Wildcats in the NFL – Week 18
Jan 10, 2023 | Football
MANHATTAN, Kan. – This week, k-statesports.com recaps the action for the 14 former Kansas State football players during the final week of the NFL season and previews those that are advancing to the playoffs.
Timmy Horne, DL – Atlanta Falcons
Horne, a rookie free agent, earned his fifth start of the season and was in for 21 defensive snaps as the Falcons closed out their year with a 30-17 home victory over Tampa Bay. Horned finished his initial NFL campaign with 27 tackles and one pass breakup, and he saw action on 34% of Atlanta's defensive plays this year. The Falcons finished the season with a 7-10 record.
Elijah Lee, LB – Chicago Bears
Lee, who is in his sixth NFL season, began the year with Kansas City and was signed off the Chiefs' practice squad by the Chicago Bears on December 20. In his final game of the year, Lee was in for 20 special teams plays during a 29-13 home loss to Minnesota. In eight combined games for the Bears and Chiefs during the 2022 season, Lee totaled eight tackles and a fumble recovery. The Bears finished the season with a 3-14 record.
Tyler Lockett, WR – Seattle Seahawks
Lockett hauled in four receptions for 54 yards – including a 36-yard touchdown – as he helped the Seahawks earn a 19-16 overtime victory over the Rams, which ultimately sent Seattle to the playoffs. Lockett, who has made 103 career starts, finished the season with 84 catches for 1,003 yards and nine touchdowns. It was his fourth-straight season with 1,000 receiving yards, becoming just the second player in franchise history to accomplish the feat (Steve Largent). Seattle finished the regular season with a 9-8 record, as the Seahawks kick off Super Wild Card Weekend on Saturday at San Francisco in a 3:30 p.m. (CT) game that will be shown on FOX.
Lucas was inactive for Washington's 26-6 victory over Dallas. An eighth-year pro who finished up his third season in Washington, Lucas saw time on 60% of the Commanders' offensive snaps this season as he played in 16 games with 12 starts. Washington finished its season with an 8-8-1 record.
AJ Parker, DB – Detroit Lions
Parker completed his second NFL season on the Lions' practice squad. He did play in three games this season, totaling 11 tackles. Detroit, which finished its season with a 20-16 victory at Green Bay, finished second in the NFC North with a 9-8 record.
Byron Pringle, WR – Chicago Bears
Pringle made his fourth start of the season and hauled in one catch for five yards in Chicago's 29-13 home loss to Minnesota. In his first year with the Bears, Pringle saw time in 11 games and made 10 catches for 135 yards and two touchdowns. Chicago finished the season with a 3-14 record.
D.J. Reed, DB – New York Jets
Reed, who completed his first year with the New York, carded five tackles in the Jets' 11-6 loss at Miami. Reed started all 17 games this season and played on every defensive snap for the Jets as he totaled 80 tackles, one tackle for loss, 12 passes defended, an interception and a forced fumble. New York finished the season with a 7-10 record.
Dalton Risner, OL – Denver Broncos
Risner, in his fourth NFL season, was placed on injured reserve just prior to the Broncos' season finale, a 31-28 victory over the Los Angeles Chargers. Risner saw time on 97% of the Broncos' offensive snaps this season. Denver finished the year with a 5-12 record.
Duke Shelley, DB – Minnesota Vikings
Shelley registered three tackles, an interception and a pass breakup as he helped Minnesota pick up a 29-13 victory at Chicago. It was Shelley's first-career interception, which came against the team that drafted him in 2019. Shelley saw time in 11 games with five starts during the regular season, which included starts in each of the final four contests. He came away with 31 tackles, an interception and eight pass breakups during the regular season. The Vikings won the NFC North with a 13-4 record, and they host the New York Giants during Super Wild Card Weekend on Sunday in a 3:30 p.m. (CT) game on FOX.
In his first season in Green Bay, Thomas was on the Packers' practice squad throughout the year. Green Bay dropped a home game to Detroit, 20-16, on Sunday night, which knocked the Packers out of playoff contention. Green Bay finished the season with an 8-9 record.
