Wildcats in the NFL – Week 5
Oct 10, 2017 | Football
MANHATTAN, Kan. – Each week throughout the 2017 season, k-statesports.com recaps the action for the 12 former Kansas State football players currently in the NFL.
Deante Burton, CB – Atlanta Falcons
Burton, who spent his entire K-State career in addition to the preseason with the Atlanta at wide receiver, is now a cornerback on the Falcons' practice squad. Atlanta was off last week as the 3-1 Falcons host Miami on Sunday.
B.J. Finney, OL – Pittsburgh Steelers
An undrafted rookie free agent in 2015 who is in his second year on the active roster, Finney appeared on eight offensive plays and three special teams plays in Pittsburgh's 30-9 home loss to Jacksonville. A product of Andale, Kansas, Finney has played in 17 career games with four starts. The Steelers, 3-2 on the year, travel to face Kansas City on Sunday.
Emmanuel Lamur, LB – Minnesota Vikings
Lamur, a sixth-year linebacker, saw action on 15 special teams plays and one defensive snap in the Vikings' 20-17 last-minute win Monday night at Chicago. A second-year player for the Vikings after spending his first four seasons in Cincinnati, Lamur has 163 career tackles, a half sack, 11 passes defended and two interceptions. Minnesota, now 3-2 this season, hosts an NFC North battle against Green Bay on Sunday.
Elijah Lee, LB – San Francisco 49ers
Lee carded a tackle and forced a fumble on a punt but it wasn't enough as the 49ers lost in overtime at Indianapolis, 26-23. He forced the fumble on his first-career tackle, which came in his fourth-career game. Lee was originally a seventh-round draft pick by Minnesota in the 2017 NFL Draft and a member of the Vikings' practice squad until he signed with San Francisco's active roster Sept. 13. The 49ers are still seeking their first win of the year as they travel across the country to take on Washington on Sunday.
Tyler Lockett, WR/Returner – Seattle Seahawks
Lockett started and recorded three catches for 26 yards, one rush for seven yards and returned a punt 10 yards in Seattle's 16-10 victory at the Los Angeles Rams. In five games this season, the Tulsa, Oklahoma, product has 16 catches for 195 yards and has returned six kickoffs for a 25.5-yard average. Seattle heads into its bye week with a 3-2 record.
Cornelius Lucas, OT – Los Angeles Rams
Lucas, a three-year offensive lineman for Detroit who signed with the Los Angeles Rams on Sept. 13, was inactive for his fourth-straight game with the Rams. LA lost a close 16-10 decision to Seattle to fall to 3-2. The Rams travel to face Jacksonville on Sunday.
Charmeachealle Moore, LB – Los Angeles Chargers
An undrafted rookie free agent signee by the Chargers, Moore is on injured reserve for the 2017 season. Los Angeles picked up its first win of the 2017 season in a 27-22 triumph at the New York Giants. The 1-4 Chargers travel to Oakland on Sunday.
Jordy Nelson, WR – Green Bay Packers
A 10-year veteran who has spent his entire career in Green Bay, Nelson only recorded two catches for 24 yards but made one of them count on a 10-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter in the Packers' 35-31 come-from-behind victory at Dallas. This season, Nelson has 19 catches for 230 yards and an NFL-leading six touchdowns. The Riley, Kansas, product is second in Green Bay history in career receiving touchdowns (69), fourth in catches (516) and fifth in yards (7,596). Green Bay, now 4-1 this season, travels to NFC North-foe Minnesota on Sunday.
Terence Newman, CB – Minnesota Vikings
Newman, a 15-year NFL veteran in his third season with Minnesota, carded a pair of tackles in Minnesota's 20-17 Monday-night victory at Chicago. The Salina, Kansas, product played in his 208th career game – the 10th most among active NFL players and second most among defensive players. He now has 853 career tackles to go along with two sacks, 168 passes defended and 41 interceptions, the latter ranking second in the NFL among active players. Minnesota improved to 3-2 this season prior to hosting NFC North-foe Green Bay on Sunday.
Darren Sproles, RB/Returner – Philadelphia Eagles
A 13-year veteran, Sproles was placed on injured reserve on Sept. 25, due to season-ending injuries sustained in Week 3. The Olathe, Kansas, native has 19,155 career all-purpose yards, which ranks first among active players and eighth in NFL history. Philadelphia defeated Arizona, 34-7, and the 4-1 Eagles host Carolina on Thursday.
Cody Whitehair, OL – Chicago Bears
A second-round pick in the 2016 NFL Draft, Whitehair made his 21st-straight start at center and played on all 61 offensive snaps in Chicago's 20-17 home loss to Minnesota on Monday night. Whitehair has played on all 325 offensive snaps this year for the 1-4 Bears, who are at Baltimore on Sunday.
Jordan Willis, DE – Cincinnati Bengals
A third-round pick in this year's draft to extend K-State's Big 12-leading draft streak to 24 years, Willis registered three tackles – including his first-career sack – and a quarterback hurry to help Cincinnati earn a 20-16 home win over Buffalo. A product of Kansas City, Missouri, Willis now has 12 tackles and a sack this year for the 2-3 Bengals, who are off this week.
