Kansas State University Athletics
Wildcats in the NFL – Week 16
Dec 28, 2021 | Football
MANHATTAN, Kan. – Each week throughout the 2021 season, k-statesports.com recaps the action for the 17 former Kansas State football players currently in the NFL. For stats on each play, click on their bio link.
Deante Burton, DB – Dallas Cowboys
In his fourth NFL season and third in Dallas, Burton is on the Cowboys' practice squad. Dallas routed Washington, 56-14, on Sunday night to improve to 11-4 on the year as the Cowboys won the NFC East. They currently sit in the No. 2 spot in the NFC Playoffs, just one game behind Green Bay, as Dallas hosts Arizona on Sunday.
B.J. Finney, OL – Pittsburgh Steelers
Finney was placed on injured reserve on December 15 due to a back injury. Pittsburgh lost at Kansas City, 36-10, to fall to 7-7-1 on the season. However, the Steelers are still in the hunt for a playoff spot with two weeks left as they are third in the AFC North. Pittsburgh hosts Cleveland on Monday night.
Wyatt Hubert, DE – Cincinnati Bengals
Hubert, a seventh-round draft pick by Cincinnati in this year's draft, was injured during the offseason and is on reserve. The Bengals picked up their fourth win in the last six games with a 41-21 victory over Baltimore as they improved to 9-6 on the season. Cincinnati currently leads the AFC North and resides in the No. 3 spot for the AFC Playoffs prior to hosting Kansas City on Sunday.
Elijah Lee, LB – Cleveland Browns
Lee saw action on 20 special teams plays in Cleveland's 24-22 loss at Green Bay. The defeat dropped the Browns to 7-8 on the year as they fell to last place in the tightly-contested AFC North. Cleveland travels to face Pittsburgh on Monday night.
Tyler Lockett, WR – Seattle Seahawks
Lockett carded his 85th-career start as he came back from the COVID-19/reserve list to haul in three catches for 30 yards in Seattle's 25-24 loss to Chicago. Prior to the game, Lockett was honored as the Seahawks' recipient of the 2021 Steve Largent Award. He ranks fifth in the NFL with a 16.2-yard average per catch, while his 1,053 receiving yards rank 12th. The Seahawks fell to 5-10 on the year, and they host Detroit on Sunday.
Cornelius Lucas, OL – Washington Football Team
Lucas, who has made six starts this season, came off the reserve/COVID-19 list to see time on two special teams plays in Washington's 56-14 loss at Dallas on Sunday night. Lucas has seen time on 527 offensive snaps this year. The Football Team fell to 6-9, and they host Philadelphia on Sunday.
Briley Moore, TE – Tennessee Titans
A rookie free agent signee by the Titans this past offseason, Moore was hurt during training camp and was placed on injured reserve. The Titans defeated San Francisco, 20-17, on Thursday night as they improved to 10-5 on the year. Tennessee leads the AFC South by a game over Indianapolis, and the Titans currently hold the No. 2 spot in the AFC Playoffs. The Titans host Miami on Sunday.
AJ Parker, DB – Detroit Lions
A rookie free agent signee, Parker came away with two tackles and a pass breakup in Detroit's 20-16 loss at Atlanta. The Lions fell to 2-12-1 this season, and they travel to face Seattle on Sunday.
Byron Pringle, WR – Kansas City Chiefs
Pringle put together one of the best receiving games of his career as he led the Chiefs with six receptions for 75 yards and two touchdowns in Kansas City's 36-10 victory over Pittsburgh. It was Pringle's first multi-touchdown game, while he tied his career high in catches and produced the second-most yards of his career. The Tampa, Florida, product also made his seventh career start, fourth this season and second in as many games as he played on a career-high 55 offensive snaps. Pringle did not return any kickoffs against the Steelers, but his 25.0-yard average this season ranks third in the NFL. The Chiefs have won eight-straight games as they won the AFC West on Sunday by improving to 11-4. They remain in the top spot for the AFC Playoffs prior to traveling to face Cincinnati on Sunday.
D.J. Reed Jr., DB – Seattle Seahawks
Reed, who has carded 22 starts with 13 this season, remains on the reserve/COVID-19 list and did not play in Seattle's 25-24 home loss to Chicago. The Seahawks fell to 5-10 this season, and they host Arizona on Sunday.
Dalton Risner, OL – Denver Broncos
Risner carded his 46th-career start and was in for all 42 offensive snaps in Denver's 17-13 loss at Las Vegas. Risner has seen time on 2,811 of the Broncos' 3,064 offensive snaps (91.7%) since he began his career in 2019. The Broncos are now 7-8 this season, and they travel to face the Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday.
Duke Shelley, DB – Chicago Bears
Shelley came off injured reserve to make his sixth-career start and fourth this season, carding four tackles among his 40 defensive snaps to help Chicago pick up a 25-24 comeback win at Seattle. The Bears improved to 5-10 with the win, and they host the New York Giants on Sunday.
