Oct 27, 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 recorded his sixth start of the season and ninth of his career as he was in for 38 defensive snaps in the Chiefs' 20-3 loss at Seattle. Through six games this season, Anudike-Uzomah has tallied nine tackles – including two for a loss – and four quarterback hits among his 210 defensive snaps. Kansas City fell to 5-1 this season prior to a game at Denver on Sunday.
Cooper Beebe, C – Dallas Cowboys
In his third season, Beebe made the 34th start of his career and was in for all 68 offensive snaps, helping the Cowboys rush for 204 yards in their 38-21 win at Philadelphia on Monday night. Beebe has played on all 471 offensive snaps for Dallas this year, which improved to 3-4 this season before a home game against Arizona on Sunday.
JuJu Brents, CB – Miami Dolphins
Brents, who is in his fourth season overall and second with the Dolphins, made his third-straight start and tallied one tackle among his 53 defensive snaps in Miami's 28-25 win at the New York Jets. In six games this season, Brents has 23 tackles, one tackle for loss and a pass breakup. The Dolphins earned their first win of the season, and they stand at 1-5 before hosting New England on Sunday.
DJ Giddens, RB – Indianapolis Colts
In his second season, Giddens was active but did not play in Indianapolis' 16-10 loss at Minnesota. The Colts are now 2-5 this season prior to a game at Jacksonville on Sunday.
Josh Hayes, DB – Tampa Bay Buccaneers
In his fourth season, Hayes is on injured reserve. Tampa Bay moved to 2-5 with a 43-13 win over Carolina, and the Buccaneers host Atlanta on Sunday.
Sam Hecht, C – Carolina Panthers
A fifth-round selection by the Panthers in this year's draft, Hecht was inactive for the Panthers' 43-13 home loss to Tampa Bay. Carolina dropped to 3-3 on the year, and it plays at Green Bay on Thursday night.
Timmy Horne, DT – Tennessee Titans
Horne, who is in his fourth season overall and second with Tennessee, was signed to the Titans' active roster on Saturday before making three tackles among his 15 defensive snaps in a 27-24 home loss to Cleveland. Horne has five tackles in two games this season over 40 defensive snaps. The Titans fell to 1-6, and they play at Cincinnati on Sunday.
Easton Kilty, OL – New Orleans Saints
Kilty, a rookie free agent signee prior to the 2025 season, was elevated to New Orleans' practice squad prior to a 16-10 loss to Pittsburgh in Paris, France, a game in which he saw time on three special teams plays. Kilty has been elevated from the practice squad for two games this season, totaling five special teams plays for the 2-5 Saints, who are off this week.
KT Leveston, OL – Cleveland Browns
In his third season, Leveston is on the Browns' practice squad. Cleveland improved to 5-2 on the year with a 27-24 win at Tennessee, and the Browns play at Pittsburgh on Sunday.
Jacob Parrish, CB – Tampa Bay Buccaneers
A third-round draft pick in 2025 by the Buccaneers, Parrish registered the 11th start of his career and sixth this season as he recorded a pair of tackles and two pass breakups while playing on all 56 defensive snaps in Tampa Bay's 43-13 win at Carolina. Parrish has tallied 29 tackles, two tackles for loss, a league-leading 11 passes defended and an interception in seven games this year. The Buccaneers moved to 2-5 prior to hosting Atlanta 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 lost at home to Miami, 28-25, to fall to 2-5 this season before hosting Las Vegas on Sunday.
D.J. Reed, DB– Detroit Lions
Reed, who is in his ninth season overall and second with Detroit, registered the 87th start of his career as he totaled four tackles and a pass breakup among his 61 defensive snaps in the Lions' 20-17 home victory over Green Bay. Through six games, Reed has collected 41 tackles, three tackles for loss and four pass breakups while playing on 96.6% of the Lions' defensive snaps. Detroit improved to 4-2 this season and hosts Minnesota on Sunday.
Dalton Risner, OL – Cincinnati Bengals
In his eighth season overall and second with Cincinnati, Risner made the 98th start of his career and played on 50 offensive snaps to help the Bengals earn a 35-13 win at Baltimore. Risner has played on 99.2% of the offensive snaps this season for Cincinnati, which improved to 4-2 and hosts Tennessee on Sunday.
Marques Sigle, S – San Francisco 49ers
Sigle, who is in his second season, was inactive for San Francisco's 29-20 loss at Atlanta. Sigle has played in four games this season, recording 26 tackles and one for a loss. The 49ers suffered their first loss to drop to 6-1 as they enter their bye week.
Ben Sinnott, TE – Washington Commanders
Sinnott and the Commanders were off last week. Washington holds a 1-4-1 record prior to hosting Philadelphia on Sunday night.
Skylar Thompson, QB – Baltimore Ravens
In his fifth season overall and first in Baltimore, Thompson is on injured reserve. The Ravens dropped to 4-3 on the year with a 35-13 home loss to Cincinnati, and they play at Buffalo on Sunday.
Deuce Vaughn, RB – Houston Texans
In his third season, Vaughn is on the Texans' practice squad. Houston fell to 2-5 with a 27-21 home loss to the New York Giants as the Texans enter their bye week.
Russ Yeast, S – Cincinnati Bengals
Yeast was signed off the practice squad last Tuesday but was inactive for the Bengals' 35-13 win at Baltimore. Cincinnati, now 4-2 this year, hosts Tennessee on Sunday.
