Wildcats in the NFL – Week 16
Dec 23, 2019 | Football
MANHATTAN, Kan. – Each week throughout the 2019 season, k-statesports.com recaps the action for the 12 former Kansas State football players currently in the NFL.
Deante Burton, DB – Dallas Cowboys
Burton, a member of the Colts practice squad for over a month, was signed to Dallas' active roster on November 20 and was in for 11 special teams plays in the Cowboys' 17-9 loss at Philadelphia. Dallas fell to 7-8 on the year but still has a chance to win the NFC East as it hosts Washington on Sunday.
B.J. Finney, OL – Pittsburgh Steelers
Finney, an undrafted rookie free agent signee by Pittsburgh in 2015, came into the game at center and played on 21 offensive snaps in addition to two special teams plays in the Steelers' 16-10 loss at the New York Jets. The Steelers fell to 8-7 on the year but remain in the hunt for the playoffs as they travel to face Baltimore on Sunday.
Elijah Lee, LB – San Francisco 49ers
Lee, a native of Blue Springs, Missouri, saw time on 26 special teams plays in San Francisco's 34-31 home win over the Los Angeles Rams on Saturday night. With the win and Seattle's loss, the 49ers moved into first place in the NFC West with a 12-3 record, a mark that currently has them in line for home-field advantage throughout the NFC Playoffs. San Francisco will try to lock up the No. 1 seed next Sunday night when it travels to face the Seahawks.
Tyler Lockett, WR – Seattle Seahawks
Lockett, in his fifth NFL season, made one catch for 12 yards and returned a kickoff 18 yards in Seattle's 27-13 home loss to Arizona. During the game, the Tulsa, Oklahoma, product tallied the first 1,000-yard season in his career, a mark that currently stands at 1,006. Seattle fell to 11-4 on the season to sit in second place in the NFC West and hold the No. 5 seed in the NFC Playoffs, but the Seahawks and clinch the division and possibly secure a first-round bye when they face San Francisco on Sunday night.
Cornelius Lucas, OL – Chicago Bears
Lucas, a fifth-year veteran, made his seventh start of the season and 15th of his career when he lined up at right tackle and played on all 63 offensive snaps in Chicago's 26-3 Sunday-night loss to Kansas City. The Bears fell to 7-8 and closes out their season with a trip to Minnesota on Sunday.
Byron Pringle, WR – Kansas City Chiefs
Pringle, an undrafted rookie free agent prior to the 2018 season, was in for four offensive snaps and 14 special teams plays in Kansas City's 26-3 victory at Chicago on Sunday night. The victory improved the Chiefs' record to 11-4 as the AFC West Champions currently hold the No. 3 seed in the AFC Playoffs. Kansas City could secure a first-round bye in part by winning on Sunday when it hosts the Los Angeles Chargers.
D.J. Reed, DB – San Francisco 49ers
Reed, a fifth-round pick by San Francisco in last year's draft, saw time on 11 special teams plays in the 49ers' 34-31 Saturday-night home win over the Los Angeles Rams. The victory pushed San Francisco to 12-3 on the year to hold a one-game lead in the NFC West over Seattle as the 49ers also hold the No. 1 seed in the NFC Playoffs. San Francisco will try to clinch the division title and home-field advantage throughout the NFC Playoffs with a Sunday-night game at Seattle.
Dalton Risner, OL – Denver Broncos
Risner, a second-round selection in this year's draft, started and was in for all 34 first-half snaps in Denver's 27-17 victory over Detroit. Risner, who was unable to go in the second half due to having the flu all week, has seen time on 923 of the Broncos' 961 offensive snaps this year. Denver improved to 6-9 on the year and wraps up the season by hosting Oakland on Sunday.
Duke Shelley, DB – Chicago Bears
Shelley, a sixth-round pick in this year's draft, was in for two special teams plays in Chicago's 26-3 loss on Sunday night to Kansas City. The Bears, now 7-8 this year, conclude their season by traveling to face Minnesota on Sunday.
Darren Sproles, RB/Returner – Philadelphia Eagles
Sproles, in his 15th and final NFL season, announced his retirement on Saturday prior to Philadelphia's 17-9 victory over Dallas on Sunday afternoon. Sproles, who was placed on injured reserve on November 15, will finish his career ranked fifth in NFL history and first among active players in career all-purpose yards (19,696). The Eagles improved to 8-7 on the year and can clinch the NFC East when they travel to face the New York Giants on Sunday.
Cody Whitehair, OL – Chicago Bears
Whitehair started his 63rd-consecutive game overall and seventh this season at center in Chicago's 26-3 loss to Kansas City on Sunday night. Whitehair played on all 63 offensive snaps as the Abilene, Kansas, native pushed his season snap total to 1,008. The Bears fell to 7-8 on the season and conclude the year by traveling to face Minnesota on Sunday.
Jordan Willis, DE – New York Jets
Willis, who began his third NFL season with Cincinnati this year but was waived and quickly claimed by the Jets, made one tackle among his 13 defensive snaps in a 16-10 win over Pittsburgh. The Jets, now 6-9 on the year, finishes their season with a trip to Buffalo on Sunday.
Deante Burton, DB – Dallas Cowboys
Burton, a member of the Colts practice squad for over a month, was signed to Dallas' active roster on November 20 and was in for 11 special teams plays in the Cowboys' 17-9 loss at Philadelphia. Dallas fell to 7-8 on the year but still has a chance to win the NFC East as it hosts Washington on Sunday.
