Wildcats in the NFL – Week 14
Dec 12, 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
A wide receiver for his entire K-State career in addition to the preseason with the Atlanta, Burton is a defensive back on the Falcons' practice squad. The Falcons earned a close 20-17 Thursday-night victory over New Orleans to improve to 8-5 on the year. Sitting in third place in the NFC South but currently holding the second Wild Card spot, Atlanta travels to face Tampa Bay on Monday night.
B.J. Finney, OL – Pittsburgh Steelers
Finney, an undrafted rookie free agent in 2015 who is in his second year on the roster, saw time on seven special teams plays in Pittsburgh's 39-38 Sunday-night win over Baltimore, the Steelers' second-straight come-from-behind victory. A product of Andale, Kansas, Finney has played in 23 career games with five starts, including three this season. Pittsburgh clinched the AFC North title and enters Week 15 against New England with an 11-2 record.
Emmanuel Lamur, LB – Minnesota Vikings
A sixth-year linebacker, Lamur saw time on nine special teams plays in Minnesota's 31-24 loss at Carolina, a defeat that snapped the Vikings' eight-game winning streak. A second-year player for the Vikings after spending his first four seasons in Cincinnati, Lamur has 175 career tackles, a half sack, 11 passes defended and two interceptions. Now 10-3 this year to lead the NFC North by three games, Minnesota hosts Cincinnati on Sunday.
Elijah Lee, LB – San Francisco 49ers
Lee played on 19 special teams plays as San Francisco earned its third win in the last four games in the form of a 26-16 triumph at Houston. The Blue Springs, Missouri, native has played in 11 games with two tackles this year. Originally a seventh-round draft pick by Minnesota in the 2017 NFL Draft, Lee was a member of the Vikings' practice squad until he signed with San Francisco's active roster on Sept. 13. Now 3-10 on the year, the 49ers host Tennessee on Sunday.
Tyler Lockett, WR/Returner – Seattle Seahawks
A third-year pro, Lockett hauled in four passes for 90 yards – including a career-long 74-yard touchdown – rushed once for 10 yards and returned four kickoffs for 85 yards (21.3-yard average), but it wasn't enough as the Seahawks lost at Jacksonville, 30-24. In 13 games this season, Lockett has 39 catches for 515 yards and two touchdowns, while he has returned 27 kickoffs for a 25.0-yard average to rank fourth in the NFL. Now 8-5 on the year, Seattle hosts the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday in a crucial NFC West battle as the Seahawks are a game behind LA.
Cornelius Lucas, OT – Los Angeles Rams
A three-year offensive lineman for Detroit who signed with the Los Angeles Rams on Sept. 13, Lucas was inactive for the Rams' 43-35 home loss to Philadelphia. Despite the defeat, Los Angeles continues to hold a one-game lead over the Seahawks in the NFC West at 9-4, and the two teams do battle on Sunday in Seattle.
Charmeachealle Moore, LB – Los Angeles Chargers
Moore, an undrafted rookie free agent signee by the Chargers, is on injured reserve for the 2017 season. Los Angeles won its fourth-straight game and seventh in the last nine contests with a 30-13 home victory over Washington. Tied for first place in the AFC West, LA and Kansas City battle for first place in the AFC West on Saturday night.
Jordy Nelson, WR – Green Bay Packers
Nelson, a 10-year veteran, hauled in four catches for 33 yards in Green Bay's 27-21 overtime win at Cleveland, its second-straight overtime victory. In 13 games this year – all starts – Nelson has 47 catches for 443 yards and six touchdowns. The Riley, Kansas, product is second in Green Bay history in career receiving touchdowns (69), third in catches (544) and fifth in yards (7,809). Now 7-6 on the year, the Packers travel to face Carolina on Sunday.
Terence Newman, CB – Minnesota Vikings
A 15-year NFL veteran in his third season with Minnesota, Newman started and made one tackle in the Vikings' 31-24 loss at Carolina. The Salina, Kansas, product played in his 216th career game – the 10th most among active NFL players and second most among defensive players. Newman, who has 28 tackles and three breakups this season, has 869 career tackles to go along with 2.0 sacks, 170 passes defended and 41 interceptions, the latter ranking second in the NFL among active players. The Vikings, who lead the NFC North by three games, saw their eight-game winning streak come to an end. Minnesota hosts Cincinnati on Sunday.
Darren Sproles, RB/Returner – Philadelphia Eagles
Sproles, a 13-year veteran, 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 earned a 43-35 win at the Los Angeles Rams to clinch the NFC East title. The Eagles are on the road for a third-straight game as they travel to face the New York Giants on Sunday.
Cody Whitehair, OL – Chicago Bears
Whitehair, a second-round pick in the 2016 NFL Draft, started his 29th-straight game and played on all 76 offensive snaps in Chicago's 33-7 win at Cincinnati on Sunday. Now 4-9 on the year, the Bears travel to face Detroit on Saturday afternoon.
Jordan Willis, DE – Cincinnati Bengals
A third-round pick in this year's draft, Willis carded two tackles – including one for a loss – in Cincinnati's 33-7 home loss to Chicago. The player who extended K-State's Big 12-leading draft streak to 24 years, Willis has 20 tackles, 3.0 TFLs and a sack this year. The 5-8 Bengals travel to face Minnesota on Sunday.
