Kansas State University Athletics
Wildcats in the NFL – Week 18
Jan 06, 2025 | Football
MANHATTAN, Kan. – Each week throughout the 2024 season, k-statesports.com recaps the action for the 17 former Kansas State football players currently in the NFL.
Felix Anudike-Uzomah, DE – Kansas City Chiefs
A first-round draft pick a year ago, Anudike-Uzomah earned the third start of his career and came away with three tackles – including one for a loss – among his 52 defensive snaps and 10 special teams plays during Kansas City's 38-0 loss at Denver. Anudike-Uzomah finished the regular season with 27 tackles, 6.0 tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery. The Chiefs concluded the regular season at 15-2 and had already clinched the No. 1 seed and a first-round bye in the AFC Playoffs prior to their game at Denver. Kansas City will play the lowest remaining seed in the Divisional Round on either Saturday, January 18 or Sunday, January 19.
Cooper Beebe, OL – Dallas Cowboys
A third-round pick in this year's draft, Beebe started his 16th game of the season and was in for all 78 offensive snaps during Dallas' 23-19 last-second home loss to Washington. Despite missing a game due to injury, Beebe still saw time on 97% of the Cowboys' offensive snaps during the season, one that saw Dallas finish with a 7-10 record.
JuJu Brents, CB – Indianapolis Colts
Spending time on injured reserve since September 10, Brents came back to play in the season finale – a 26-23 home win over Jacksonville – but was in for only six defensive snaps and one special teams play before leaving the game due to injury. Brents finished the season with seven tackles, which all came in the first game of the year against Houston. The Colts concluded the season with an 8-9 record.
Ekow Boye-Doe, CB – New York Giants
Boye-Doe, a rookie free agent last year for Kansas City, was signed to the Giants' practice squad on December 10 but did not appear in a game for New York. The Giants lost, 20-13, at Philadelphia to end the season at 3-14.
Khalid Duke, OLB – Tennessee Titans
Duke, an undrafted rookie free agent for the Titans, was elevated from the practice squad for a second time this season as he recorded a tackle and a quarterback hit among his 12 defensive snaps and nine special teams plays during Tennessee's 23-14 home loss to Houston. Tennessee concluded the season at 3-14.
Josh Hayes, DB – Tampa Bay Buccaneers
A sixth-round selection in last year's draft, Hayes recorded a game-high 11 tackles in his third start of the year and was in for 65 defensive snaps and 12 special teams plays, helping Tampa Bay clinch the NFC South title with a 27-19 win over New Orleans. Hayes finished the regular season with 29 tackles, three passes defended and a fumble recovery for the 10-7 Buccaneers. Tampa Bay, the No. 3 seed in the NFC Playoffs, hosts Washington during Wild Card Weekend on Sunday night, a 7 p.m. (CT) contest that will be shown on NBC.
KT Leveston, OL – Los Angeles Rams
Leveston, a seventh-round draft pick by the Los Angeles Rams, was placed on injured reserve in August and designated to return to practice last month, but he was not put on the active roster in time as his season came to an end. The Rams fell at home to Seattle, 30-25, as the NFC West Champions finished the season with a 10-7 record and the No. 4 seed in the NFC Playoffs. The Rams host the Vikings during Wild Card Weekend on Monday night in a 7 p.m. (CT) game that will be shown on ESPN/ABC.
Tyler Lockett, WR – Seattle Seahawks
Lockett, who finished his 10th NFL season – all with Seattle – made his 134th career start as he tallied two catches for 28 yards among his 29 offensive snaps during the Seahawks' 30-25 win at the Los Angeles Rams. Lockett finished the season with 49 receptions for 600 yards and two touchdowns. Seattle concluded the year with a 10-7 record and narrowly missed the playoffs.
Cornelius Lucas, OL – Washington Commanders
Lucas, a 10th-year pro, was active but did not play in Washington's 23-19 last-second win at Dallas. Lucas finished the regular season by playing in 14 games with seven starts, seeing time on 48% of the Commanders' offensive snaps. Washington finished the regular season with a 12-5 record as the Commanders are the No. 6 seed in the NFC Playoffs and will play during Wild Card Weekend at Tampa Bay on Sunday in a 7 p.m. (CT) game on NBC.
Adrian Martinez, QB – New York Jets
Martinez spent the entire 2024 season on the Jets' practice squad. New York finished the season on a high note with a 32-20 win over Miami to finish the season with a 5-12 record.
D.J. Reed, DB – New York Jets
Making his 70th career start, Reed had five tackles and a pass breakup to help New York secure a 32-20 home in over Miami. In 14 games this season – all starts – Reed tallied 64 tackles, 4.0 tackles for loss, a sack and 11 pass breakups for the 5-12 Jets.
