NFL pass on a fake punt that went over the head of his intended target.
Jesse James (2012-14), TE, Chicago Bears
James was targeted once and did not register a reception in Chicago’s narrow win over Detroit on Thanksgiving.
Yetur Gross-Matos (2017-19), DE, Carolina Panthers
Gross-Matos played 30 snaps and made two tackles in a loss to Miami on the road.
Nick Scott (2014-18), S, Los Angeles Rams
Former Penn State safety Nick Scott came away with five tackles between defense and special teams in a loss to Green Bay on Sunday, also registering a defended pass.
Austin Johnson (2012-15), DT, New York Giants
Johnson played his part in shutting down the Eagles offense in a 13-7 Giants win this week.
The defensive lineman was credited with half a sack and four total tackles, playing 42 percent of New York’s defensive snaps.
Saquon Barkley (2015-17), RB, New York Giants
Barkley carried the ball 13 times for 40 yards in his second week back from injury. He also caught four of his five targets for 13 yards in the passing game.
Carl Nassib (2011-15), DE, Las Vegas Raiders
Nassib played eight defensive snaps, his lowest total of the season, against the Cowboys, but he did come away with one quarterback hit.
Juwan Johnson (2015-18), TE, New Orleans Saints
Johnson played 24 snaps on offense but did not see a target during New Orleans’ heavy loss to the Bills on Thanksgiving.
Robbie Gould (2001-04), K, San Francisco 49ers
Former Penn State kicker Robbie Gould connected on two of his three field goal attempts and all four of his PATs in a win over the Vikings.
Allen Robinson II (2011-13), WR, Chicago Bears
Robinson missed Chicago’s win over Detroit due to a hamstring injury.
Connor McGovern (2016-18), OL, Dallas Cowboys
McGovern got his second consecutive start at guard for the Cowboys, playing 96 percent of the team’s offensive snaps. It was a productive game for the Dallas offense, which produced 33 points, but ultimately lost to the Raiders in overtime.
Jason Cabinda (2014-17), FB, Detroit Lions
Cabinda played eight snaps on offense and made a tackle on special teams in Detroit’s loss this week.
DaQuan Jones (2010-13), DT, Carolina Panthers
Jones played 39 snaps and made five tackles in a lopsided loss to Miami.
Cam Brown (2016-19), LB, New York Giants
Brown did not play on defense in a win over the Eagles, but did register a tackle on special teams.
Ryan Bates (2015-18),OL, Buffalo Bills
Former Penn State tackle Ryan Bates played nine snaps on offense in a win over the Saints.
Marcus Allen (2014-17), LB, Pittsburgh Steelers
Allen played 16 snaps on special teams for the Steelers in their loss to the Bengals.
Kevin Givens (2015-18), DT, San Francisco 49ers
Former Penn State DT Kevin Givens had himself a nice day on Sunday, forcing a Dalvin Cook fumble in San Francisco’s win over the Vikings.
Donovan Smith (2011-14), OL, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Smith played every snap on the offensive line for the Bucs in their win over the Colts.
Dan Chisena (2015-19), WR, Minnesota Vikings
Chisena played 18 special teams snaps for the Vikings in their loss to San Francisco.
Troy Apke (2014-17), S, Washington Football Team
Apke played 19 special teams snaps for the Football Team in a Monday Night Football win over Seattle.
Nick Bowers (2015-19), TE, Las Vegas Raiders
The former Penn State tight end has been on injured reserve since mid-October with a neck injury.
Will Fries (2016-20), OL, Indianapolis Colts
The seventh-rounder is still waiting to make his season debut for the Colts.
John Reid (2015-19), CB, Seattle Seahawks
Reid made his sixth appearance of the season against Washington with nine special teams snaps.