Skylar Thompson, QB – Miami Dolphins
A seventh-round selection in this year's draft, Thompson made his second-career start and threw for 152 yards on 20-of-31 aim to help the Dolphins clinch a playoff spot via an 11-6 home victory over the New York Jets. It was Thompson's first-career victory as he started a game earlier in the season at Minnesota. Thompson finished the regular season by throwing for 534 yards and a touchdown on 60-of-105 aim. Miami travels to face Buffalo for Super Wild Card Weekend, a 12 p.m. (CT) game on Sunday that will be shown on CBS.
Whitehair, who carded his 107th-career start, saw time on 48 of the Bears' 51 offensive snaps in Chicago's 29-13 loss to Minnesota. Whitehair played in and started 12 games this year for the Bears, which finished the year with a 3-14 record.
Jordan Willis, DL – San Francisco 49ers
Willis carded three tackles – including a sack that forced a fumble – to help San Francisco pick up a 38-13 home victory over Arizona. In nine games this season, Willis made 12 tackles, three tackles for loss and two sacks among his 200 defensive snaps. San Francisco finished the season with 10-straight victories to earn a 13-4 record. The 49ers open Super Wild Card Weekend by hosting Seattle in a 3:30 p.m. (CT) game on Saturday, which will be shown on FOX.
Russ Yeast, S – Los Angeles Rams
A seventh-round selection in this year's draft, Yeast made his first start of the season and came away with three tackles and a TFL in the Rams' 19-16 overtime loss at Seattle. In 15 games this year, Yeast carded 20 tackles and returned one kickoff for 29 yards. The Rams finished with a 5-12 record.
Timmy Horne, DL – Atlanta Falcons
Horne, a rookie free agent, earned his fifth start of the season and was in for 21 defensive snaps as the Falcons closed out their year with a 30-17 home victory over Tampa Bay. Horned finished his initial NFL campaign with 27 tackles and one pass breakup, and he saw action on 34% of Atlanta's defensive plays this year. The Falcons finished the season with a 7-10 record.
Elijah Lee, LB – Chicago Bears
Lee, who is in his sixth NFL season, began the year with Kansas City and was signed off the Chiefs' practice squad by the Chicago Bears on December 20. In his final game of the year, Lee was in for 20 special teams plays during a 29-13 home loss to Minnesota. In eight combined games for the Bears and Chiefs during the 2022 season, Lee totaled eight tackles and a fumble recovery. The Bears finished the season with a 3-14 record.
Tyler Lockett, WR – Seattle Seahawks
Lockett hauled in four receptions for 54 yards – including a 36-yard touchdown – as he helped the Seahawks earn a 19-16 overtime victory over the Rams, which ultimately sent Seattle to the playoffs. Lockett, who has made 103 career starts, finished the season with 84 catches for 1,003 yards and nine touchdowns. It was his fourth-straight season with 1,000 receiving yards, becoming just the second player in franchise history to accomplish the feat (Steve Largent). Seattle finished the regular season with a 9-8 record, as the Seahawks kick off Super Wild Card Weekend on Saturday at San Francisco in a 3:30 p.m. (CT) game that will be shown on FOX.
Great throw by @GenoSmith3 and a perfect grab by @TDLockett12! 🤩
— Seattle Seahawks (@Seahawks) January 8, 2023
📺 FOX pic.twitter.com/BSDGI5ZWDz
Cornelius Lucas, OL – Washington CommandersWinning the Largent award 🤝 Joining Largent
— Seattle Seahawks (@Seahawks) January 8, 2023
With that touchdown grab @TDLockett12 has surpassed 1000+ yards receiving yards for the 4th straight year! pic.twitter.com/TGVFTc5m3X
Lucas was inactive for Washington's 26-6 victory over Dallas. An eighth-year pro who finished up his third season in Washington, Lucas saw time on 60% of the Commanders' offensive snaps this season as he played in 16 games with 12 starts. Washington finished its season with an 8-8-1 record.