Deante Burton, CB – Atlanta Falcons
Burton, who spent his entire K-State career in addition to the preseason with the Atlanta at wide receiver, is now a cornerback on the Falcons' practice squad. Atlanta was off last week as the 3-1 Falcons host Miami on Sunday.
B.J. Finney, OL – Pittsburgh Steelers
An undrafted rookie free agent in 2015 who is in his second year on the active roster, Finney appeared on eight offensive plays and three special teams plays in Pittsburgh's 30-9 home loss to Jacksonville. A product of Andale, Kansas, Finney has played in 17 career games with four starts. The Steelers, 3-2 on the year, travel to face Kansas City on Sunday.
Emmanuel Lamur, LB – Minnesota Vikings
Lamur, a sixth-year linebacker, saw action on 15 special teams plays and one defensive snap in the Vikings' 20-17 last-minute win Monday night at Chicago. A second-year player for the Vikings after spending his first four seasons in Cincinnati, Lamur has 163 career tackles, a half sack, 11 passes defended and two interceptions. Minnesota, now 3-2 this season, hosts an NFC North battle against Green Bay on Sunday.
Elijah Lee, LB – San Francisco 49ers
Lee carded a tackle and forced a fumble on a punt but it wasn't enough as the 49ers lost in overtime at Indianapolis, 26-23. He forced the fumble on his first-career tackle, which came in his fourth-career game. Lee was originally a seventh-round draft pick by Minnesota in the 2017 NFL Draft and a member of the Vikings' practice squad until he signed with San Francisco's active roster Sept. 13. The 49ers are still seeking their first win of the year as they travel across the country to take on Washington on Sunday.
Tyler Lockett, WR/Returner – Seattle Seahawks
Lockett started and recorded three catches for 26 yards, one rush for seven yards and returned a punt 10 yards in Seattle's 16-10 victory at the Los Angeles Rams. In five games this season, the Tulsa, Oklahoma, product has 16 catches for 195 yards and has returned six kickoffs for a 25.5-yard average. Seattle heads into its bye week with a 3-2 record.
Cornelius Lucas, OT – Los Angeles Rams
Lucas, a three-year offensive lineman for Detroit who signed with the Los Angeles Rams on Sept. 13, was inactive for his fourth-straight game with the Rams. LA lost a close 16-10 decision to Seattle to fall to 3-2. The Rams travel to face Jacksonville on Sunday.
Charmeachealle Moore, LB – Los Angeles Chargers
An undrafted rookie free agent signee by the Chargers, Moore is on injured reserve for the 2017 season. Los Angeles picked up its first win of the 2017 season in a 27-22 triumph at the New York Giants. The 1-4 Chargers travel to Oakland on Sunday.
Jordy Nelson, WR – Green Bay Packers
A 10-year veteran who has spent his entire career in Green Bay, Nelson only recorded two catches for 24 yards but made one of them count on a 10-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter in the Packers' 35-31 come-from-behind victory at Dallas. This season, Nelson has 19 catches for 230 yards and an NFL-leading six touchdowns. The Riley, Kansas, product is second in Green Bay history in career receiving touchdowns (69), fourth in catches (516) and fifth in yards (7,596). Green Bay, now 4-1 this season, travels to NFC North-foe Minnesota on Sunday.
TOUCHDOWN @JordyRNelson! ??#GBvsDAL #GoPackGo pic.twitter.com/RrKIrOYwwJ
— Green Bay Packers (@packers) October 8, 2017
They're at it again ????????@JordyRNelson + @tae15adams lead the league in receiving TDs since 2016.
— NFL Network (@nflnetwork) October 9, 2017
(via @NFLResearch) pic.twitter.com/A5bjXEgB6G
Terence Newman, CB – Minnesota Vikings
Newman, a 15-year NFL veteran in his third season with Minnesota, carded a pair of tackles in Minnesota's 20-17 Monday-night victory at Chicago. The Salina, Kansas, product played in his 208th career game – the 10th most among active NFL players and second most among defensive players. He now has 853 career tackles to go along with two sacks, 168 passes defended and 41 interceptions, the latter ranking second in the NFL among active players. Minnesota improved to 3-2 this season prior to hosting NFC North-foe Green Bay on Sunday.
Darren Sproles, RB/Returner – Philadelphia Eagles
A 13-year veteran, Sproles was placed on injured reserve on Sept. 25, due to season-ending injuries sustained in Week 3. The Olathe, Kansas, native has 19,155 career all-purpose yards, which ranks first among active players and eighth in NFL history. Philadelphia defeated Arizona, 34-7, and the 4-1 Eagles host Carolina on Thursday.
Cody Whitehair, OL – Chicago Bears
A second-round pick in the 2016 NFL Draft, Whitehair made his 21st-straight start at center and played on all 61 offensive snaps in Chicago's 20-17 home loss to Minnesota on Monday night. Whitehair has played on all 325 offensive snaps this year for the 1-4 Bears, who are at Baltimore on Sunday.
Jordan Willis, DE – Cincinnati Bengals
A third-round pick in this year's draft to extend K-State's Big 12-leading draft streak to 24 years, Willis registered three tackles – including his first-career sack – and a quarterback hurry to help Cincinnati earn a 20-16 home win over Buffalo. A product of Kansas City, Missouri, Willis now has 12 tackles and a sack this year for the 2-3 Bengals, who are off this week.
Players Mentioned
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