Dalton Risner, OL – Minnesota Vikings
In his sixth NFL season and second with the Vikings, Risner made his eighth start of the season and 81st of his career as he was in for all 65 offensive snaps during Minnesota's 31-9 loss at Detroit on Sunday night. Despite missing the first seven games of the season, Risner still played on 77% of the Vikings' offensive snaps during the regular season. The game at the Lions was a de facto NFC North championship game and fight for the No. 1 seed in the NFC, as Minnesota finished the season with a 14-3 record and will be the No. 5 seed in the NFC Playoffs. The Vikings play during Wild Card Weekend at the Los Angeles Rams on Monday night, a 7 p.m. (CT) game that will be shown on ESPN/ABC.
Ben Sinnott, TE – Washington Commanders
Sinnott, a second-round selection in this year's draft, saw time on four offensive snaps and 15 special teams plays during Washington's 23-19 victory at Dallas. Sinnott finished his initial NFL regular season with five catches for 28 yards and a touchdown over 17 games with two starts. Concluding the regular season with a 12-5 record, the Commanders are the No. 6 seed in the NFC Playoffs and play Wild Card Weekend at Tampa Bay in a 7 p.m. (CT) game on Sunday night on NBC.
Skylar Thompson, QB – Miami Dolphins
Thompson, who is in his third season in Miami, is on the Dolphins' practice squad and was elevated to the active roster for the Dolphins' 32-30 loss at the New York Jets but did not play. Thompson finished the season by going 21-of-33 through the air for 187 yards and rushed once for four yards during his three games played with one start. Miami finished the season with an 8-9 record.
Deuce Vaughn, RB – Dallas Cowboys
Vaughn, a sixth-round selection last year, rushed six times for 37 yards among his 15 offensive snaps during Dallas' 23-19 last-second home loss to Washington. It was Vaughn's seventh game played this season, finishing with 70 yards on 17 carries for the 7-10 Cowboys.
Cody Whitehair, OL – Las Vegas Raiders
Whitehair, who is in his ninth NFL season and first in Las Vegas, was active but did not play during the Raiders' 34-20 home loss to the Los Angeles Chargers. Playing in 12 games this season with three starts, Whitehair saw time on 28% of Las Vegas' offensive snaps this season for the 4-13 Raiders.
Russ Yeast, S – Houston Texans
Yeast was elevated from the practice squad to record a tackle among his 20 defensive snaps and 12 special teams plays, helping Houston earn a 23-14 win at Tennessee. It was Yeast's fourth game this season, which came with three different teams – the Rams, Panthers and Texans. Houston won the AFC South with a 10-7 record and is the No. 4 seed in the AFC Playoffs. The Texans host the Los Angeles Chargers for Wild Card Weekend on Saturday in a 3:30 p.m. (CT) game that will be shown on CBS.
Felix Anudike-Uzomah, DE – Kansas City Chiefs
A first-round draft pick a year ago, Anudike-Uzomah earned the third start of his career and came away with three tackles – including one for a loss – among his 52 defensive snaps and 10 special teams plays during Kansas City's 38-0 loss at Denver. Anudike-Uzomah finished the regular season with 27 tackles, 6.0 tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery. The Chiefs concluded the regular season at 15-2 and had already clinched the No. 1 seed and a first-round bye in the AFC Playoffs prior to their game at Denver. Kansas City will play the lowest remaining seed in the Divisional Round on either Saturday, January 18 or Sunday, January 19.
Cooper Beebe, OL – Dallas Cowboys
A third-round pick in this year's draft, Beebe started his 16th game of the season and was in for all 78 offensive snaps during Dallas' 23-19 last-second home loss to Washington. Despite missing a game due to injury, Beebe still saw time on 97% of the Cowboys' offensive snaps during the season, one that saw Dallas finish with a 7-10 record.
JuJu Brents, CB – Indianapolis Colts
Spending time on injured reserve since September 10, Brents came back to play in the season finale – a 26-23 home win over Jacksonville – but was in for only six defensive snaps and one special teams play before leaving the game due to injury. Brents finished the season with seven tackles, which all came in the first game of the year against Houston. The Colts concluded the season with an 8-9 record.
Ekow Boye-Doe, CB – New York Giants
Boye-Doe, a rookie free agent last year for Kansas City, was signed to the Giants' practice squad on December 10 but did not appear in a game for New York. The Giants lost, 20-13, at Philadelphia to end the season at 3-14.
Khalid Duke, OLB – Tennessee Titans
Duke, an undrafted rookie free agent for the Titans, was elevated from the practice squad for a second time this season as he recorded a tackle and a quarterback hit among his 12 defensive snaps and nine special teams plays during Tennessee's 23-14 home loss to Houston. Tennessee concluded the season at 3-14.
Josh Hayes, DB – Tampa Bay Buccaneers
A sixth-round selection in last year's draft, Hayes recorded a game-high 11 tackles in his third start of the year and was in for 65 defensive snaps and 12 special teams plays, helping Tampa Bay clinch the NFC South title with a 27-19 win over New Orleans. Hayes finished the regular season with 29 tackles, three passes defended and a fumble recovery for the 10-7 Buccaneers. Tampa Bay, the No. 3 seed in the NFC Playoffs, hosts Washington during Wild Card Weekend on Sunday night, a 7 p.m. (CT) contest that will be shown on NBC.
