Wildcats in the NFL – Week 5
Oct 13, 2026 | Football
MANHATTAN, Kan. – Each week throughout the 2026 season, k-statesports.com recaps the action for the 18 former Kansas State football players currently in the NFL.
Felix Anudike-Uzomah, DE – Kansas City Chiefs
A first-round pick in 2023, Anudike-Uzomah and the Kansas City Chiefs were off last week. Anudike-Uzomah has totaled five tackles, two tackles for loss and three quarterback hits in four games this season. Kansas City, 4-0 on the season, comes out of its bye week to host the Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday.
Cooper Beebe, C – Dallas Cowboys
In his third season, Beebe logged the 32nd start of his career and played on all 60 offensive snaps during the Cowboys' 24-16 home loss to Tampa Bay on Thursday night. Through five games this season, Beebe has played on all 325 snaps for Dallas, which is 2-3 this season prior to playing at Green Bay on Sunday night.
JuJu Brents, CB – Miami Dolphins
Brents, who is in his fourth season overall and second with the Dolphins, made a second-straight start and the 13th of his career as he recorded six tackles and a pass breakup among his 40 defensive snaps during Miami's 31-24 home loss to Cincinnati. In five games this season, Brents has tallied 22 tackles, including one tackle for loss, and a pass breakup for the 0-5 Dolphins, who are off this week.
DJ Giddens, RB – Indianapolis Colts
In his second season, Giddens was active for the first time this season but did not play in Indianapolis' 34-22 loss at Pittsburgh. Falling to 2-3 this season, the Colts host Tennessee on Sunday.
Josh Hayes, DB – Tampa Bay Buccaneers
In his fourth season, Hayes is on injured reserve. Tampa Bay earned its first win of the year, a 24-16 victory at Dallas on Thursday night. The Buccaneers, now 1-4 this season, host Pittsburgh on Sunday.
Sam Hecht, C – Carolina Panthers
A fifth-round selection by Carolina in this year's draft, Hecht and the Panthers were off last week. Carolina, which is 2-2 this season, plays at Philadelphia on Sunday.
Timmy Horne, DT – Tennessee Titans
Horne, who is in his fourth season overall and second with Tennessee, is on the Titans' practice squad. Tennessee suffered a 26-3 home loss to Houston to drop to 0-5 this season, and the Titans play at Indianapolis on Sunday.
Easton Kilty, OL – New Orleans Saints
Kilty, a rookie free agent signee prior to the 2025 season, was elevated from the practice squad to see time on a pair of special teams plays during New Orleans' 23-13 home loss to Minnesota. The Saints, now 1-4 this season, play at the New York Giants on Sunday.
KT Leveston, OL – Cleveland Browns
In his third season, Leveston is on the Browns' practice squad. Cleveland lost, 17-12, at the New York Jets to drop to 3-2 this season, and the Browns host Baltimore on Sunday.
Jacob Parrish, CB – Tampa Bay Buccaneers
A third-round draft pick in 2025 by the Buccaneers, Parrish tallied the ninth start of his career and fourth this season, recording a team-high nine tackles and four pass breakups among his 58 defensive snaps to help Tampa Bay earn its first win of the year, a 24-16 Thursday-night victory at Dallas. Over his four games played this season, Parrish has logged 21 tackles, a tackle for loss, seven pass breakups and an interception. The 1-4 Buccaneers host Pittsburgh on Sunday.
VJ Payne, S – New York Jets
Payne, a seventh-round selection in this year's draft, is on injured reserve but is designated for return. The Jets picked up a 17-12 home victory over Cleveland to improve to 2-3 on the year prior to playing at New England on Sunday.
D.J. Reed, DB– Detroit Lions
In his ninth season overall and second with Detroit, Reed made the 86th start of his career, recording seven tackles – including three for loss – and a pass breakup among his 72 defensive snaps to help the Lions earn a 45-21 win at Arizona. In five games this season, Reed has logged 37 tackles, three tackles for loss and three pass breakups while playing on 97.6% of Detroit's defensive snaps. The Lions, who improved to 3-2, are off this week.
