Nov 03, 2026 | Football
MANHATTAN, Kan. – Each week throughout the 2026 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
Anudike-Uzomah, a first-round pick in 2023, made his seventh start of the season and 10th of his career, tallying three tackles among his 33 defensive snaps in Kansas City's 28-24 loss at Denver. Anudike-Uzomah has recorded 12 tackles – including two for a loss – and four quarterback hits among his 243 defensive snaps in eight games this season. The Chiefs dropped to 5-2 and host the New York Jets on Sunday.
Cooper Beebe, C – Dallas Cowboys
Beebe, who is in his third season, made his 35th-career start and was in for all 74 offensive snaps during Dallas' 33-30 home overtime loss to Arizona. Beebe has played on all 545 offensive snaps this year for the Cowboys, who fell to 3-5 before playing at Indianapolis on Sunday.
JuJu Brents, CB – Miami Dolphins
In his fourth overall season and second in Miami, Brents logged his fourth-straight start and recorded three tackles and a fumble recovery among his 50 defensive snaps in the Dolphins' 24-19 home loss to New England. Brents has carded 26 tackles, one tackle for loss, a pass breakup and a fumble recovery over his 306 defensive snaps in seven games this season. Miami dropped to 1-6, and it hosts Detroit on Sunday.
DJ Giddens, RB – Indianapolis Colts
Giddens, who is in his second season, rushed six times for 43 yards – an average of 7.2 yards per carry – with a long of 12 yards among his eight offensive snaps during Indianapolis' 42-7 loss at Jacksonville. It was the first time Giddens played this season for the 2-6 Colts, who host Dallas on Sunday.
Josh Hayes, DB – Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Hayes, who is in his fourth season, is on injured reserve. The Buccaneers earned a 16-0 home victory over Atlanta on Sunday to improve to 3-5, and they play at Chicago on Sunday night.
Sam Hecht, C – Carolina Panthers
Hecht, a fifth-round selection by Carolina in this year's draft, saw time on five special teams plays during the Panthers' 27-19 loss at Green Bay on Thursday night. Hecht has seen time on 31 special teams plays and 11 offensive snaps in six games this season for the 3-4 Panthers, who host Denver on Sunday.
Timmy Horne, DT – Tennessee Titans
In his fourth season overall and second with Tennessee, Horne made three tackles among his 30 defensive snaps during Tennessee's 43-36 overtime loss at Cincinnati. In three games this year, Horne has carded eight tackles among his 70 defensive snaps. The Titans, who are 1-7, are off this week.
Easton Kilty, OL – New Orleans Saints
Kilty, a rookie free agent signee prior to the 2025 season, and the Saints were off last week. Kilty has been elevated from the practice squad for two games this year, seeing time on five special teams plays for New Orleans, which is 2-5 and hosts Cleveland on Sunday.
KT Leveston, OL – Cleveland Browns
Leveston, who is in his third season, is on Cleveland's practice squad. The Browns fell to 5-3 with a 27-6 loss at Pittsburgh, and they play at New Orleans on Sunday.
Jacob Parrish, CB – Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Parrish, a third-round draft pick in 2025 by Tampa Bay, logged the 12th start of his career and seventh this year, tallying seven tackles – including one for a loss – an interception, and a pass breakup among his 51 defensive snaps to help the Buccaneers pick up a 16-0 home win over Atlanta. In eight games this season, Parrish has logged 36 tackles, three tackles for loss, a league-leading 13 passes defended and two interceptions over 381 defensive snaps. Tampa Bay, now 3-5, plays at Chicago on Sunday night.
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 suffered a 38-33 home loss to Las Vegas to drop to 2-6 prior to a game at Kansas City on Sunday.
