Kansas State University Athletics
Wildcats in the NFL – Week 15
Dec 22, 2021 | Football
MANHATTAN, Kan. – Each week throughout the 2021 season, k-statesports.com recaps the action for the 16 former Kansas State football players currently in the NFL. For stats on each play, click on their bio link.
Deante Burton, DB – Dallas Cowboys
Burton, who is in his fourth NFL season and third in Dallas, is on the Cowboys' practice squad. Dallas picked up a 21-6 road win at NFC East foe New York, as the Cowboys improved to 10-4 to lead the division and sit in the No. 2 spot in the NFC Playoffs. Dallas hosts Washington on Sunday night.
B.J. Finney, OL – Pittsburgh Steelers
Finney was placed on injured reserve on December 15 due to a back injury as he will miss at least three games for the Steelers. Pittsburgh earned a 19-13 home victory over Tennessee to improve to 7-6-1 as the Steelers are a half game behind a tie for first place. Pittsburgh travels to face Kansas City on Sunday.
Wyatt Hubert, DE – Cincinnati Bengals
A seventh-round draft pick by Cincinnati in this year's draft, Hubert was injured during the offseason and is on reserve. The Bengals earned a 15-10 victory at Denver to improve to 8-6 on the year as they are tied for first place in the AFC North with Baltimore. The tie within the division will be broken on Sunday as Cincinnati hosts the Ravens.
Elijah Lee, LB – Cleveland Browns
Lee made a tackle on kickoff coverage among his team-high 23 special teams plays in Cleveland's 16-14 home loss to Las Vegas on Tuesday. The game was originally set for Saturday but was rescheduled to positive COVID tests within the Browns' organization. Cleveland saw its record even at 7-7 prior to traveling to face Green Bay on Saturday.
Tyler Lockett, WR – Seattle Seahawks
Lockett, who has made 84 career starts, did not play in Seattle's 20-10 loss at the Los Angeles Rams as he was on the reserve/COVID-19. Despite missing the game, Lockett still ranks fifth in the NFL with a 16.5-yard average per catch, while his 1,023 receiving yards rank 11th. Now 5-9 this season, the Seahawks host Chicago on Sunday.
Cornelius Lucas, OL – Washington Football Team
Lucas, who has made 30 career start with six this season, missed Washington's 27-17 home loss to Philadelphia as he is on the reserve/COVID-19 list. Lucas has seen time on 527 offensive snaps this year. The Football Team fell to 6-8 this season prior to traveling to face Dallas on Sunday night.
Briley Moore, TE – Tennessee Titans
Moore, a rookie free agent signee by the Titans this past offseason, was hurt during training camp and was placed on injured reserve. The Titans host at Pittsburgh, 19-13, to drop to 9-5 on the season, but Tennessee still leads the AFC South by one game and currently holds the No. 3 seed in the AFC Playoffs. The Titans host San Francisco on Thursday night.
AJ Parker, DB – Detroit Lions
Parker, a rookie free agent signee, returned from injured reserve to rank second on the team with six tackles and also break up two passes to help Detroit earn a commanding 30-12 victory over Arizona on Sunday. The Lions won their second game in three weeks as they improved to 2-11-1 on the season, and they travel to face Atlanta on Sunday.
Byron Pringle, WR – Kansas City Chiefs
Pringle registered the sixth start of his career and third this season as he grabbed three passes for 22 yards and returned a kickoff 19 yards to help Kansas City pick up a 34-28 overtime victory at the Los Angeles Chargers last Thursday. He ranks fourth in the NFL with a 25.0-yard average on kickoff returns. It was the Chiefs' seventh-straight win as they improved to 10-4 this year and currently hold the No. 1 seed in the AFC Playoffs. Kansas City hosts Pittsburgh on Sunday.
D.J. Reed Jr., DB – Seattle Seahawks
Reed, who has carded 22 starts with 13 this season, did not play in Seattle's 20-10 loss as the Los Angeles Rams as he is on the reserve/COVID-19 list. The Seahawks fell to 5-9 this year, and they host Chicago on Sunday.