Dalton Schoen, WR – Kansas City Chiefs
Schoen was signed to the Chiefs' practice squad on Wednesday, the second time this year he has signed with Kansas City and the second time he has been on a practice squad. Schoen was with the Chiefs during training camp and also on the Washington practice squad in September. Kansas City picked up a 36-10 victory over Pittsburgh to improve to 11-4 this season, as the Chiefs won the AFC West and remain in the top spot for the AFC Playoffs. Kansas City travels to face Cincinnati 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 earned a 36-10 victory over Pittsburgh – its eighth-straight victory – to improve to 11-4 this season and win the AFC West. Currently holding the top spot in the AFC Playoffs, the Chiefs travel to face Cincinnati on Sunday.
Kiondre Thomas, DB – Los Angeles Chargers
A rookie free agent who spent the entire preseason with Cleveland, Thomas was signed to the Los Angeles Chargers' practice squad on September 6. The Chargers lost their second-straight game, a 41-29 defeat at Houston, as they fell to 8-7 on the year. Fighting for a Wild Card spot in the AFC Playoffs, LA hosts Denver on Sunday.
Cody Whitehair, OL – Chicago Bears
Making his 93rd-career start, Whitehair was in for all 74 offensive snaps in Chicago's 25-24 comeback win at Seattle. Whitehair has been in for all 974 offensive snaps this season. The Bears improved to 5-10 with the win, and they host the New York Giants on Sunday.
Jordan Willis, DE – San Francisco 49ers
Willis came away with two tackles – including a sack – and a quarterback hurry in San Francisco's narrow 20-17 loss at Tennessee on Thursday night. Willis put those numbers together despite only playing on 13 defensive snaps, while he also saw time on nine special teams plays. The 49ers dropped to 8-7 on the season and are third in the NFC West, but they currently reside in the No. 6 spot for the NFC Playoffs. San Francisco hosts Houston on Sunday.
Deante Burton, DB – Dallas Cowboys
In his fourth NFL season and third in Dallas, Burton is on the Cowboys' practice squad. Dallas routed Washington, 56-14, on Sunday night to improve to 11-4 on the year as the Cowboys won the NFC East. They currently sit in the No. 2 spot in the NFC Playoffs, just one game behind Green Bay, as Dallas hosts Arizona on Sunday.
B.J. Finney, OL – Pittsburgh Steelers
Finney was placed on injured reserve on December 15 due to a back injury. Pittsburgh lost at Kansas City, 36-10, to fall to 7-7-1 on the season. However, the Steelers are still in the hunt for a playoff spot with two weeks left as they are third in the AFC North. Pittsburgh hosts Cleveland on Monday night.
Wyatt Hubert, DE – Cincinnati Bengals
Hubert, a seventh-round draft pick by Cincinnati in this year's draft, was injured during the offseason and is on reserve. The Bengals picked up their fourth win in the last six games with a 41-21 victory over Baltimore as they improved to 9-6 on the season. Cincinnati currently leads the AFC North and resides in the No. 3 spot for the AFC Playoffs prior to hosting Kansas City on Sunday.
Elijah Lee, LB – Cleveland Browns
Lee saw action on 20 special teams plays in Cleveland's 24-22 loss at Green Bay. The defeat dropped the Browns to 7-8 on the year as they fell to last place in the tightly-contested AFC North. Cleveland travels to face Pittsburgh on Monday night.
Tyler Lockett, WR – Seattle Seahawks
Lockett carded his 85th-career start as he came back from the COVID-19/reserve list to haul in three catches for 30 yards in Seattle's 25-24 loss to Chicago. Prior to the game, Lockett was honored as the Seahawks' recipient of the 2021 Steve Largent Award. He ranks fifth in the NFL with a 16.2-yard average per catch, while his 1,053 receiving yards rank 12th. The Seahawks fell to 5-10 on the year, and they host Detroit on Sunday.
Congratulations are in order to our 2021 Steve Largent Award Winner: @TDLockett12 👏
— Seahawks Legends (@SeahawksLegends) December 26, 2021
📑 » https://t.co/uwv8jCowE8 pic.twitter.com/U7xTbA2h9C
Cornelius Lucas, OL – Washington Football Team
Lucas, who has made six starts this season, came off the reserve/COVID-19 list to see time on two special teams plays in Washington's 56-14 loss at Dallas on Sunday night. Lucas has seen time on 527 offensive snaps this year. The Football Team fell to 6-9, and they host Philadelphia on Sunday.
Briley Moore, TE – Tennessee Titans
A rookie free agent signee by the Titans this past offseason, Moore was hurt during training camp and was placed on injured reserve. The Titans defeated San Francisco, 20-17, on Thursday night as they improved to 10-5 on the year. Tennessee leads the AFC South by a game over Indianapolis, and the Titans currently hold the No. 2 spot in the AFC Playoffs. The Titans host Miami on Sunday.