Deante Burton, CB – Atlanta Falcons
A wide receiver for his entire K-State career in addition to the preseason with the Atlanta, Burton is a defensive back on the Falcons' practice squad. The Falcons earned a close 20-17 Thursday-night victory over New Orleans to improve to 8-5 on the year. Sitting in third place in the NFC South but currently holding the second Wild Card spot, Atlanta travels to face Tampa Bay on Monday night.
B.J. Finney, OL – Pittsburgh Steelers
Finney, an undrafted rookie free agent in 2015 who is in his second year on the roster, saw time on seven special teams plays in Pittsburgh's 39-38 Sunday-night win over Baltimore, the Steelers' second-straight come-from-behind victory. A product of Andale, Kansas, Finney has played in 23 career games with five starts, including three this season. Pittsburgh clinched the AFC North title and enters Week 15 against New England with an 11-2 record.
Emmanuel Lamur, LB – Minnesota Vikings
A sixth-year linebacker, Lamur saw time on nine special teams plays in Minnesota's 31-24 loss at Carolina, a defeat that snapped the Vikings' eight-game winning streak. A second-year player for the Vikings after spending his first four seasons in Cincinnati, Lamur has 175 career tackles, a half sack, 11 passes defended and two interceptions. Now 10-3 this year to lead the NFC North by three games, Minnesota hosts Cincinnati on Sunday.
Elijah Lee, LB – San Francisco 49ers
Lee played on 19 special teams plays as San Francisco earned its third win in the last four games in the form of a 26-16 triumph at Houston. The Blue Springs, Missouri, native has played in 11 games with two tackles this year. Originally a seventh-round draft pick by Minnesota in the 2017 NFL Draft, Lee was a member of the Vikings' practice squad until he signed with San Francisco's active roster on Sept. 13. Now 3-10 on the year, the 49ers host Tennessee on Sunday.
Tyler Lockett, WR/Returner – Seattle Seahawks
A third-year pro, Lockett hauled in four passes for 90 yards – including a career-long 74-yard touchdown – rushed once for 10 yards and returned four kickoffs for 85 yards (21.3-yard average), but it wasn't enough as the Seahawks lost at Jacksonville, 30-24. In 13 games this season, Lockett has 39 catches for 515 yards and two touchdowns, while he has returned 27 kickoffs for a 25.0-yard average to rank fourth in the NFL. Now 8-5 on the year, Seattle hosts the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday in a crucial NFC West battle as the Seahawks are a game behind LA.
Cornelius Lucas, OT – Los Angeles Rams
A three-year offensive lineman for Detroit who signed with the Los Angeles Rams on Sept. 13, Lucas was inactive for the Rams' 43-35 home loss to Philadelphia. Despite the defeat, Los Angeles continues to hold a one-game lead over the Seahawks in the NFC West at 9-4, and the two teams do battle on Sunday in Seattle.
Charmeachealle Moore, LB – Los Angeles Chargers
Moore, an undrafted rookie free agent signee by the Chargers, is on injured reserve for the 2017 season. Los Angeles won its fourth-straight game and seventh in the last nine contests with a 30-13 home victory over Washington. Tied for first place in the AFC West, LA and Kansas City battle for first place in the AFC West on Saturday night.
Jordy Nelson, WR – Green Bay Packers
Nelson, a 10-year veteran, hauled in four catches for 33 yards in Green Bay's 27-21 overtime win at Cleveland, its second-straight overtime victory. In 13 games this year – all starts – Nelson has 47 catches for 443 yards and six touchdowns. The Riley, Kansas, product is second in Green Bay history in career receiving touchdowns (69), third in catches (544) and fifth in yards (7,809). Now 7-6 on the year, the Packers travel to face Carolina on Sunday.
Terence Newman, CB – Minnesota Vikings
A 15-year NFL veteran in his third season with Minnesota, Newman started and made one tackle in the Vikings' 31-24 loss at Carolina. The Salina, Kansas, product played in his 216th career game – the 10th most among active NFL players and second most among defensive players. Newman, who has 28 tackles and three breakups this season, has 869 career tackles to go along with 2.0 sacks, 170 passes defended and 41 interceptions, the latter ranking second in the NFL among active players. The Vikings, who lead the NFC North by three games, saw their eight-game winning streak come to an end. Minnesota hosts Cincinnati on Sunday.
Darren Sproles, RB/Returner – Philadelphia Eagles
Sproles, a 13-year veteran, 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 earned a 43-35 win at the Los Angeles Rams to clinch the NFC East title. The Eagles are on the road for a third-straight game as they travel to face the New York Giants on Sunday.
Cody Whitehair, OL – Chicago Bears
Whitehair, a second-round pick in the 2016 NFL Draft, started his 29th-straight game and played on all 76 offensive snaps in Chicago's 33-7 win at Cincinnati on Sunday. Now 4-9 on the year, the Bears travel to face Detroit on Saturday afternoon.
Jordan Willis, DE – Cincinnati Bengals
A third-round pick in this year's draft, Willis carded two tackles – including one for a loss – in Cincinnati's 33-7 home loss to Chicago. The player who extended K-State's Big 12-leading draft streak to 24 years, Willis has 20 tackles, 3.0 TFLs and a sack this year. The 5-8 Bengals travel to face Minnesota on Sunday.
Monday, June 01
Thursday, May 28
Thursday, May 28
Sunday, April 26