Dalton Risner, OL – Cincinnati Bengals
In his eighth season overall and second with the Bengals, Risner logged the 97th start of his career and was in for all 65 offensive snaps, helping Cincinnati pick up a 31-24 win at Miami. The Bengals improved to 3-2 entering their bye week.
Marques Sigle, S – San Francisco 49ers
Sigle, who is in his second season, was inactive for San Francisco's 32-29 win at Seattle. In his four games played this season, Sigle has tallied 26 tackles, including one for a loss, while playing on 87.2% of the 49ers' defensive plays when he has played. The 49ers remained undefeated at 5-0, and they host Washington on Monday.
Ben Sinnott, TE – Washington Commanders
Sinnott, who is in his third season, made a tackle on punt coverage among his 13 special teams plays in addition to seeing time on 23 offensive snaps in Washington's 27-27 tie with the New York Giants. Sinnott has one catch for six yards in five games this season, seeing time on 147 offensive snaps and 61 special teams plays. The Commanders are now 1-3-1 prior to playing at San Francisco on Monday night.
Skylar Thompson, QB – Baltimore Ravens
In his fifth season overall and first with Baltimore, Thompson is on injured reserve. The Ravens collected a 30-23 win at Atlanta on Sunday night to improve to 4-1 prior to a game at Cleveland on Sunday.
Deuce Vaughn, RB – Houston Texans
In his third season, Vaughn is on the Texans' practice squad. Houston earned its first win of the season, a 26-3 victory at Tennessee to improve to 1-4. The Texans play Jacksonville in London, England, on Sunday.
Russ Yeast, S – Cincinnati Bengals
In his fourth season overall and second with the Bengals, Yeast was elevated from the practice squad for a second-straight week, recording a tackle on kickoff coverage among his 12 special teams plays to help Cincinnati earn a 31-24 win at Miami. The Bengals are 3-2 this season as they enter their bye week.
Felix Anudike-Uzomah, DE – Kansas City Chiefs
A first-round pick in 2023, Anudike-Uzomah and the Kansas City Chiefs were off last week. Anudike-Uzomah has totaled five tackles, two tackles for loss and three quarterback hits in four games this season. Kansas City, 4-0 on the season, comes out of its bye week to host the Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday.
Cooper Beebe, C – Dallas Cowboys
In his third season, Beebe logged the 32nd start of his career and played on all 60 offensive snaps during the Cowboys' 24-16 home loss to Tampa Bay on Thursday night. Through five games this season, Beebe has played on all 325 snaps for Dallas, which is 2-3 this season prior to playing at Green Bay on Sunday night.
JuJu Brents, CB – Miami Dolphins
Brents, who is in his fourth season overall and second with the Dolphins, made a second-straight start and the 13th of his career as he recorded six tackles and a pass breakup among his 40 defensive snaps during Miami's 31-24 home loss to Cincinnati. In five games this season, Brents has tallied 22 tackles, including one tackle for loss, and a pass breakup for the 0-5 Dolphins, who are off this week.
DJ Giddens, RB – Indianapolis Colts
In his second season, Giddens was active for the first time this season but did not play in Indianapolis' 34-22 loss at Pittsburgh. Falling to 2-3 this season, the Colts host Tennessee on Sunday.
Josh Hayes, DB – Tampa Bay Buccaneers
In his fourth season, Hayes is on injured reserve. Tampa Bay earned its first win of the year, a 24-16 victory at Dallas on Thursday night. The Buccaneers, now 1-4 this season, host Pittsburgh on Sunday.
Sam Hecht, C – Carolina Panthers
A fifth-round selection by Carolina in this year's draft, Hecht and the Panthers were off last week. Carolina, which is 2-2 this season, plays at Philadelphia on Sunday.
