Wildcats in the NFL – Week 17
Jan 04, 2021 | Football
MANHATTAN, Kan. – Each week throughout the 2020 season, k-statesports.com recaps the action for the 13 former Kansas State football players currently in the NFL. Of the 13 Wildcats in the league, eight are on teams that advanced to the playoffs, which begin with the Wild Card Round this weekend.
Deante Burton, DB – Dallas Cowboys
Signed to the Cowboys' active roster from the practice squad in the middle of the season, Burton was placed on injured reserve on December 19. In four games this year, Burton carded three tackles between 21 defensive snaps and 50 special teams plays. The Cowboys lost, 23-19, at the New York Giants to end their season with a 6-10 record.
B.J. Finney, OL – Cincinnati Bengals
Finney, who began the season with Seattle but was traded to Cincinnati on October 28, was placed on the Reserve/Non-Football Injury list on Thursday prior to the Bengals' 38-3 home loss to Baltimore. Cincinnati finished its season with a 4-11-1 record.
Elijah Lee, LB – Cleveland Browns
Lee was in for 21 special teams plays in Cleveland's 24-22 win over Pittsburgh, a victory that clinched the Browns' first postseason berth since 2002. Lee finished the regular season with eight tackles over his time with both Cleveland and Detroit this season as he played on four defensive snaps and 220 special teams plays. The No. 6 seed in the AFC Playoffs, Cleveland travels to face Pittsburgh on Sunday night at 7:15 p.m. (CT) on NBC.
Tyler Lockett, WR – Seattle Seahawks
Lockett, who started his 71st-career game, tallied 12 receptions for 90 yards and two touchdowns to help Seattle earn a 26-23 win at San Francisco. His two touchdowns came in the fourth quarter, including the second one that gave the Seahawks the lead with 2:20 left in the game. Lockett finished the regular season with a franchise-record 100 receptions for 1,054 yards and 10 touchdowns. He tied for seventh in the NFL this season in catches and eighth in touchdown receptions. Lockett also has 4,892 career receiving yards to rank fifth in Seattle history, while he and DK Metcalf became the first pair of Seahawks with 1,000 receiving yards in the same season since 1995. Seattle finished the regular season with a 12-4 record and will be the No. 3 seed in the NFC playoffs. The Seahawks host the Los Angeles Rams on Saturday at 3:40 p.m. (CT) on FOX.
Cornelius Lucas, OL – Washington Football Team
Lucas earned his eighth start of the season and was in for all 63 snaps in Washington's 20-14 win at Philadelphia on Sunday night, a victory that clinched the NFC East title for the Football Team. Lucas saw time on 49% of Washington's offensive snaps during the regular season with a majority of those coming in the second half of the year. Washington, which finished the regular season with a 7-9 record, will host Tampa Bay on Saturday night in a 7:15 p.m. (CT) game on NBC.
Matt McCrane, K – Cleveland Browns
McCrane has been on the Browns' practice squad since Week 3. Cleveland earned a 24-22 home victory over Pittsburgh to clinch its first playoff appearance since 2002. The Browns, the No. 6 seed in the AFC Playoffs, travel to face the Steelers on Sunday night in a 7:15 p.m. (CT) game on NBC.
Byron Pringle, WR – Kansas City Chiefs
Pringle made his third career start and tallied four receptions for 52 yards and a touchdown while returning three kickoffs for 77 yards in Kansas City's 38-21 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers. One of his catches was a 31-yard reception in which he broke multiple tackles to set up a touchdown. In 13 regular-season games, Pringle recorded 13 catches for 160 yards and a touchdown, while he returned 10 kickoffs for 324 yards (32.4-yard average) and a touchdown. He was one of only four players in the league with a kickoff-return score in the regular season. The Chiefs had already clinched the No. 1 seed and home-field advantage throughout the AFC Playoffs prior to their loss as they finished the regular season with a 14-2 record. Kansas City is off during the Wild Card Round and will face the lowest remaining seed in the AFC on either January 16 or 17.
D.J. Reed Jr., DB – Seattle Seahawks
Making his eighth start of the year and fifth in as many games, Reed carded five tackles and returned a pair of punts for 14 yards as he was in for all 66 defensive snaps and 11 special teams plays in Seattle's 26-23 win at San Francisco. In 10 regular-season games, Reed totaled 62 tackles – including a pair for loss – two interceptions and six passes defended. He also averaged 7.8 yards on 10 punt returns and 27.4 yards on five kickoff returns. The No. 3 seed in the NFC Playoffs, Seattle hosts the Los Angeles Rams on Saturday in a 3:40 p.m. (CT) game that will be televised by FOX.
Dalton Risner, OL – Denver Broncos
Completing his second NFL season, Risner started and played on 36 offensive snaps before an injury ended his 2020 season in Denver's 32-31 home loss to the Las Vegas Raiders. A product of Wiggins, Colorado, Risner has seen time on 1,983 of the Broncos' 2,097 offensive snaps (94.6%) since he began his career last year. The Broncos finished the season with a 5-11 record.
