Oct 20, 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
Anudike-Uzomah, a first-round pick in 2023, made his fifth start of the season and eighth of his career, coming away with four tackles and a quarterback hit among his 41 defensive snaps in Kansas City's 22-6 home win over the Los Angeles Chargers. In five games this season, Anudike-Uzomah has tallied nine tackles – including two for a loss – and four quarterback hits among his 172 defensive snaps for the 5-0 Chiefs, who play at Seattle on Sunday night.
Cooper Beebe, C – Dallas Cowboys
Beebe, who is in his third season, registered the 33rd start of his career and played on all 78 offensive snaps in Dallas' 23-13 Sunday-night loss at Green Bay. Beebe has played on all 403 snaps in six games this season for the Cowboys, who are 2-4 this season prior to playing on Monday night at Philadelphia.
JuJu Brents, CB – Miami Dolphins
In his fourth season overall and second with Miami, Brents and the Dolphins were off last week. Miami, which is 0-5 this season, plays at the New York Jets on Sunday.
DJ Giddens, RB – Indianapolis Colts
Giddens, who is in his second season, was active but did not play during the Colts' 26-20 home loss to Tennessee. Now 2-4 this season, Indianapolis travels to face Minnesota on Sunday.
Josh Hayes, DB – Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Hayes, who is in his fourth season, is on injured reserve. The Buccaneers suffered a 26-19 overtime home loss to Pittsburgh to drop to 1-5 this season, and they play at Carolina on Sunday.
Sam Hecht, C – Carolina Panthers
Hecht, a fifth-round selection by the Panthers in this year's draft, saw time on four special teams plays during Carolina's 25-14 win at Philadelphia. The victory improved the Panthers' record to 3-2 this season prior to hosting Tampa Bay on Sunday.
Timmy Horne, DT – Tennessee Titans
In his fourth season overall and second with the Titans, Horne was elevated from Tennessee's practice squad, recording two tackles among his 25 defensive snaps and helping the Titans earn their first victory of the season with a 26-20 win at Indianapolis. Now 1-5 this season, Tennessee hosts Cleveland on Sunday.
Easton Kilty, OL – New Orleans Saints
A rookie free agent signee prior to the 2025 season, Kilty is on New Orleans' practice squad. The Saints picked up a 34-27 win at the New York Giants to improve to 2-4 this season, and they play Pittsburgh in Paris, France, on Sunday morning.
KT Leveston, OL – Cleveland Browns
Leveston, who is in his third season, is on Cleveland's practice squad. The Browns recorded a 13-10 home win over Baltimore to improve to 4-2 this season, and they play at Tennessee on Sunday.
Jacob Parrish, CB – Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Parrish, a third-round draft pick in 2025 by Tampa Bay, recorded the 10th start of his career and fifth this season as he tallied six tackles – including a tackle for loss – and two pass breakups among his 78 defensive snaps in the Buccaneers' 26-19 overtime home loss to Pittsburgh. Parrish has registered 27 tackles, two tackles for loss, eight pass breakups and an interception in six games this year for the 1-5 Buccaneers, who play at Carolina on Sunday.
VJ Payne, S – New York Jets
A seventh-round selection in this year's draft, Payne is on injured reserve but is designated for return. New York lost at New England, 26-19, to drop to 2-4 this season, and the Jets host Miami on Sunday.
D.J. Reed, DB– Detroit Lions
In his ninth season overall and second with Detroit, Reed and the Lions were off last week. Detroit, which is 3-2 this season, hosts Green Bay on Sunday.
Dalton Risner, OL – Cincinnati Bengals
Risner and the Bengals were off last week. Cincinnati holds a 3-2 record this season and travels to face Baltimore on Sunday.
Marques Sigle, S – San Francisco 49ers
In his second season, Sigle was inactive during the 49ers' 23-17 home win over Washington on Monday night. 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. San Francisco remained undefeated at 6-0, and the 49ers play at Atlanta on Sunday.
Ben Sinnott, TE – Washington Commanders
In his third season, Sinnott saw time on 18 offensive snaps and 12 special teams plays during the Commanders' 23-17 Monday-night loss at San Francisco. In six games this season, Sinnott has one catch for six yards, seeing time on 165 offensive snaps and 73 special teams plays. Washington fell to 1-4-1 on the season as it enters its bye week.
Skylar Thompson, QB – Baltimore Ravens
Thompson, who is in his fifth season overall and first with the Ravens, is on injured reserve. Baltimore fell to 4-2 this season with a 13-10 loss at Cleveland, and the Ravens host Cincinnati on Sunday.
Deuce Vaughn, RB – Houston Texans
Vaughn, who is in his third season, is on Houston's practice squad. The Texans earned a 34-31 win over Jacksonville in London, England, to improve to 2-4 on the year, and they host the New York Giants on Sunday.
Russ Yeast, S – Cincinnati Bengals
Yeast and the Bengals were off last week. At 3-2, Cincinnati comes out of its bye with a game at Baltimore on Sunday.