AJ Parker, DB – Detroit Lions
Parker completed his second NFL season on the Lions' practice squad. He did play in three games this season, totaling 11 tackles. Detroit, which finished its season with a 20-16 victory at Green Bay, finished second in the NFC North with a 9-8 record.
Byron Pringle, WR – Chicago Bears
Pringle made his fourth start of the season and hauled in one catch for five yards in Chicago's 29-13 home loss to Minnesota. In his first year with the Bears, Pringle saw time in 11 games and made 10 catches for 135 yards and two touchdowns. Chicago finished the season with a 3-14 record.
D.J. Reed, DB – New York Jets
Reed, who completed his first year with the New York, carded five tackles in the Jets' 11-6 loss at Miami. Reed started all 17 games this season and played on every defensive snap for the Jets as he totaled 80 tackles, one tackle for loss, 12 passes defended, an interception and a forced fumble. New York finished the season with a 7-10 record.
Dalton Risner, OL – Denver Broncos
Risner, in his fourth NFL season, was placed on injured reserve just prior to the Broncos' season finale, a 31-28 victory over the Los Angeles Chargers. Risner saw time on 97% of the Broncos' offensive snaps this season. Denver finished the year with a 5-12 record.
Duke Shelley, DB – Minnesota Vikings
Shelley registered three tackles, an interception and a pass breakup as he helped Minnesota pick up a 29-13 victory at Chicago. It was Shelley's first-career interception, which came against the team that drafted him in 2019. Shelley saw time in 11 games with five starts during the regular season, which included starts in each of the final four contests. He came away with 31 tackles, an interception and eight pass breakups during the regular season. The Vikings won the NFC North with a 13-4 record, and they host the New York Giants during Super Wild Card Weekend on Sunday in a 3:30 p.m. (CT) game on FOX.
Kiondre Thomas, CB – Green Bay Packers"It's surreal, it's a blessing."@dukesaysgo got his 1st career INT against his former team. pic.twitter.com/fIlJH1Dsxq
— Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) January 8, 2023
In his first season in Green Bay, Thomas was on the Packers' practice squad throughout the year. Green Bay dropped a home game to Detroit, 20-16, on Sunday night, which knocked the Packers out of playoff contention. Green Bay finished the season with an 8-9 record.
Skylar Thompson, QB – Miami Dolphins
A seventh-round selection in this year's draft, Thompson made his second-career start and threw for 152 yards on 20-of-31 aim to help the Dolphins clinch a playoff spot via an 11-6 home victory over the New York Jets. It was Thompson's first-career victory as he started a game earlier in the season at Minnesota. Thompson finished the regular season by throwing for 534 yards and a touchdown on 60-of-105 aim. Miami travels to face Buffalo for Super Wild Card Weekend, a 12 p.m. (CT) game on Sunday that will be shown on CBS.
Cody Whitehair, OL – Chicago BearsFirst career @NFL win for the rookie! 🙂 @skylarjthompson pic.twitter.com/MR1rTDopO6
— Miami Dolphins (@MiamiDolphins) January 8, 2023
Whitehair, who carded his 107th-career start, saw time on 48 of the Bears' 51 offensive snaps in Chicago's 29-13 loss to Minnesota. Whitehair played in and started 12 games this year for the Bears, which finished the year with a 3-14 record.
Jordan Willis, DL – San Francisco 49ers
Willis carded three tackles – including a sack that forced a fumble – to help San Francisco pick up a 38-13 home victory over Arizona. In nine games this season, Willis made 12 tackles, three tackles for loss and two sacks among his 200 defensive snaps. San Francisco finished the season with 10-straight victories to earn a 13-4 record. The 49ers open Super Wild Card Weekend by hosting Seattle in a 3:30 p.m. (CT) game on Saturday, which will be shown on FOX.
Russ Yeast, S – Los Angeles Rams
A seventh-round selection in this year's draft, Yeast made his first start of the season and came away with three tackles and a TFL in the Rams' 19-16 overtime loss at Seattle. In 15 games this year, Yeast carded 20 tackles and returned one kickoff for 29 yards. The Rams finished with a 5-12 record.
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