MANHATTAN, Kan. (K-State Athletics) – Each week throughout the 2023 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 draft pick in this year’s draft, Anudike-Uzomah recorded a pair of tackles and two quarterback hurries among his 19 defensive snaps in Kansas City’s 21-20 loss to Detroit last Thursday. The Chiefs travel to face Jacksonville on Sunday.
Ekow Boye-Doe, CB – Kansas City Chiefs
Boye-Doe, a rookie free agent, is on the Chiefs practice squad after a solid preseason. Kansas City suffered a 21-20 home loss to Detroit last Thursday, and the Chiefs travel to face Jacksonville on Sunday.
JuJu Brents, CB – Indianapolis Colts
A second-round selection in the 2023 NFL Draft by Indianapolis, Brents was inactive for the Colts’ 31-21 home loss to Jacksonville. Indianapolis travels to take on Houston on Sunday.
Josh Hayes, DB – Tampa Bay Buccaneers
A sixth-round selection in the 2023 NFL Draft by Tampa Bay, Hayes made a tackle on punt coverage among his 23 special teams plays in the Buccaneers’ 20-17 win at Minnesota. Tampa Bay hosts Chicago on Sunday.
Timmy Horne, DL – Atlanta Falcons
Horne, a rookie free agent last season, is on the Falcons’ practice squad. Atlanta picked up a 24-10 road victory at Carolina, and the Falcons host Green Bay on Sunday.
Malik Knowles, WR – Minnesota Vikings
A rookie free agent signee by Minnesota this past spring, Knowles is on injured reserve. The Vikings suffered a 20-17 home loss to Tampa Bay to open the season, and they travel to face Philadelphia on Thursday night.
Tyler Lockett, WR – Seattle Seahawks
Lockett caught two passes for 10 yards – both coming on the first series – in Seattle’s 30-13 home loss to the Los Angeles Rams. Lockett has now made 104 career starts for the Seahawks, who travel to face Detroit on Sunday.
Cornelius Lucas, OL – Washington Commanders
Lucas, a ninth-year pro, was in for three special teams plays in Washington’s 20-16 victory over Arizona. The Commanders travel to face Denver on Sunday.
AJ Parker, DB – San Francisco 49ers
Parker, who signed with San Francisco this offseason after spending his first two seasons in the NFL with Detroit, is on injured reserve. San Francisco earned a 30-7 victory at Pittsburgh, and the 49ers remain on the road to face the Rams on Sunday.
Byron Pringle, WR – Washington Commanders
After signing with Washington this offseason, Pringle saw time on one special teams play in the Commanders’ 20-16 home win over Arizona. Pringle is on his third NFL team after spending his first four seasons in Kansas City and was with the Bears last year. Washington travels to take on Denver on Sunday.
D.J. Reed, DB – New York Jets
In his second season in New York, Reed registered a team-high 11 tackles and was in for all 69 defensive snaps during the Jets’ 22-16 overtime win over Buffalo on Monday night. It was his 42nd-career start and 20th-straight start dating back to his final two games as a member of the Seattle Seahawks in 2021. The Jets travel to face Dallas on Sunday.
Duke Shelley, DB – Los Angeles Rams
Shelley, who was released by Las Vegas after the preseason and quickly signed by the Rams, was in for nine special teams plays in Los Angeles’ 30-13 win at Seattle. Shelley is on his fourth team in his career as he originally entered the NFL as a draft pick by Chicago before spending last season with Minnesota. The Rams host San Francisco on Sunday.
Kiondre Thomas, CB – Green Bay Packers
Now in his second season in Green Bay, Thomas is on the Packers’ practice squad. Green Bay opened the season with a 38-20 victory at Chicago, and the Packers will remain on the road with a game at Atlanta on Sunday.
Skylar Thompson, QB – Miami Dolphins
Thompson, a seventh-round selection in last year’s draft, served as the team’s third quarterback for Miami’s 36-34 victory at the Los Angeles Chargers. Thompson enters his second season after seeing time in seven games last year with two starts in addition to a start in the playoffs. Miami remains on the road as the Dolphins travel to take on New England on Sunday night.
Deuce Vaughn, RB – Dallas Cowboys
Vaughn, a sixth-round selection this year, came away with eight yards on six carries among his eight offensive snaps and one special teams play in Dallas’ 40-0 victory at the New York Giants on Monday night. The Cowboys host the New York Jets on Sunday.
Cody Whitehair, OL – Chicago Bears
Whitehair logged his 108th-career start as he was in for all 74 offensive snaps for the Bears in their 38-20 home loss to Green Bay. The Bears travel to face Tampa Bay on Sunday.
Russ Yeast, S – Los Angeles Rams
Yeast, a seventh-round selection last year, recorded his second-career start and came up with two tackles while playing on all 51 defensive snaps in the Rams’ 30-13 victory at Seattle. Los Angeles hosts San Francisco on Sunday.
Ty Zentner, P – Houston Texans
A member of Houston’s practice squad who was elevated for its season opener, Zentner punted four times for a 44.0-yard average in the Texans’ 25-9 loss at Baltimore. Zentner originally signed with Philadelphia this year as a rookie free agent before being released by the Eagles and signed by Houston. The Texans host Indianapolis on Sunday.