Duke Shelley, DB – Chicago Bears
Shelley made his second start of the year and came away with a tackle among his 39 defensive snaps and seven special teams plays in Chicago's 35-16 home loss to Green Bay. In 11 regular-season games, Shelley totaled 16 tackles and a pass breakup. The Bears finished the regular season with an 8-8 record, but, despite the loss, they earned the final Wild Card spot in the NFC Playoffs. Chicago will travel to face New Orleans on Sunday at 3:40 p.m. (CT) in a game televised by CBS, Nickelodeon and Amazon Prime.
Reggie Walker, LB - Arizona Cardinals
Walker is on Arizona's practice squad, and the Cardinals lost their final game of the year, an 18-7 setback at the Los Angeles Rams. Walker played in one game this year, a Week 6 contest at Dallas when he made one tackle among his 17 defensive snaps. Arizona finished its season with an 8-8 record.
Cody Whitehair, OL – Chicago Bears
Whitehair made his 14th start of the season – and 78th in his career – and was in for all 75 offensive snaps in Chicago's 35-16 home loss to Green Bay. Whitehair finished the regular season by playing on 83% of the Bears' offensive snaps in 2020. Chicago finished the regular season at 8-8 with the loss but still was able to qualify for the NFC Playoffs as the No. 7 seed. The Bears will travel to face New Orleans at 3:40 p.m. (CT) on Sunday in a game televised by CBS, Nickelodeon and Amazon Prime.
Jordan Willis, DE – San Francisco 49ers
Willis, who began his season with the New York Jets and was picked up by San Francisco October 27, was placed on injured reserve on Friday. Willis finished his fourth NFL season with 13 tackles and 2.5 sacks. The 49ers lost at home to Seattle, 26-23, to finish the season with a 6-10 record.
Deante Burton, DB – Dallas Cowboys
Signed to the Cowboys' active roster from the practice squad in the middle of the season, Burton was placed on injured reserve on December 19. In four games this year, Burton carded three tackles between 21 defensive snaps and 50 special teams plays. The Cowboys lost, 23-19, at the New York Giants to end their season with a 6-10 record.
B.J. Finney, OL – Cincinnati Bengals
Finney, who began the season with Seattle but was traded to Cincinnati on October 28, was placed on the Reserve/Non-Football Injury list on Thursday prior to the Bengals' 38-3 home loss to Baltimore. Cincinnati finished its season with a 4-11-1 record.
Elijah Lee, LB – Cleveland Browns
Lee was in for 21 special teams plays in Cleveland's 24-22 win over Pittsburgh, a victory that clinched the Browns' first postseason berth since 2002. Lee finished the regular season with eight tackles over his time with both Cleveland and Detroit this season as he played on four defensive snaps and 220 special teams plays. The No. 6 seed in the AFC Playoffs, Cleveland travels to face Pittsburgh on Sunday night at 7:15 p.m. (CT) on NBC.
Tyler Lockett, WR – Seattle Seahawks
Lockett, who started his 71st-career game, tallied 12 receptions for 90 yards and two touchdowns to help Seattle earn a 26-23 win at San Francisco. His two touchdowns came in the fourth quarter, including the second one that gave the Seahawks the lead with 2:20 left in the game. Lockett finished the regular season with a franchise-record 100 receptions for 1,054 yards and 10 touchdowns. He tied for seventh in the NFL this season in catches and eighth in touchdown receptions. Lockett also has 4,892 career receiving yards to rank fifth in Seattle history, while he and DK Metcalf became the first pair of Seahawks with 1,000 receiving yards in the same season since 1995. Seattle finished the regular season with a 12-4 record and will be the No. 3 seed in the NFC playoffs. The Seahawks host the Los Angeles Rams on Saturday at 3:40 p.m. (CT) on FOX.
Add a franchise record for @TDLockett12! 👏
— Seattle Seahawks (@Seahawks) January 3, 2021
He now has 95 receptions, a franchise record for most catches in a single season. pic.twitter.com/wOjgz08EVD
.@TDLockett12 for the touchdown and we'll add 6️⃣ to the score!
— Seattle Seahawks (@Seahawks) January 3, 2021
📺: #SEAvsSF on FOX pic.twitter.com/4Vz2KDYdqO
Fourth down? No problem for @TDLockett12 as he gets the touchdown and his 100th catch of the season! 🙌
— Seattle Seahawks (@Seahawks) January 4, 2021
📺: #SEAvsSF on FOX pic.twitter.com/BSQJEcUlnB
Just @TDLockett12 doing Tyler Lockett things.
— Seattle Seahawks (@Seahawks) January 4, 2021
With 12 receptions today, Tyler burns past the franchise record for most catches in a single season, previously set by Doug Baldwin and Bobby Engram.
