Wildcats in the NFL – Week 1
Sep 16, 2026 | Football
MANHATTAN, Kan. – Each week throughout the 2026 season, k-statesports.com recaps the action for the 17former Kansas State football players currently in the NFL.
Felix Anudike-Uzomah, DE – Kansas City Chiefs
A first-round pick in 2023, Anudike-Uzomah logged the fourth start of his career and came away with a sack and a forced fumble among his 28 defensive snaps in Kansas City's 31-10 Monday-night home victory over Denver. The Chiefs host Indianapolis on Sunday night.
Cooper Beebe, C – Dallas Cowboys
In his third NFL season, Beebe made the 28th start of his career and was in for all 58 snaps of the Cowboys' 28-20 loss at the New York Giants on Sunday night. Dallas hosts Washington on Sunday.
JuJu Brents, CB – Miami Dolphins
Brents, who is now in his fourth season and second in Miami, came off the bench to tally four tackles – including one for a loss – in the Dolphins' 27-23 defeat at Las Vegas. Miami remains on the road as it plays at San Francisco on Sunday.
DJ Giddens, RB – Indianapolis Colts
Giddens, who is in his second season, was inactive for the Colts' 41-23 home loss to Baltimore, and Indianapolis plays at Kansas City on Sunday night.
Josh Hayes, DB – Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Entering his fourth season, Hayes is on injured reserve. Tampa Bay suffered a 33-27 loss at Cincinnati, and the Buccaneers have their home opener on Sunday against Cleveland.
Sam Hecht, C – Carolina Panthers
A fifth-round selection by Carolina in this year's draft, Hecht saw action on seven offensive snaps and six special teams plays in the Panthers' 59-37 home loss to Chicago. Carolina travels to take on Atlanta in Week 2.
Timmy Horne, DT – Tennessee Titans
Horne, who is in his fourth NFL season, is on the Titans' practice squad. Tennessee lost at home to the New York Jets, 23-10, and hosts Philadelphia on Sunday.
Easton Kilty, OL – New Orleans Saints
Kilty, who was a rookie free agent signee prior to the 2025 season, is on New Orleans' practice squad. The Saints lost at Detroit, 31-30, in overtime, and they play at Baltimore on Sunday.
KT Leveston, OL – Cleveland Browns
In his third NFL season, Leveston is on the Browns' practice squad. Cleveland lost at Jacksonville, 34-10, and plays at Tampa Bay on Sunday.
Jacob Parrish, CB – Tampa Bay Buccaneers
A third-round draft pick in 2025 by the Buccaneers, Parrish made the sixth start of his career, and he posted two tackles and a pass breakup in Tampa Bay's 33-27 loss at Cincinnati. The Buccaneers host Cleveland on Sunday.
VJ Payne, S – New York Jets
Payne, a seventh-round selection in this year's draft, has begun his rookie campaign on injured reserve. The Jets earned a 23-10 road victory at Tennessee, and they host Green Bay on Sunday.
D.J. Reed, DB – Detroit Lions
In his ninth season and second with Detroit, Reed made the 82nd start of his career and was the Lions' leading tackler with 10 stops to go along with a pass breakup among his 85 defensive snaps in Detroit's 31-30 overtime home victory over New Orleans. The Lions turn around and play at Buffalo on Thursday night.
Dalton Risner, OL – Cincinnati Bengals
In his eighth NFL season and second with Cincinnati, Risner recorded the 93rd start of his career and was in for all 64 offensive snaps of the Bengals' 33-27 home win over Tampa Bay. Cincinnati travels to face Houston on Sunday.
Marques Sigle, S – San Francisco 49ers
Sigle, who begins his second NFL season, made his eighth career start and came away with nine tackles to help the 49ers earn a 27-7 victory over the Los Angeles Rams on Thursday night (Friday morning local) in Melbourne, Australia. San Francisco hosts Miami on Sunday.
Ben Sinnott, TE – Washington Commanders
Sinnott, who is in his third season, saw time on 18 offensive snaps and 16 special teams plays during Washington's narrow 24-22 loss at Philadelphia. The Commanders remain on the road as they face Dallas on Sunday.
Skylar Thompson, QB – Baltimore Ravens
In his fifth season and first with Baltimore, Thompson is on injured reserve. The Ravens opened the year with a 41-23 win at Indianapolis before hosting New Orleans on Sunday.
Russ Yeast, S – Cincinnati Bengals
In his fourth NFL season and second with Cincinnati, Yeast is on the Bengals' practice squad. Cincinnati earned a 33-27 home win over Tampa Bay and travels to face Houston on Sunday.
