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
Anudike-Uzomah, a first-round pick in this year’s draft, had two tackles – including a half sack – and a forced fumble among his 16 defensive snaps to help Kansas City pick up a 17-9 win at Jacksonville. The Chiefs are now 1-1 on the year, and they host Chicago on Sunday.
Ekow Boye-Doe, CB – Kansas City Chiefs
A rookie free agent, Boye-Doe is on the Chiefs’ practice squad. Kansas City came away with a 17-9 win at Jacksonville, and the Chiefs host Chicago on Sunday.
JuJu Brents, CB – Indianapolis Colts
Brents, a second-round selection in the 2023 NFL Draft, was inactive for Indianapolis’ 31-20 win at Houston. The Colts are now 1-1 this year as they travel to take on Baltimore on Sunday.
Josh Hayes, DB – Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Hayes, a sixth-round selection in the 2023 NFL Draft, saw time on 20 special teams plays in Tampa Bay’s 27-17 home win over Chicago. The Buccaneers improved to 2-0 on the year prior to hosting Philadelphia on Monday night.
Timmy Horne, DL – Atlanta Falcons
A rookie free agent prior to the 2022 season, Horne is on the Falcons’ practice squad. Atlanta improved to 2-0 with a 25-24 last-minute home victory over Green Bay. The Falcons are at Detroit on Sunday.
Malik Knowles, WR – Minnesota Vikings
Knowles, a rookie free agent signee by Minnesota this past spring, is on injured reserve. The Vikings lost last Thursday night at Philadelphia, 34-28. Now 0-2 on the year, Minnesota hosts the Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday.
Tyler Lockett, WR – Seattle Seahawks
Lockett had eight receptions for 59 yards and two touchdowns – including a game-winning six-yard score in overtime – as the Seahawks won at Detroit, 37-31. Lockett has made 105 career starts for the Seahawks, who improved to 1-1 on the year prior to hosting Carolina on Sunday.
Cornelius Lucas, OL – Washington Commanders
A ninth-year pro, Lucas was in for nine special teams plays in Washington’s 35-33 victory at Denver. The Commanders, now 2-0 this season, host Buffalo on Sunday.
AJ Parker, DB – San Francisco 49ers
After signing with San Francisco this offseason, Parker is on injured reserve. The 49ers improved to 2-0 with a 30-23 win at the Los Angeles Rams, and they host the New York Giants on Thursday night.
Byron Pringle, WR – Washington Commanders
Pringle, who signed with Washington this offseason, had one catch for four yards among his 13 offensive snaps in addition to seeing time on 14 special teams plays in the Commanders’ 35-33 win at Denver. Washington is now 2-0 this year and hosts Buffalo on Sunday.
D.J. Reed, DB – New York Jets
Reed, who is in his second season in New York, came away with five tackles among his 82 defensive snaps in the Jets’ 30-10 loss at Dallas. It was Reed’s 43rd-career start and 21st-straight start dating back to his final two games as a member of the Seattle Seahawks in 2021. New York, now 1-1 this year, hosts New England on Sunday.
Dalton Risner, OL – Minnesota Vikings
Risner, who spent the first four years of his career in Denver and started 62 games, signed with Minnesota on Tuesday. The Vikings, who are 0-2 this year, host the Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday.
Duke Shelley, DB – Los Angeles Rams
Signing with the Rams after spending the preseason with Las Vegas, Shelley was in for 16 special teams plays in Los Angeles’ 30-23 home loss to San Francisco. The Rams, now 1-1 this year, travel to take on Cincinnati on Monday night.
Kiondre Thomas, CB – Green Bay Packers
Thomas, who is in his second season in Green Bay, is on the Packers’ practice squad. Green Bay suffered a 25-24 last-minute loss at Atlanta. The 1-1 Packers host New Orleans on Sunday.
Skylar Thompson, QB – Miami Dolphins
A seventh-round selection in the 2022 NFL Draft, Thompson served as the team’s third quarterback during Miami’s 24-17 win at New England. The Dolphins are now 2-0 this year, and they host Denver on Sunday.
Deuce Vaughn, RB – Dallas Cowboys
A sixth-round selection in this year’s draft, Vaughn rushed three times for 16 yards and also caught three passes for 16 yards among his 13 offensive snaps to help Dallas secure a 30-10 home win over the New York Jets. The Cowboys, now 2-0 this year, travel to take on Arizona on Sunday.
Cody Whitehair, OL – Chicago Bears
Whitehair carded his 109th-career start and was in for all 53 offensive snaps in Chicago’s 27-17 setback at Tampa Bay, which dropped the Bears to 0-2 on the season. Chicago travels to face Kansas City on Sunday.
Russ Yeast, S – Los Angeles Rams
A seventh-round selection last year, Yeast notched his third-career start and second this year as he recorded six tackles among his 57 defensive snaps in the Rams’ 30-23 home loss to San Francisco. Los Angeles is now 1-1 this year, and the Rams travel to take on Cincinnati on Monday night.
Ty Zentner, P – Houston Texans
Zentner, who was signed off the practice squad last week, punted three times for a 42.3-yard average – including a long of 51 yards – in Houston’s 31-20 home loss to Indianapolis. The Texans fell to 0-2 on the year, and they travel to take on Jacksonville on Sunday.