D.J. Reed, DB– Detroit Lions
In his ninth season overall and second with Detroit, Reed logged the 88th start of his career, recording a tackle, an interception and two other pass breakups among his 42 defensive snaps to help the Lions pick up a 19-15 home win over Detroit. Reed has registered 42 tackles, three tackles for loss, an interception and six pass breakups while playing on 94.8% of Detroit's defensive snaps in eight games this season. The Lions are now 5-2 and play at Miami on Sunday.
Dalton Risner, OL – Cincinnati Bengals
Risner, who is in his eighth season overall and second with Cincinnati, logged the 99th regular-season start of his career and was in for all 74 offensive snaps in Cincinnati's 43-36 home overtime victory over Tennessee. Risner has played on 99.3% of the offensive snaps this year for the Bengals, who are now 5-2 before playing Atlanta in Madrid, Spain, on Sunday.
Marques Sigle, S – San Francisco 49ers
In his second season, Sigle and the 49ers were off last week. He has played in four games this year, recording 26 tackles and one for a loss, for San Francisco, which is 6-1 and hosts Las Vegas on Sunday.
Ben Sinnott, TE – Washington Commanders
Sinnott saw time on 16 offensive snaps and six special teams plays to help Washington pick up a 27-10 home win over Philadelphia on Sunday night. In eight games – including three starts – Sinnott has one catch for six yards among his 181 offensive snaps while also seeing time on 79 special teams plays for the 2-4-1 Commanders, who host the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday.
Skylar Thompson, QB – Baltimore Ravens
Thompson, who is in his fifth season overall and first with the Ravens, Thompson is on injured reserve. Baltimore suffered a 36-10 loss at Buffalo to fall to 4-4, and the Ravens host Jacksonville on Thursday night.
Russ Yeast, S – Cincinnati Bengals
Yeast made a tackle on kickoff coverage among his 19 special teams plays, helping Cincinnati earn a 43-36 home overtime victory over Tennessee. Yeast has played in three games this year, seeing time on 21 defensive snaps and 40 special teams plays for the 5-2 Bengals, who play Atlanta in Madrid, Spain, on Sunday.
Felix Anudike-Uzomah, DE – Kansas City Chiefs
Anudike-Uzomah, a first-round pick in 2023, made his seventh start of the season and 10th of his career, tallying three tackles among his 33 defensive snaps in Kansas City's 28-24 loss at Denver. Anudike-Uzomah has recorded 12 tackles – including two for a loss – and four quarterback hits among his 243 defensive snaps in eight games this season. The Chiefs dropped to 5-2 and host the New York Jets on Sunday.
Cooper Beebe, C – Dallas Cowboys
Beebe, who is in his third season, made his 35th-career start and was in for all 74 offensive snaps during Dallas' 33-30 home overtime loss to Arizona. Beebe has played on all 545 offensive snaps this year for the Cowboys, who fell to 3-5 before playing at Indianapolis on Sunday.
JuJu Brents, CB – Miami Dolphins
In his fourth overall season and second in Miami, Brents logged his fourth-straight start and recorded three tackles and a fumble recovery among his 50 defensive snaps in the Dolphins' 24-19 home loss to New England. Brents has carded 26 tackles, one tackle for loss, a pass breakup and a fumble recovery over his 306 defensive snaps in seven games this season. Miami dropped to 1-6, and it hosts Detroit on Sunday.
DJ Giddens, RB – Indianapolis Colts
Giddens, who is in his second season, rushed six times for 43 yards – an average of 7.2 yards per carry – with a long of 12 yards among his eight offensive snaps during Indianapolis' 42-7 loss at Jacksonville. It was the first time Giddens played this season for the 2-6 Colts, who host Dallas on Sunday.
Josh Hayes, DB – Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Hayes, who is in his fourth season, is on injured reserve. The Buccaneers earned a 16-0 home victory over Atlanta on Sunday to improve to 3-5, and they play at Chicago on Sunday night.
