Wildcats in the NFL - Week 17
Dec 30, 2019 | Football
MEMPHIS, Tenn. – 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
A member of the Colts practice squad for over a month, Burton was signed to Dallas' active roster on November 20 and played on three defensive snaps and six special teams plays in the Cowboys' 47-16 win over Washington. The victory improved Dallas to 8-8 on the season, but the Eagles' win over the New York Giants eliminated the Cowboys from the playoffs.
B.J. Finney, OL – Pittsburgh Steelers
An undrafted rookie free agent signee by Pittsburgh in 2015, Finney made his fourth start of the season and 13th of his career when he played on all 50 snaps at center in Pittsburgh's 28-10 loss at Baltimore. With the loss, the Steelers' season came to an end with an 8-8 record.
Elijah Lee, LB – San Francisco 49ers
A native of Blue Springs, Missouri, Lee saw time on 17 special teams plays in San Francisco's 26-21 NFC West- and No. 1-seed clinching victory at Seattle on Sunday night. The 49ers won the division with a 13-3 record and will host either Philadelphia, Seattle or Minnesota on Saturday, January 11 at 3:35 p.m. (CT).
Tyler Lockett, WR – Seattle Seahawks
In his fifth NFL season, Lockett started and made six catches for 51 yards – including a 14-yard touchdown – as Seattle fell to San Francisco, 26-21. The Tulsa, Oklahoma, finished the regular season with the first 1,000-yard campaign in his career at 1,057 yards, while he tied for ninth in the NFL with nine receiving touchdowns. The loss dropped Seattle to an 11-5 mark, just one game away from winning the NFC West and earning a first-round bye. The Seahawks travel to face Philadelphia in the Wild Card Round on Sunday at 3:40 p.m. (CT).
Cornelius Lucas, OL – Chicago Bears
A fifth-year veteran, Lucas made his eighth start of the season and 16th of his career when he lined up at right tackle and played on all 75 offensive snaps in Chicago's 21-19 victory at Minnesota. The Bears finished their season at 8-8.
Byron Pringle, WR – Kansas City Chiefs
An undrafted rookie free agent prior to the 2018 season, Pringle saw action on seven offensive snaps and 15 special teams plays – including a 104-yard kickoff-return touchdown in which he made key blocks – in Kansas City's 31-21 victory over the Los Angeles Chargers. With the win and New England's loss to Miami, the Chiefs earned the No. 2 seed in the playoffs and will be off next week. They will host either New England, Houston or Buffalo on Sunday, January 12, at 2:05 p.m.
D.J. Reed, DB – San Francisco 49ers
A fifth-round pick by San Francisco in last year's draft, Reed saw time on seven special teams plays in the 49ers' 26-21 Sunday-night win at Seattle, a victory that won the division and earned San Francisco the No. 1 seed in the playoffs. After being off next week, the 49ers will host either Philadelphia, Seattle or Minnesota on Saturday, January 11 at 3:35 p.m. (CT).
Dalton Risner, OL – Denver Broncos
A second-round selection in this year's draft, Risner started and was in for all 61 snaps in Denver's 16-15 win over Oakland. Risner, who started all 16 games during his rookie season, saw time on 984 of the Broncos' 1,022 offensive snaps this year. Denver finished its season with a 7-9 record.
Duke Shelley, DB – Chicago Bears
A sixth-round pick in this year's draft, Shelley was in for nine special teams plays in Chicago's 21-19 victory at Minnesota. The Bears concluded their season with an 8-8 record.
Darren Sproles, RB/Returner – Philadelphia Eagles
In his 15th and final NFL season, Sproles and the Philadelphia Eagles won the NFC East thanks to a 34-17 victory over the New York Giants. Sproles, who announced his retirement on December 21, was placed on injured reserve on November 15 and will finish his career ranked fifth in NFL history and first among active players in career all-purpose yards (19,696). The Eagles finished the regular season with a 9-7 record and will host Seattle in the Wild Card Round on Sunday at 3:40 p.m. (CT).
Cody Whitehair, OL – Chicago Bears
Whitehair started his 64th-consecutive game overall and eighth this season at center in Chicago's 21-19 victory at Minnesota to close out the season. Whitehair played on all 75 offensive snaps as the Abilene, Kansas, native finished with 1,083 total snaps played. The Bears concluded their season with an 8-8 record.
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, was inactive for New York's 13-6 victory over Buffalo. The Jets finished the season with a 7-9 record.