Timmy Horne, DT – Tennessee Titans
Horne, who is in his fourth season overall and second with Tennessee, is on the Titans' practice squad. Tennessee suffered a 26-3 home loss to Houston to drop to 0-5 this season, and the Titans play at Indianapolis on Sunday.
Easton Kilty, OL – New Orleans Saints
Kilty, a rookie free agent signee prior to the 2025 season, was elevated from the practice squad to see time on a pair of special teams plays during New Orleans' 23-13 home loss to Minnesota. The Saints, now 1-4 this season, play at the New York Giants on Sunday.
KT Leveston, OL – Cleveland Browns
In his third season, Leveston is on the Browns' practice squad. Cleveland lost, 17-12, at the New York Jets to drop to 3-2 this season, and the Browns host Baltimore on Sunday.
Jacob Parrish, CB – Tampa Bay Buccaneers
A third-round draft pick in 2025 by the Buccaneers, Parrish tallied the ninth start of his career and fourth this season, recording a team-high nine tackles and four pass breakups among his 58 defensive snaps to help Tampa Bay earn its first win of the year, a 24-16 Thursday-night victory at Dallas. Over his four games played this season, Parrish has logged 21 tackles, a tackle for loss, seven pass breakups and an interception. The 1-4 Buccaneers host Pittsburgh on Sunday.
VJ Payne, S – New York Jets
Payne, a seventh-round selection in this year's draft, is on injured reserve but is designated for return. The Jets picked up a 17-12 home victory over Cleveland to improve to 2-3 on the year prior to playing at New England on Sunday.
D.J. Reed, DB– Detroit Lions
In his ninth season overall and second with Detroit, Reed made the 86th start of his career, recording seven tackles – including three for loss – and a pass breakup among his 72 defensive snaps to help the Lions earn a 45-21 win at Arizona. In five games this season, Reed has logged 37 tackles, three tackles for loss and three pass breakups while playing on 97.6% of Detroit's defensive snaps. The Lions, who improved to 3-2, are off this week.
Dalton Risner, OL – Cincinnati Bengals
In his eighth season overall and second with the Bengals, Risner logged the 97th start of his career and was in for all 65 offensive snaps, helping Cincinnati pick up a 31-24 win at Miami. The Bengals improved to 3-2 entering their bye week.
Marques Sigle, S – San Francisco 49ers
Sigle, who is in his second season, was inactive for San Francisco's 32-29 win at Seattle. In his four games played this season, Sigle has tallied 26 tackles, including one for a loss, while playing on 87.2% of the 49ers' defensive plays when he has played. The 49ers remained undefeated at 5-0, and they host Washington on Monday.
Ben Sinnott, TE – Washington Commanders
Sinnott, who is in his third season, made a tackle on punt coverage among his 13 special teams plays in addition to seeing time on 23 offensive snaps in Washington's 27-27 tie with the New York Giants. Sinnott has one catch for six yards in five games this season, seeing time on 147 offensive snaps and 61 special teams plays. The Commanders are now 1-3-1 prior to playing at San Francisco on Monday night.
Skylar Thompson, QB – Baltimore Ravens
In his fifth season overall and first with Baltimore, Thompson is on injured reserve. The Ravens collected a 30-23 win at Atlanta on Sunday night to improve to 4-1 prior to a game at Cleveland on Sunday.
Deuce Vaughn, RB – Houston Texans
In his third season, Vaughn is on the Texans' practice squad. Houston earned its first win of the season, a 26-3 victory at Tennessee to improve to 1-4. The Texans play Jacksonville in London, England, on Sunday.
Russ Yeast, S – Cincinnati Bengals
In his fourth season overall and second with the Bengals, Yeast was elevated from the practice squad for a second-straight week, recording a tackle on kickoff coverage among his 12 special teams plays to help Cincinnati earn a 31-24 win at Miami. The Bengals are 3-2 this season as they enter their bye week.
– 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.
Monday, October 12
Sunday, October 11
Thursday, October 08
Monday, October 05