B.J. Finney, OL – Pittsburgh Steelers
Finney, an undrafted rookie free agent signee by Pittsburgh in 2015, came into the game at center and played on 21 offensive snaps in addition to two special teams plays in the Steelers' 16-10 loss at the New York Jets. The Steelers fell to 8-7 on the year but remain in the hunt for the playoffs as they travel to face Baltimore on Sunday.
Elijah Lee, LB – San Francisco 49ers
Lee, a native of Blue Springs, Missouri, saw time on 26 special teams plays in San Francisco's 34-31 home win over the Los Angeles Rams on Saturday night. With the win and Seattle's loss, the 49ers moved into first place in the NFC West with a 12-3 record, a mark that currently has them in line for home-field advantage throughout the NFC Playoffs. San Francisco will try to lock up the No. 1 seed next Sunday night when it travels to face the Seahawks.
Tyler Lockett, WR – Seattle Seahawks
Lockett, in his fifth NFL season, made one catch for 12 yards and returned a kickoff 18 yards in Seattle's 27-13 home loss to Arizona. During the game, the Tulsa, Oklahoma, product tallied the first 1,000-yard season in his career, a mark that currently stands at 1,006. Seattle fell to 11-4 on the season to sit in second place in the NFC West and hold the No. 5 seed in the NFC Playoffs, but the Seahawks and clinch the division and possibly secure a first-round bye when they face San Francisco on Sunday night.
Cornelius Lucas, OL – Chicago Bears
Lucas, a fifth-year veteran, made his seventh start of the season and 15th of his career when he lined up at right tackle and played on all 63 offensive snaps in Chicago's 26-3 Sunday-night loss to Kansas City. The Bears fell to 7-8 and closes out their season with a trip to Minnesota on Sunday.
#DaBears RT Cornelius Lucas III had fun w/ BAM students at Burnham Math & Science Academy. He also talked about persevering & working through adversity. pic.twitter.com/Dg4zNYdAn2
— Chicago Bears (@BearsOutreach) December 17, 2019
Byron Pringle, WR – Kansas City Chiefs
Pringle, an undrafted rookie free agent prior to the 2018 season, was in for four offensive snaps and 14 special teams plays in Kansas City's 26-3 victory at Chicago on Sunday night. The victory improved the Chiefs' record to 11-4 as the AFC West Champions currently hold the No. 3 seed in the AFC Playoffs. Kansas City could secure a first-round bye in part by winning on Sunday when it hosts the Los Angeles Chargers.
D.J. Reed, DB – San Francisco 49ers
Reed, a fifth-round pick by San Francisco in last year's draft, saw time on 11 special teams plays in the 49ers' 34-31 Saturday-night home win over the Los Angeles Rams. The victory pushed San Francisco to 12-3 on the year to hold a one-game lead in the NFC West over Seattle as the 49ers also hold the No. 1 seed in the NFC Playoffs. San Francisco will try to clinch the division title and home-field advantage throughout the NFC Playoffs with a Sunday-night game at Seattle.
Dalton Risner, OL – Denver Broncos
Risner, a second-round selection in this year's draft, started and was in for all 34 first-half snaps in Denver's 27-17 victory over Detroit. Risner, who was unable to go in the second half due to having the flu all week, has seen time on 923 of the Broncos' 961 offensive snaps this year. Denver improved to 6-9 on the year and wraps up the season by hosting Oakland on Sunday.
Dalton Risner not only played the first half of Sunday's game with the flu, but played the entire Chiefs game with the flu and practiced last week with the flu. That's toughness.
— Zac Stevens (@ZacStevensDNVR) December 23, 2019
Duke Shelley, DB – Chicago Bears
Shelley, a sixth-round pick in this year's draft, was in for two special teams plays in Chicago's 26-3 loss on Sunday night to Kansas City. The Bears, now 7-8 this year, conclude their season by traveling to face Minnesota on Sunday.
Darren Sproles, RB/Returner – Philadelphia Eagles
Sproles, in his 15th and final NFL season, announced his retirement on Saturday prior to Philadelphia's 17-9 victory over Dallas on Sunday afternoon. Sproles, who was placed on injured reserve on November 15, will finish his career ranked fifth in NFL history and first among active players in career all-purpose yards (19,696). The Eagles improved to 8-7 on the year and can clinch the NFC East when they travel to face the New York Giants on Sunday.
Following the 2019 season, @DarrenSproles will retire from professional football. pic.twitter.com/zedaRF0866
— Philadelphia Eagles (@Eagles) December 21, 2019
One of the best to ever do it
— K-State Football (@KStateFB) December 21, 2019
Congrats on an outstanding career @DarrenSproles ??????#KStateFB ? @Eagles https://t.co/rvumevizNf
One of a kind. Congratulations on an incredible career, @DarrenSproles.#FlyEaglesFly pic.twitter.com/Whgxjp3t75
— Philadelphia Eagles (@Eagles) December 21, 2019
Cody Whitehair, OL – Chicago Bears
Whitehair started his 63rd-consecutive game overall and seventh this season at center in Chicago's 26-3 loss to Kansas City on Sunday night. Whitehair played on all 63 offensive snaps as the Abilene, Kansas, native pushed his season snap total to 1,008. The Bears fell to 7-8 on the season and conclude the year by traveling to face Minnesota on Sunday.
Jordan Willis, DE – New York Jets
Willis, who began his third NFL season with Cincinnati this year but was waived and quickly claimed by the Jets, made one tackle among his 13 defensive snaps in a 16-10 win over Pittsburgh. The Jets, now 6-9 on the year, finishes their season with a trip to Buffalo on Sunday.
Players Mentioned
OL
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K-State FB | Thank You Coach Klieman
Wednesday, December 03