KT Leveston, OL – Los Angeles Rams
Leveston, a seventh-round draft pick by the Los Angeles Rams, was placed on injured reserve in August and designated to return to practice last month, but he was not put on the active roster in time as his season came to an end. The Rams fell at home to Seattle, 30-25, as the NFC West Champions finished the season with a 10-7 record and the No. 4 seed in the NFC Playoffs. The Rams host the Vikings during Wild Card Weekend on Monday night in a 7 p.m. (CT) game that will be shown on ESPN/ABC.
Tyler Lockett, WR – Seattle Seahawks
Lockett, who finished his 10th NFL season – all with Seattle – made his 134th career start as he tallied two catches for 28 yards among his 29 offensive snaps during the Seahawks' 30-25 win at the Los Angeles Rams. Lockett finished the season with 49 receptions for 600 yards and two touchdowns. Seattle concluded the year with a 10-7 record and narrowly missed the playoffs.
Cornelius Lucas, OL – Washington Commanders
Lucas, a 10th-year pro, was active but did not play in Washington's 23-19 last-second win at Dallas. Lucas finished the regular season by playing in 14 games with seven starts, seeing time on 48% of the Commanders' offensive snaps. Washington finished the regular season with a 12-5 record as the Commanders are the No. 6 seed in the NFC Playoffs and will play during Wild Card Weekend at Tampa Bay on Sunday in a 7 p.m. (CT) game on NBC.
Adrian Martinez, QB – New York Jets
Martinez spent the entire 2024 season on the Jets' practice squad. New York finished the season on a high note with a 32-20 win over Miami to finish the season with a 5-12 record.
D.J. Reed, DB – New York Jets
Making his 70th career start, Reed had five tackles and a pass breakup to help New York secure a 32-20 home in over Miami. In 14 games this season – all starts – Reed tallied 64 tackles, 4.0 tackles for loss, a sack and 11 pass breakups for the 5-12 Jets.
Dalton Risner, OL – Minnesota Vikings
In his sixth NFL season and second with the Vikings, Risner made his eighth start of the season and 81st of his career as he was in for all 65 offensive snaps during Minnesota's 31-9 loss at Detroit on Sunday night. Despite missing the first seven games of the season, Risner still played on 77% of the Vikings' offensive snaps during the regular season. The game at the Lions was a de facto NFC North championship game and fight for the No. 1 seed in the NFC, as Minnesota finished the season with a 14-3 record and will be the No. 5 seed in the NFC Playoffs. The Vikings play during Wild Card Weekend at the Los Angeles Rams on Monday night, a 7 p.m. (CT) game that will be shown on ESPN/ABC.
Ben Sinnott, TE – Washington Commanders
Sinnott, a second-round selection in this year's draft, saw time on four offensive snaps and 15 special teams plays during Washington's 23-19 victory at Dallas. Sinnott finished his initial NFL regular season with five catches for 28 yards and a touchdown over 17 games with two starts. Concluding the regular season with a 12-5 record, the Commanders are the No. 6 seed in the NFC Playoffs and play Wild Card Weekend at Tampa Bay in a 7 p.m. (CT) game on Sunday night on NBC.
Skylar Thompson, QB – Miami Dolphins
Thompson, who is in his third season in Miami, is on the Dolphins' practice squad and was elevated to the active roster for the Dolphins' 32-30 loss at the New York Jets but did not play. Thompson finished the season by going 21-of-33 through the air for 187 yards and rushed once for four yards during his three games played with one start. Miami finished the season with an 8-9 record.
Deuce Vaughn, RB – Dallas Cowboys
Vaughn, a sixth-round selection last year, rushed six times for 37 yards among his 15 offensive snaps during Dallas' 23-19 last-second home loss to Washington. It was Vaughn's seventh game played this season, finishing with 70 yards on 17 carries for the 7-10 Cowboys.
Cody Whitehair, OL – Las Vegas Raiders
Whitehair, who is in his ninth NFL season and first in Las Vegas, was active but did not play during the Raiders' 34-20 home loss to the Los Angeles Chargers. Playing in 12 games this season with three starts, Whitehair saw time on 28% of Las Vegas' offensive snaps this season for the 4-13 Raiders.
Russ Yeast, S – Houston Texans
Yeast was elevated from the practice squad to record a tackle among his 20 defensive snaps and 12 special teams plays, helping Houston earn a 23-14 win at Tennessee. It was Yeast's fourth game this season, which came with three different teams – the Rams, Panthers and Texans. Houston won the AFC South with a 10-7 record and is the No. 4 seed in the AFC Playoffs. The Texans host the Los Angeles Chargers for Wild Card Weekend on Saturday in a 3:30 p.m. (CT) game that will be shown on CBS.
– k-statesports.com –
How to follow the Cats: For complete information on K-State Football, visit www.kstatesports.com and follow the team's social media channels on X (formerly Twitter), Instagram and Facebook.
How to follow the Cats: For complete information on K-State Football, visit www.kstatesports.com and follow the team's social media channels on X (formerly Twitter), Instagram and Facebook.
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