Felix Anudike-Uzomah, DE – Kansas City Chiefs
Anudike-Uzomah, a first-round pick in 2023, made his fifth start of the season and eighth of his career, coming away with four tackles and a quarterback hit among his 41 defensive snaps in Kansas City's 22-6 home win over the Los Angeles Chargers. In five games this season, Anudike-Uzomah has tallied nine tackles – including two for a loss – and four quarterback hits among his 172 defensive snaps for the 5-0 Chiefs, who play at Seattle on Sunday night.
Cooper Beebe, C – Dallas Cowboys
Beebe, who is in his third season, registered the 33rd start of his career and played on all 78 offensive snaps in Dallas' 23-13 Sunday-night loss at Green Bay. Beebe has played on all 403 snaps in six games this season for the Cowboys, who are 2-4 this season prior to playing on Monday night at Philadelphia.
JuJu Brents, CB – Miami Dolphins
In his fourth season overall and second with Miami, Brents and the Dolphins were off last week. Miami, which is 0-5 this season, plays at the New York Jets on Sunday.
DJ Giddens, RB – Indianapolis Colts
Giddens, who is in his second season, was active but did not play during the Colts' 26-20 home loss to Tennessee. Now 2-4 this season, Indianapolis travels to face Minnesota on Sunday.
Josh Hayes, DB – Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Hayes, who is in his fourth season, is on injured reserve. The Buccaneers suffered a 26-19 overtime home loss to Pittsburgh to drop to 1-5 this season, and they play at Carolina on Sunday.
Sam Hecht, C – Carolina Panthers
Hecht, a fifth-round selection by the Panthers in this year's draft, saw time on four special teams plays during Carolina's 25-14 win at Philadelphia. The victory improved the Panthers' record to 3-2 this season prior to hosting Tampa Bay on Sunday.
Timmy Horne, DT – Tennessee Titans
In his fourth season overall and second with the Titans, Horne was elevated from Tennessee's practice squad, recording two tackles among his 25 defensive snaps and helping the Titans earn their first victory of the season with a 26-20 win at Indianapolis. Now 1-5 this season, Tennessee hosts Cleveland on Sunday.
Easton Kilty, OL – New Orleans Saints
A rookie free agent signee prior to the 2025 season, Kilty is on New Orleans' practice squad. The Saints picked up a 34-27 win at the New York Giants to improve to 2-4 this season, and they play Pittsburgh in Paris, France, on Sunday morning.
KT Leveston, OL – Cleveland Browns
Leveston, who is in his third season, is on Cleveland's practice squad. The Browns recorded a 13-10 home win over Baltimore to improve to 4-2 this season, and they play at Tennessee on Sunday.
Jacob Parrish, CB – Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Parrish, a third-round draft pick in 2025 by Tampa Bay, recorded the 10th start of his career and fifth this season as he tallied six tackles – including a tackle for loss – and two pass breakups among his 78 defensive snaps in the Buccaneers' 26-19 overtime home loss to Pittsburgh. Parrish has registered 27 tackles, two tackles for loss, eight pass breakups and an interception in six games this year for the 1-5 Buccaneers, who play at Carolina on Sunday.
VJ Payne, S – New York Jets
A seventh-round selection in this year's draft, Payne is on injured reserve but is designated for return. New York lost at New England, 26-19, to drop to 2-4 this season, and the Jets host Miami on Sunday.
D.J. Reed, DB– Detroit Lions
In his ninth season overall and second with Detroit, Reed and the Lions were off last week. Detroit, which is 3-2 this season, hosts Green Bay on Sunday.
Dalton Risner, OL – Cincinnati Bengals
Risner and the Bengals were off last week. Cincinnati holds a 3-2 record this season and travels to face Baltimore on Sunday.
Marques Sigle, S – San Francisco 49ers
In his second season, Sigle was inactive during the 49ers' 23-17 home win over Washington on Monday night. 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. San Francisco remained undefeated at 6-0, and the 49ers play at Atlanta on Sunday.
Ben Sinnott, TE – Washington Commanders
In his third season, Sinnott saw time on 18 offensive snaps and 12 special teams plays during the Commanders' 23-17 Monday-night loss at San Francisco. In six games this season, Sinnott has one catch for six yards, seeing time on 165 offensive snaps and 73 special teams plays. Washington fell to 1-4-1 on the season as it enters its bye week.
Skylar Thompson, QB – Baltimore Ravens
Thompson, who is in his fifth season overall and first with the Ravens, is on injured reserve. Baltimore fell to 4-2 this season with a 13-10 loss at Cleveland, and the Ravens host Cincinnati on Sunday.
Deuce Vaughn, RB – Houston Texans
Vaughn, who is in his third season, is on Houston's practice squad. The Texans earned a 34-31 win over Jacksonville in London, England, to improve to 2-4 on the year, and they host the New York Giants on Sunday.
Russ Yeast, S – Cincinnati Bengals
Yeast and the Bengals were off last week. At 3-2, Cincinnati comes out of its bye with a game at Baltimore on Sunday.
– 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 19
Saturday, October 17
Saturday, October 17
Thursday, October 15