Dalton Risner, OL – Denver Broncos
Making his 45th-career start, Risner was in for all 75 offensive snaps in Denver's 15-10 home loss to Cincinnati. Risner has seen time on 2,769 of the Broncos' 3,022 offensive snaps (91.6%) since he began his career in 2019. The loss evened Denver's record at 7-7 prior to traveling to face Las Vegas on Sunday.
Duke Shelley, DB – Chicago Bears
Shelley went on injured reserve four weeks ago due to a hamstring injury. The Bears lost a Monday-night home game, 17-9, against Minnesota to fall to 4-10, and Chicago travels to face Seattle on Sunday.
Elijah Sullivan, LB – Kansas City Chiefs
A rookie free agent who was with San Francisco the entire preseason, Sullivan was signed to the Chiefs' practice squad on September 11. Kansas City picked up a 34-28 overtime win at the Los Angeles Chargers last Thursday as the Chiefs improved to 10-4 this year. Kansas City, which currently holds the No. 1 seed in the AFC Playoffs, hosts Pittsburgh on Sunday.
Kiondre Thomas, DB – Los Angeles Chargers
Thomas, a rookie free agent who spent the entire preseason with Cleveland, was signed to the Los Angeles Chargers' practice squad on September 6. The Chargers lost at home in overtime, 34-28, to Kansas City as they fell to 8-6 on the season. Currently holding the No. 6 seed in the AFC Playoffs, LA travels to face Houston on Sunday.
Cody Whitehair, OL – Chicago Bears
Whitehair made his 92nd-career start and was in for all 73 offensive snaps in Chicago's 17-9 Monday-night home loss to Minnesota. Whitehair has been in for all 900 offensive snaps this season. The Bears are now 4-10, and they travel to take on Seattle on Sunday.
Jordan Willis, DE – San Francisco 49ers
Willis registered a pair of tackles and quarterback hurry as he helped San Francisco pick up a 31-13 home win over Atlanta. The 49ers improved to 8-6 this season as they are in third place in the NFC West but currently hold the No. 6 spot in the NFC Playoffs. San Francisco travels to face Tennessee on Thursday night.
Deante Burton, DB – Dallas Cowboys
Burton, who is in his fourth NFL season and third in Dallas, is on the Cowboys' practice squad. Dallas picked up a 21-6 road win at NFC East foe New York, as the Cowboys improved to 10-4 to lead the division and sit in the No. 2 spot in the NFC Playoffs. Dallas hosts Washington on Sunday night.
B.J. Finney, OL – Pittsburgh Steelers
Finney was placed on injured reserve on December 15 due to a back injury as he will miss at least three games for the Steelers. Pittsburgh earned a 19-13 home victory over Tennessee to improve to 7-6-1 as the Steelers are a half game behind a tie for first place. Pittsburgh travels to face Kansas City on Sunday.
Wyatt Hubert, DE – Cincinnati Bengals
A seventh-round draft pick by Cincinnati in this year's draft, Hubert was injured during the offseason and is on reserve. The Bengals earned a 15-10 victory at Denver to improve to 8-6 on the year as they are tied for first place in the AFC North with Baltimore. The tie within the division will be broken on Sunday as Cincinnati hosts the Ravens.
Elijah Lee, LB – Cleveland Browns
Lee made a tackle on kickoff coverage among his team-high 23 special teams plays in Cleveland's 16-14 home loss to Las Vegas on Tuesday. The game was originally set for Saturday but was rescheduled to positive COVID tests within the Browns' organization. Cleveland saw its record even at 7-7 prior to traveling to face Green Bay on Saturday.
Tyler Lockett, WR – Seattle Seahawks
Lockett, who has made 84 career starts, did not play in Seattle's 20-10 loss at the Los Angeles Rams as he was on the reserve/COVID-19. Despite missing the game, Lockett still ranks fifth in the NFL with a 16.5-yard average per catch, while his 1,023 receiving yards rank 11th. Now 5-9 this season, the Seahawks host Chicago on Sunday.
Cornelius Lucas, OL – Washington Football Team
Lucas, who has made 30 career start with six this season, missed Washington's 27-17 home loss to Philadelphia as he is on the reserve/COVID-19 list. Lucas has seen time on 527 offensive snaps this year. The Football Team fell to 6-8 this season prior to traveling to face Dallas on Sunday night.