Cornelius Lucas, OL – Washington Football Team
Lucas earned his eighth start of the season and was in for all 63 snaps in Washington's 20-14 win at Philadelphia on Sunday night, a victory that clinched the NFC East title for the Football Team. Lucas saw time on 49% of Washington's offensive snaps during the regular season with a majority of those coming in the second half of the year. Washington, which finished the regular season with a 7-9 record, will host Tampa Bay on Saturday night in a 7:15 p.m. (CT) game on NBC.
Matt McCrane, K – Cleveland Browns
McCrane has been on the Browns' practice squad since Week 3. Cleveland earned a 24-22 home victory over Pittsburgh to clinch its first playoff appearance since 2002. The Browns, the No. 6 seed in the AFC Playoffs, travel to face the Steelers on Sunday night in a 7:15 p.m. (CT) game on NBC.
Byron Pringle, WR – Kansas City Chiefs
Pringle made his third career start and tallied four receptions for 52 yards and a touchdown while returning three kickoffs for 77 yards in Kansas City's 38-21 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers. One of his catches was a 31-yard reception in which he broke multiple tackles to set up a touchdown. In 13 regular-season games, Pringle recorded 13 catches for 160 yards and a touchdown, while he returned 10 kickoffs for 324 yards (32.4-yard average) and a touchdown. He was one of only four players in the league with a kickoff-return score in the regular season. The Chiefs had already clinched the No. 1 seed and home-field advantage throughout the AFC Playoffs prior to their loss as they finished the regular season with a 14-2 record. Kansas City is off during the Wild Card Round and will face the lowest remaining seed in the AFC on either January 16 or 17.
That's how you start a game!
— Kansas City Chiefs (@Chiefs) January 3, 2021
📺: @NFLonFOX pic.twitter.com/FPjrOsyzLt
Byron Pringle: "When I get the ball in my hands and I'm in open space, I like me versus a lot of dudes." #Chiefs pic.twitter.com/Xz3Ce2Dman
— Harold R. Kuntz (@HaroldRKuntz3) January 4, 2021
D.J. Reed Jr., DB – Seattle Seahawks
Making his eighth start of the year and fifth in as many games, Reed carded five tackles and returned a pair of punts for 14 yards as he was in for all 66 defensive snaps and 11 special teams plays in Seattle's 26-23 win at San Francisco. In 10 regular-season games, Reed totaled 62 tackles – including a pair for loss – two interceptions and six passes defended. He also averaged 7.8 yards on 10 punt returns and 27.4 yards on five kickoff returns. The No. 3 seed in the NFC Playoffs, Seattle hosts the Los Angeles Rams on Saturday in a 3:40 p.m. (CT) game that will be televised by FOX.
Dalton Risner, OL – Denver Broncos
Completing his second NFL season, Risner started and played on 36 offensive snaps before an injury ended his 2020 season in Denver's 32-31 home loss to the Las Vegas Raiders. A product of Wiggins, Colorado, Risner has seen time on 1,983 of the Broncos' 2,097 offensive snaps (94.6%) since he began his career last year. The Broncos finished the season with a 5-11 record.
Duke Shelley, DB – Chicago Bears
Shelley made his second start of the year and came away with a tackle among his 39 defensive snaps and seven special teams plays in Chicago's 35-16 home loss to Green Bay. In 11 regular-season games, Shelley totaled 16 tackles and a pass breakup. The Bears finished the regular season with an 8-8 record, but, despite the loss, they earned the final Wild Card spot in the NFC Playoffs. Chicago will travel to face New Orleans on Sunday at 3:40 p.m. (CT) in a game televised by CBS, Nickelodeon and Amazon Prime.
Reggie Walker, LB - Arizona Cardinals
Walker is on Arizona's practice squad, and the Cardinals lost their final game of the year, an 18-7 setback at the Los Angeles Rams. Walker played in one game this year, a Week 6 contest at Dallas when he made one tackle among his 17 defensive snaps. Arizona finished its season with an 8-8 record.
Cody Whitehair, OL – Chicago Bears
Whitehair made his 14th start of the season – and 78th in his career – and was in for all 75 offensive snaps in Chicago's 35-16 home loss to Green Bay. Whitehair finished the regular season by playing on 83% of the Bears' offensive snaps in 2020. Chicago finished the regular season at 8-8 with the loss but still was able to qualify for the NFC Playoffs as the No. 7 seed. The Bears will travel to face New Orleans at 3:40 p.m. (CT) on Sunday in a game televised by CBS, Nickelodeon and Amazon Prime.
Jordan Willis, DE – San Francisco 49ers
Willis, who began his season with the New York Jets and was picked up by San Francisco October 27, was placed on injured reserve on Friday. Willis finished his fourth NFL season with 13 tackles and 2.5 sacks. The 49ers lost at home to Seattle, 26-23, to finish the season with a 6-10 record.
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