AJ Parker, DB – Detroit Lions
A rookie free agent signee, Parker came away with two tackles and a pass breakup in Detroit's 20-16 loss at Atlanta. The Lions fell to 2-12-1 this season, and they travel to face Seattle on Sunday.
Byron Pringle, WR – Kansas City Chiefs
Pringle put together one of the best receiving games of his career as he led the Chiefs with six receptions for 75 yards and two touchdowns in Kansas City's 36-10 victory over Pittsburgh. It was Pringle's first multi-touchdown game, while he tied his career high in catches and produced the second-most yards of his career. The Tampa, Florida, product also made his seventh career start, fourth this season and second in as many games as he played on a career-high 55 offensive snaps. Pringle did not return any kickoffs against the Steelers, but his 25.0-yard average this season ranks third in the NFL. The Chiefs have won eight-straight games as they won the AFC West on Sunday by improving to 11-4. They remain in the top spot for the AFC Playoffs prior to traveling to face Cincinnati on Sunday.
AYYYYOOOO‼️ @pringle_byron
— Kansas City Chiefs (@Chiefs) December 26, 2021
📺: #PITvsKC on CBS pic.twitter.com/Wfj0ZGAQsF
PRINGLE DROPPED TWO DEFENDERS BEFORE SCORING 😱
— ESPN (@espn) December 26, 2021
(via @NFL)pic.twitter.com/IH2jlHyKmo
HELP IS ON THE WAY @PRINGLE_BYRON 🚒
— Kansas City Chiefs (@Chiefs) December 26, 2021
📺: #PITvsKC on CBS pic.twitter.com/F2A593hKZ9
.@pringle_byron was on fire, but he had em on skates ⛸🤫 pic.twitter.com/l4K10GagKa
— Kansas City Chiefs (@Chiefs) December 27, 2021
D.J. Reed Jr., DB – Seattle Seahawks
Reed, who has carded 22 starts with 13 this season, remains on the reserve/COVID-19 list and did not play in Seattle's 25-24 home loss to Chicago. The Seahawks fell to 5-10 this season, and they host Arizona on Sunday.
Dalton Risner, OL – Denver Broncos
Risner carded his 46th-career start and was in for all 42 offensive snaps in Denver's 17-13 loss at Las Vegas. Risner has seen time on 2,811 of the Broncos' 3,064 offensive snaps (91.7%) since he began his career in 2019. The Broncos are now 7-8 this season, and they travel to face the Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday.
Duke Shelley, DB – Chicago Bears
Shelley came off injured reserve to make his sixth-career start and fourth this season, carding four tackles among his 40 defensive snaps to help Chicago pick up a 25-24 comeback win at Seattle. The Bears improved to 5-10 with the win, and they host the New York Giants on Sunday.
Dalton Schoen, WR – Kansas City Chiefs
Schoen was signed to the Chiefs' practice squad on Wednesday, the second time this year he has signed with Kansas City and the second time he has been on a practice squad. Schoen was with the Chiefs during training camp and also on the Washington practice squad in September. Kansas City picked up a 36-10 victory over Pittsburgh to improve to 11-4 this season, as the Chiefs won the AFC West and remain in the top spot for the AFC Playoffs. Kansas City travels to face Cincinnati 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 earned a 36-10 victory over Pittsburgh – its eighth-straight victory – to improve to 11-4 this season and win the AFC West. Currently holding the top spot in the AFC Playoffs, the Chiefs travel to face Cincinnati on Sunday.
Kiondre Thomas, DB – Los Angeles Chargers
A rookie free agent who spent the entire preseason with Cleveland, Thomas was signed to the Los Angeles Chargers' practice squad on September 6. The Chargers lost their second-straight game, a 41-29 defeat at Houston, as they fell to 8-7 on the year. Fighting for a Wild Card spot in the AFC Playoffs, LA hosts Denver on Sunday.
Cody Whitehair, OL – Chicago Bears
Making his 93rd-career start, Whitehair was in for all 74 offensive snaps in Chicago's 25-24 comeback win at Seattle. Whitehair has been in for all 974 offensive snaps this season. The Bears improved to 5-10 with the win, and they host the New York Giants on Sunday.
Jordan Willis, DE – San Francisco 49ers
Willis came away with two tackles – including a sack – and a quarterback hurry in San Francisco's narrow 20-17 loss at Tennessee on Thursday night. Willis put those numbers together despite only playing on 13 defensive snaps, while he also saw time on nine special teams plays. The 49ers dropped to 8-7 on the season and are third in the NFC West, but they currently reside in the No. 6 spot for the NFC Playoffs. San Francisco hosts Houston on Sunday.
GAME REPLAY | FB vs Texas Tech
Tuesday, November 04
K-State FB | Klieman Postgame Presser vs Texas Tech
Saturday, November 01
K-State Football | Postgame Highlights vs Texas Tech
Saturday, November 01
K-State FB | Pregame Hype vs Texas Tech
Friday, October 31