Sam Hecht, C – Carolina Panthers
Hecht, a fifth-round selection by Carolina in this year's draft, saw time on five special teams plays during the Panthers' 27-19 loss at Green Bay on Thursday night. Hecht has seen time on 31 special teams plays and 11 offensive snaps in six games this season for the 3-4 Panthers, who host Denver on Sunday.
Timmy Horne, DT – Tennessee Titans
In his fourth season overall and second with Tennessee, Horne made three tackles among his 30 defensive snaps during Tennessee's 43-36 overtime loss at Cincinnati. In three games this year, Horne has carded eight tackles among his 70 defensive snaps. The Titans, who are 1-7, are off this week.
Easton Kilty, OL – New Orleans Saints
Kilty, a rookie free agent signee prior to the 2025 season, and the Saints were off last week. Kilty has been elevated from the practice squad for two games this year, seeing time on five special teams plays for New Orleans, which is 2-5 and hosts Cleveland on Sunday.
KT Leveston, OL – Cleveland Browns
Leveston, who is in his third season, is on Cleveland's practice squad. The Browns fell to 5-3 with a 27-6 loss at Pittsburgh, and they play at New Orleans on Sunday.
Jacob Parrish, CB – Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Parrish, a third-round draft pick in 2025 by Tampa Bay, logged the 12th start of his career and seventh this year, tallying seven tackles – including one for a loss – an interception, and a pass breakup among his 51 defensive snaps to help the Buccaneers pick up a 16-0 home win over Atlanta. In eight games this season, Parrish has logged 36 tackles, three tackles for loss, a league-leading 13 passes defended and two interceptions over 381 defensive snaps. Tampa Bay, now 3-5, plays at Chicago on Sunday night.
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 suffered a 38-33 home loss to Las Vegas to drop to 2-6 prior to a game at Kansas City on Sunday.
D.J. Reed, DB– Detroit Lions
In his ninth season overall and second with Detroit, Reed logged the 88th start of his career, recording a tackle, an interception and two other pass breakups among his 42 defensive snaps to help the Lions pick up a 19-15 home win over Detroit. Reed has registered 42 tackles, three tackles for loss, an interception and six pass breakups while playing on 94.8% of Detroit's defensive snaps in eight games this season. The Lions are now 5-2 and play at Miami on Sunday.
Dalton Risner, OL – Cincinnati Bengals
Risner, who is in his eighth season overall and second with Cincinnati, logged the 99th regular-season start of his career and was in for all 74 offensive snaps in Cincinnati's 43-36 home overtime victory over Tennessee. Risner has played on 99.3% of the offensive snaps this year for the Bengals, who are now 5-2 before playing Atlanta in Madrid, Spain, on Sunday.
Marques Sigle, S – San Francisco 49ers
In his second season, Sigle and the 49ers were off last week. He has played in four games this year, recording 26 tackles and one for a loss, for San Francisco, which is 6-1 and hosts Las Vegas on Sunday.
Ben Sinnott, TE – Washington Commanders
Sinnott saw time on 16 offensive snaps and six special teams plays to help Washington pick up a 27-10 home win over Philadelphia on Sunday night. In eight games – including three starts – Sinnott has one catch for six yards among his 181 offensive snaps while also seeing time on 79 special teams plays for the 2-4-1 Commanders, who host the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday.
Skylar Thompson, QB – Baltimore Ravens
Thompson, who is in his fifth season overall and first with the Ravens, Thompson is on injured reserve. Baltimore suffered a 36-10 loss at Buffalo to fall to 4-4, and the Ravens host Jacksonville on Thursday night.
Russ Yeast, S – Cincinnati Bengals
Yeast made a tackle on kickoff coverage among his 19 special teams plays, helping Cincinnati earn a 43-36 home overtime victory over Tennessee. Yeast has played in three games this year, seeing time on 21 defensive snaps and 40 special teams plays for the 5-2 Bengals, who play Atlanta in Madrid, Spain, 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, November 02
Friday, October 30
Monday, October 26
Monday, October 19