Deante Burton, DB – Dallas Cowboys
A member of the Colts practice squad for over a month, Burton was signed to Dallas' active roster on November 20 and played on three defensive snaps and six special teams plays in the Cowboys' 47-16 win over Washington. The victory improved Dallas to 8-8 on the season, but the Eagles' win over the New York Giants eliminated the Cowboys from the playoffs.
B.J. Finney, OL – Pittsburgh Steelers
An undrafted rookie free agent signee by Pittsburgh in 2015, Finney made his fourth start of the season and 13th of his career when he played on all 50 snaps at center in Pittsburgh's 28-10 loss at Baltimore. With the loss, the Steelers' season came to an end with an 8-8 record.
Elijah Lee, LB – San Francisco 49ers
A native of Blue Springs, Missouri, Lee saw time on 17 special teams plays in San Francisco's 26-21 NFC West- and No. 1-seed clinching victory at Seattle on Sunday night. The 49ers won the division with a 13-3 record and will host either Philadelphia, Seattle or Minnesota on Saturday, January 11 at 3:35 p.m. (CT).
Tyler Lockett, WR – Seattle Seahawks
In his fifth NFL season, Lockett started and made six catches for 51 yards – including a 14-yard touchdown – as Seattle fell to San Francisco, 26-21. The Tulsa, Oklahoma, finished the regular season with the first 1,000-yard campaign in his career at 1,057 yards, while he tied for ninth in the NFL with nine receiving touchdowns. The loss dropped Seattle to an 11-5 mark, just one game away from winning the NFC West and earning a first-round bye. The Seahawks travel to face Philadelphia in the Wild Card Round on Sunday at 3:40 p.m. (CT).
Cornelius Lucas, OL – Chicago Bears
A fifth-year veteran, Lucas made his eighth start of the season and 16th of his career when he lined up at right tackle and played on all 75 offensive snaps in Chicago's 21-19 victory at Minnesota. The Bears finished their season at 8-8.
Byron Pringle, WR – Kansas City Chiefs
An undrafted rookie free agent prior to the 2018 season, Pringle saw action on seven offensive snaps and 15 special teams plays – including a 104-yard kickoff-return touchdown in which he made key blocks – in Kansas City's 31-21 victory over the Los Angeles Chargers. With the win and New England's loss to Miami, the Chiefs earned the No. 2 seed in the playoffs and will be off next week. They will host either New England, Houston or Buffalo on Sunday, January 12, at 2:05 p.m.
D.J. Reed, DB – San Francisco 49ers
A fifth-round pick by San Francisco in last year's draft, Reed saw time on seven special teams plays in the 49ers' 26-21 Sunday-night win at Seattle, a victory that won the division and earned San Francisco the No. 1 seed in the playoffs. After being off next week, the 49ers will host either Philadelphia, Seattle or Minnesota on Saturday, January 11 at 3:35 p.m. (CT).
Dalton Risner, OL – Denver Broncos
A second-round selection in this year's draft, Risner started and was in for all 61 snaps in Denver's 16-15 win over Oakland. Risner, who started all 16 games during his rookie season, saw time on 984 of the Broncos' 1,022 offensive snaps this year. Denver finished its season with a 7-9 record.
Duke Shelley, DB – Chicago Bears
A sixth-round pick in this year's draft, Shelley was in for nine special teams plays in Chicago's 21-19 victory at Minnesota. The Bears concluded their season with an 8-8 record.
Darren Sproles, RB/Returner – Philadelphia Eagles
In his 15th and final NFL season, Sproles and the Philadelphia Eagles won the NFC East thanks to a 34-17 victory over the New York Giants. Sproles, who announced his retirement on December 21, was placed on injured reserve on November 15 and will finish his career ranked fifth in NFL history and first among active players in career all-purpose yards (19,696). The Eagles finished the regular season with a 9-7 record and will host Seattle in the Wild Card Round on Sunday at 3:40 p.m. (CT).
Cody Whitehair, OL – Chicago Bears
Whitehair started his 64th-consecutive game overall and eighth this season at center in Chicago's 21-19 victory at Minnesota to close out the season. Whitehair played on all 75 offensive snaps as the Abilene, Kansas, native finished with 1,083 total snaps played. The Bears concluded their season with an 8-8 record.
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, was inactive for New York's 13-6 victory over Buffalo. The Jets finished the season with a 7-9 record.
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