Briley Moore, TE – Tennessee Titans
Moore, a rookie free agent signee by the Titans this past offseason, was hurt during training camp and was placed on injured reserve. The Titans host at Pittsburgh, 19-13, to drop to 9-5 on the season, but Tennessee still leads the AFC South by one game and currently holds the No. 3 seed in the AFC Playoffs. The Titans host San Francisco on Thursday night.
AJ Parker, DB – Detroit Lions
Parker, a rookie free agent signee, returned from injured reserve to rank second on the team with six tackles and also break up two passes to help Detroit earn a commanding 30-12 victory over Arizona on Sunday. The Lions won their second game in three weeks as they improved to 2-11-1 on the season, and they travel to face Atlanta on Sunday.
Byron Pringle, WR – Kansas City Chiefs
Pringle registered the sixth start of his career and third this season as he grabbed three passes for 22 yards and returned a kickoff 19 yards to help Kansas City pick up a 34-28 overtime victory at the Los Angeles Chargers last Thursday. He ranks fourth in the NFL with a 25.0-yard average on kickoff returns. It was the Chiefs' seventh-straight win as they improved to 10-4 this year and currently hold the No. 1 seed in the AFC Playoffs. Kansas City hosts Pittsburgh on Sunday.
D.J. Reed Jr., DB – Seattle Seahawks
Reed, who has carded 22 starts with 13 this season, did not play in Seattle's 20-10 loss as the Los Angeles Rams as he is on the reserve/COVID-19 list. The Seahawks fell to 5-9 this year, and they host Chicago on Sunday.
Dalton Risner, OL – Denver Broncos
Making his 45th-career start, Risner was in for all 75 offensive snaps in Denver's 15-10 home loss to Cincinnati. Risner has seen time on 2,769 of the Broncos' 3,022 offensive snaps (91.6%) since he began his career in 2019. The loss evened Denver's record at 7-7 prior to traveling to face Las Vegas on Sunday.
Duke Shelley, DB – Chicago Bears
Shelley went on injured reserve four weeks ago due to a hamstring injury. The Bears lost a Monday-night home game, 17-9, against Minnesota to fall to 4-10, and Chicago travels to face Seattle on Sunday.
Elijah Sullivan, LB – Kansas City Chiefs
A rookie free agent who was with San Francisco the entire preseason, Sullivan was signed to the Chiefs' practice squad on September 11. Kansas City picked up a 34-28 overtime win at the Los Angeles Chargers last Thursday as the Chiefs improved to 10-4 this year. Kansas City, which currently holds the No. 1 seed in the AFC Playoffs, hosts Pittsburgh on Sunday.
Kiondre Thomas, DB – Los Angeles Chargers
Thomas, a rookie free agent who spent the entire preseason with Cleveland, was signed to the Los Angeles Chargers' practice squad on September 6. The Chargers lost at home in overtime, 34-28, to Kansas City as they fell to 8-6 on the season. Currently holding the No. 6 seed in the AFC Playoffs, LA travels to face Houston on Sunday.
Cody Whitehair, OL – Chicago Bears
Whitehair made his 92nd-career start and was in for all 73 offensive snaps in Chicago's 17-9 Monday-night home loss to Minnesota. Whitehair has been in for all 900 offensive snaps this season. The Bears are now 4-10, and they travel to take on Seattle on Sunday.
Jordan Willis, DE – San Francisco 49ers
Willis registered a pair of tackles and quarterback hurry as he helped San Francisco pick up a 31-13 home win over Atlanta. The 49ers improved to 8-6 this season as they are in third place in the NFC West but currently hold the No. 6 spot in the NFC Playoffs. San Francisco travels to face Tennessee on Thursday night.
K-State FB | Pregame Hype vs Arizona
Thursday, September 11
K-State Football | Pregame Hype vs Arizona
Thursday, September 11
K-State Football | Chris Klieman Press Conference - Sept. 8, 2025
Monday, September 08
GAME REPLAY | FB vs Army
Monday, September 08