Kansas State University Athletics
Wildcats in the NFL – Week 15
Dec 20, 2016 | Football
MANHATTAN, Kan. – Each week throughout the 2016 season, k-statesports.com will recap the action for the 10 former Kansas State football players currently in the NFL.
Arthur Brown, LB – New York Jets
Brown, who was waived by Jacksonville on Dec. 6, and quickly snatched up by the New York Jets, was in for 17 special teams plays during the Jets’ 34-13 home loss to Miami on Saturday night. A former second-round pick, the fourth-year linebacker has played in 48 career games and made 20 tackles. New York fell to 4-10 on the year and travels to New England this Saturday.
B.J. Finney, OL – Pittsburgh Steelers
Finney, an undrafted rookie free agent in 2015 who spent last year on the practice squad, played in the Steelers’ 24-20 victory at Cincinnati. Winners of five in a row following a four-game losing skid in the middle of the season, Pittsburgh is 9-5 on the year to hold a one-game lead in the NFC North. Pittsburgh hosts second-place Baltimore on Sunday.
Glenn Gronkowski, FB – New England Patriots
Entering the league as an undrafted rookie free agent with Buffalo and playing for the Bills in Week 1, Gronkowski is in his third tour of duty on New England’s practice squad this year. New England wrapped up the NFC East division title in addition to a first-round bye in the playoffs with a 16-3 victory at Denver. In search of home-field advantage throughout the playoffs, the 12-2 Patriots host the New York Jets this Saturday.
Emmanuel Lamur, LB – Minnesota Vikings
A fifth-year linebacker, Lamur carded two tackles on his four defensive plays while also seeing action on 15 special teams plays in Minnesota’s 34-6 home loss to Indianapolis. A first-year player for the Vikings who spent his first four NFL seasons in Cincinnati, Lamur has 160 career tackles, a half sack, 10 passes defended and two interceptions in his career. Minnesota dropped to 7-7 on the year and travels to Green Bay on Saturday.
Tyler Lockett, WR/Returner – Seattle Seahawks
A second-year pro, Lockett carded a career-high 130 yards – highlighted by a 57-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter – on seven receptions in addition to 48 kickoff-return yards and 16 punt-return yards in Seattle’s 24-3 win over Los Angeles on Thursday night. A nominee for the 2016 Art Rooney Sportsmanship Award, Lockett has averaged 50.7 yards per touchdown over the last two seasons, the second-best mark in the league. He now has 39 catches for 559 yards this year to go along with an 8.7-yard punt return average and a 26.3-yard kickoff return average, the latter ranking fourth in the NFL. The Seahawks, who clinched the NFC West title with the victory, improved to 9-4-1 and hosts Arizona on Saturday.
Highlight: 57-yard TD
.@TDLockett12's #TNF performance = Electric ?? pic.twitter.com/mLETI229Xw
— Seattle Seahawks (@Seahawks) December 16, 2016
.@TDLockett12 postgame press conference from @CenturyLink_Fld. #LAvsSEA https://t.co/GD7LhHOCHj
— Seattle Seahawks (@Seahawks) December 16, 2016
FINAL: @Seahawks dominate at home! #WeAre12 #TNF #LAvsSEA pic.twitter.com/xuOte3Giww
— NFL (@NFL) December 16, 2016
Cornelius Lucas, OL – Detroit Lions
Lucas, a third-year offensive lineman, was inactive for Detroit’s first loss in its last six games, a 17-6 defeat at the New York Giants. An undrafted rookie free agent signee in 2014, Lucas has played in 34 career games with six starts. The Lions fell to 9-5 on the year and saw their division lead shrink to one game over Green Bay. The Lions travel to face Dallas next Monday night.
Jordy Nelson, WR – Green Bay Packers
Nelson, a ninth-year pro, recorded the 24th 100-yard game of his career as he hauled in seven receptions for 124 yards – including a 60-yarder – in Green Bay’s 30-27 victory at Chicago. On injured reserve for the entire 2015 season, Nelson has 82 receptions for 1,037 yards – the fourth 1,000-yard season of his career – and 12 touchdowns during the 2016 campaign. His 12 receiving scores lead the NFL. The Riley, Kansas, product ranks fifth in Green Bay history in career catches (482) and yards (7,146), while he is tied for third in touchdowns (61). Green Bay, which lost five of six games in the middle of the season, is riding a four-game winning streak to move within a game of NFC North leader Detroit. The 8-6 Packers host Minnesota on Saturday.
60-yard bomb from @AaronRodgers12 to @JordyRNelson sets up the WIN! #GBvsCHI #GoPackGo https://t.co/wUvjQfcnQQ
— Green Bay Packers (@packers) December 18, 2016
.@JordyRNelson breaks down his clutch 60-yard catch on the game-winning drive!
— Green Bay Packers (@packers) December 19, 2016
??: https://t.co/P7d9Ror05z#GBvsCHI #GoPackGo pic.twitter.com/iC8l2G4pkH
Terence Newman, CB – Minnesota Vikings
A 14th-year veteran who is with his second season with Minnesota, Newman started and carded three tackles in addition to a pass breakup in the Vikings’ 34-6 home loss to Indianapolis. The Salina, Kansas, product, who is a nominee for the NFL’s 2016 Art Rooney Sportsmanship Award, played in his 203rd career game and made his 196th career start. He now has 838 tackles in his career to go along with two sacks, 167 passes defended and 41 interceptions. His 41 picks rank second among active players. The Vikings, who fell to 7-7 with the loss, travel to face Green Bay on Saturday.
Darren Sproles, RB/Returner – Philadelphia Eagles
Sproles, a 12th-year veteran, was in active for Philadelphia’s 27-26 loss at Baltimore. In 13 games this season, the 2016 Art Rooney Sportsmanship Award finalist has accounted for 366 yards and a touchdown on the ground to go along with 400 receiving yards and two touchdowns in addition to a 13.2-yard punt return average. The 5-9 Eagles, who have lost seven of their last nine games, hosts the New York Giants this Thursday.
Cody Whitehair, OL – Chicago Bears
A second-round pick in this year’s draft, Whitehair started at center for a 14th time this year and played on all 66 offensive snaps in Chicago’s 30-27 home loss to Green Bay. The Bears, now 3-11 on the year, host Washington on Saturday.