Felix Anudike-Uzomah, DE – Kansas City Chiefs
A first-round pick in 2023, Anudike-Uzomah logged the fourth start of his career and came away with a sack and a forced fumble among his 28 defensive snaps in Kansas City's 31-10 Monday-night home victory over Denver. The Chiefs host Indianapolis on Sunday night.
Cooper Beebe, C – Dallas Cowboys
In his third NFL season, Beebe made the 28th start of his career and was in for all 58 snaps of the Cowboys' 28-20 loss at the New York Giants on Sunday night. Dallas hosts Washington on Sunday.
JuJu Brents, CB – Miami Dolphins
Brents, who is now in his fourth season and second in Miami, came off the bench to tally four tackles – including one for a loss – in the Dolphins' 27-23 defeat at Las Vegas. Miami remains on the road as it plays at San Francisco on Sunday.
DJ Giddens, RB – Indianapolis Colts
Giddens, who is in his second season, was inactive for the Colts' 41-23 home loss to Baltimore, and Indianapolis plays at Kansas City on Sunday night.
Josh Hayes, DB – Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Entering his fourth season, Hayes is on injured reserve. Tampa Bay suffered a 33-27 loss at Cincinnati, and the Buccaneers have their home opener on Sunday against Cleveland.
Sam Hecht, C – Carolina Panthers
A fifth-round selection by Carolina in this year's draft, Hecht saw action on seven offensive snaps and six special teams plays in the Panthers' 59-37 home loss to Chicago. Carolina travels to take on Atlanta in Week 2.
Timmy Horne, DT – Tennessee Titans
Horne, who is in his fourth NFL season, is on the Titans' practice squad. Tennessee lost at home to the New York Jets, 23-10, and hosts Philadelphia on Sunday.
Easton Kilty, OL – New Orleans Saints
Kilty, who was a rookie free agent signee prior to the 2025 season, is on New Orleans' practice squad. The Saints lost at Detroit, 31-30, in overtime, and they play at Baltimore on Sunday.
KT Leveston, OL – Cleveland Browns
In his third NFL season, Leveston is on the Browns' practice squad. Cleveland lost at Jacksonville, 34-10, and plays at Tampa Bay on Sunday.
Jacob Parrish, CB – Tampa Bay Buccaneers
A third-round draft pick in 2025 by the Buccaneers, Parrish made the sixth start of his career, and he posted two tackles and a pass breakup in Tampa Bay's 33-27 loss at Cincinnati. The Buccaneers host Cleveland on Sunday.
VJ Payne, S – New York Jets
Payne, a seventh-round selection in this year's draft, has begun his rookie campaign on injured reserve. The Jets earned a 23-10 road victory at Tennessee, and they host Green Bay on Sunday.
D.J. Reed, DB – Detroit Lions
In his ninth season and second with Detroit, Reed made the 82nd start of his career and was the Lions' leading tackler with 10 stops to go along with a pass breakup among his 85 defensive snaps in Detroit's 31-30 overtime home victory over New Orleans. The Lions turn around and play at Buffalo on Thursday night.
Dalton Risner, OL – Cincinnati Bengals
In his eighth NFL season and second with Cincinnati, Risner recorded the 93rd start of his career and was in for all 64 offensive snaps of the Bengals' 33-27 home win over Tampa Bay. Cincinnati travels to face Houston on Sunday.
Marques Sigle, S – San Francisco 49ers
Sigle, who begins his second NFL season, made his eighth career start and came away with nine tackles to help the 49ers earn a 27-7 victory over the Los Angeles Rams on Thursday night (Friday morning local) in Melbourne, Australia. San Francisco hosts Miami on Sunday.
Ben Sinnott, TE – Washington Commanders
Sinnott, who is in his third season, saw time on 18 offensive snaps and 16 special teams plays during Washington's narrow 24-22 loss at Philadelphia. The Commanders remain on the road as they face Dallas on Sunday.
Skylar Thompson, QB – Baltimore Ravens
In his fifth season and first with Baltimore, Thompson is on injured reserve. The Ravens opened the year with a 41-23 win at Indianapolis before hosting New Orleans on Sunday.
Russ Yeast, S – Cincinnati Bengals
In his fourth NFL season and second with Cincinnati, Yeast is on the Bengals' practice squad. Cincinnati earned a 33-27 home win over Tampa Bay and travels to face Houston 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, September 14
Monday, September 14
Saturday, September 12
Saturday, September 12