Felix Anudike-Uzomah, DE – Kansas City Chiefs
A first-round pick in 2023, Anudike-Uzomah recorded his sixth start of the season and ninth of his career as he was in for 38 defensive snaps in the Chiefs' 20-3 loss at Seattle. Through six games this season, Anudike-Uzomah has tallied nine tackles – including two for a loss – and four quarterback hits among his 210 defensive snaps. Kansas City fell to 5-1 this season prior to a game at Denver on Sunday.
Cooper Beebe, C – Dallas Cowboys
In his third season, Beebe made the 34th start of his career and was in for all 68 offensive snaps, helping the Cowboys rush for 204 yards in their 38-21 win at Philadelphia on Monday night. Beebe has played on all 471 offensive snaps for Dallas this year, which improved to 3-4 this season before a home game against Arizona on Sunday.
JuJu Brents, CB – Miami Dolphins
Brents, who is in his fourth season overall and second with the Dolphins, made his third-straight start and tallied one tackle among his 53 defensive snaps in Miami's 28-25 win at the New York Jets. In six games this season, Brents has 23 tackles, one tackle for loss and a pass breakup. The Dolphins earned their first win of the season, and they stand at 1-5 before hosting New England on Sunday.
DJ Giddens, RB – Indianapolis Colts
In his second season, Giddens was active but did not play in Indianapolis' 16-10 loss at Minnesota. The Colts are now 2-5 this season prior to a game at Jacksonville on Sunday.
Josh Hayes, DB – Tampa Bay Buccaneers
In his fourth season, Hayes is on injured reserve. Tampa Bay moved to 2-5 with a 43-13 win over Carolina, and the Buccaneers host Atlanta on Sunday.
Sam Hecht, C – Carolina Panthers
A fifth-round selection by the Panthers in this year's draft, Hecht was inactive for the Panthers' 43-13 home loss to Tampa Bay. Carolina dropped to 3-3 on the year, and it plays at Green Bay on Thursday night.
Timmy Horne, DT – Tennessee Titans
Horne, who is in his fourth season overall and second with Tennessee, was signed to the Titans' active roster on Saturday before making three tackles among his 15 defensive snaps in a 27-24 home loss to Cleveland. Horne has five tackles in two games this season over 40 defensive snaps. The Titans fell to 1-6, and they play at Cincinnati on Sunday.
Easton Kilty, OL – New Orleans Saints
Kilty, a rookie free agent signee prior to the 2025 season, was elevated to New Orleans' practice squad prior to a 16-10 loss to Pittsburgh in Paris, France, a game in which he saw time on three special teams plays. Kilty has been elevated from the practice squad for two games this season, totaling five special teams plays for the 2-5 Saints, who are off this week.
KT Leveston, OL – Cleveland Browns
In his third season, Leveston is on the Browns' practice squad. Cleveland improved to 5-2 on the year with a 27-24 win at Tennessee, and the Browns play at Pittsburgh on Sunday.
Jacob Parrish, CB – Tampa Bay Buccaneers
A third-round draft pick in 2025 by the Buccaneers, Parrish registered the 11th start of his career and sixth this season as he recorded a pair of tackles and two pass breakups while playing on all 56 defensive snaps in Tampa Bay's 43-13 win at Carolina. Parrish has tallied 29 tackles, two tackles for loss, a league-leading 11 passes defended and an interception in seven games this year. The Buccaneers moved to 2-5 prior to hosting Atlanta 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 lost at home to Miami, 28-25, to fall to 2-5 this season before hosting Las Vegas on Sunday.
D.J. Reed, DB– Detroit Lions
Reed, who is in his ninth season overall and second with Detroit, registered the 87th start of his career as he totaled four tackles and a pass breakup among his 61 defensive snaps in the Lions' 20-17 home victory over Green Bay. Through six games, Reed has collected 41 tackles, three tackles for loss and four pass breakups while playing on 96.6% of the Lions' defensive snaps. Detroit improved to 4-2 this season and hosts Minnesota on Sunday.
Dalton Risner, OL – Cincinnati Bengals
In his eighth season overall and second with Cincinnati, Risner made the 98th start of his career and played on 50 offensive snaps to help the Bengals earn a 35-13 win at Baltimore. Risner has played on 99.2% of the offensive snaps this season for Cincinnati, which improved to 4-2 and hosts Tennessee on Sunday.
Marques Sigle, S – San Francisco 49ers
Sigle, who is in his second season, was inactive for San Francisco's 29-20 loss at Atlanta. Sigle has played in four games this season, recording 26 tackles and one for a loss. The 49ers suffered their first loss to drop to 6-1 as they enter their bye week.
Ben Sinnott, TE – Washington Commanders
Sinnott and the Commanders were off last week. Washington holds a 1-4-1 record prior to hosting Philadelphia on Sunday night.
Skylar Thompson, QB – Baltimore Ravens
In his fifth season overall and first in Baltimore, Thompson is on injured reserve. The Ravens dropped to 4-3 on the year with a 35-13 home loss to Cincinnati, and they play at Buffalo on Sunday.
Deuce Vaughn, RB – Houston Texans
In his third season, Vaughn is on the Texans' practice squad. Houston fell to 2-5 with a 27-21 home loss to the New York Giants as the Texans enter their bye week.
Russ Yeast, S – Cincinnati Bengals
Yeast was signed off the practice squad last Tuesday but was inactive for the Bengals' 35-13 win at Baltimore. Cincinnati, now 4-2 this year, hosts Tennessee 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 26
Monday, October 19
Saturday, October 17
Saturday, October 17
