MANHATTAN, Kan. (K-State Athletics) – Each week throughout the 2023 season, k-statesports.com recaps the action for the 19 former Kansas State football players currently in the NFL.
Felix Anudike-Uzomah, DE – Kansas City Chiefs
A first-round pick this year, Anudike-Uzomah came away with three tackles among his 25 defensive snaps in Kansas City’s 41-10 victory over Chicago. Now 2-1 on the year, the Chiefs travel to face the New York Jets on Sunday night.
Ekow Boye-Doe, CB – Kansas City Chiefs
Boye-Doe, a rookie free agent, is on the Chiefs’ practice squad. Kansas City earned a 41-10 victory over Chicago to move to 2-1, and the Chiefs go to New York to face the Jets on Sunday night.
JuJu Brents, CB – Indianapolis Colts
A second-round selection in the 2023 NFL Draft, Brents made his first NFL appearance and made an instant impact as he carded four tackles in addition to a strip and a recovery in the Colts’ 22-19 overtime win at Baltimore. Indianapolis improved to 2-1 on the season prior to hosting the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday.
Josh Hayes, DB – Tampa Bay Buccaneers
A sixth-round selection in the 2023 NFL Draft, Hayes was in for 19 special teams plays in Tampa Bay’s 25-11 loss at Philadelphia on Monday night. The Buccaneers fell to 2-1 on the year prior to traveling to face New Orleans on Sunday.
Timmy Horne, DL – Atlanta Falcons
Horne, a rookie free agent prior to the 2022 season, is on the Falcons’ practice squad but was elevated to the active roster for Atlanta’s game against Detroit. Horne came away with two tackles in the 20-6 home loss, which dropped Atlanta to 2-1 on the year prior to taking on Jacksonville on Sunday in London.
Malik Knowles, WR – Minnesota Vikings
A rookie free agent signee by Minnesota this past spring, Knowles is on injured reserve. Minnesota fell to 0-3 on the year following a 28-24 home loss to the Los Angeles Chargers, and the Vikings are at Carolina on Sunday.
Tyler Lockett, WR – Seattle Seahawks
Lockett came away with three catches for 34 yards in addition to hauling in a pass on a two-point conversion in Seattle’s 37-27 home victory over Carolina. Lockett has made 106 career starts for the Seahawks, who are now 2-1 this season prior to traveling to face the New York Giants on Monday night.
Cornelius Lucas, OL – Washington Commanders
Lucas, a ninth-year pro, was in for one special teams plays in Washington’s 37-3 home loss to Buffalo. The Commanders fell to 2-1 on the year, and they travel to face Philadelphia on Sunday.
AJ Parker, DB – San Francisco 49ers
Parker, who signed with San Francisco this offseason, is on injured reserve. The 49ers moved to 3-0 this year with a 30-12 victory over the New York Giants on Thursday night, and they host Arizona on Sunday.
Byron Pringle, WR – Washington Commanders
Pringle, who signed with Washington this offseason, was in for six offensive snaps and one special teams play in Washington’s 37-3 home loss to Buffalo. The Commanders, now 2-1 this season, travel to face Philadelphia on Sunday.
D.J. Reed, DB – New York Jets
In his second season in New York, Reed carded four tackles in his 72 defensive snaps in the Jets’ 15-10 home loss to New England. It was Reed’s 44th-career start and 22nd-straight start dating back to his final two games as a member of the Seattle Seahawks in 2021. New York fell to 1-2 this season prior to hosting Kansas City on Sunday night.
Dalton Risner, OL – Minnesota Vikings
After signing with the Vikings in the middle of last week, Risner was in for four special teams plays in Minnesota’s 28-24 home loss to the Los Angeles Chargers. The Vikings fell to 0-3 on the year prior to traveling to face Carolina on Sunday.
Duke Shelley, DB – Los Angeles Rams
Shelley, who signed with the Rams after spending the preseason with Las Vegas, was in for 21 special teams plays in Los Angeles’ 19-16 loss at Cincinnati on Monday night. The Rams fell 1-2 this year, and they travel to face Indianapolis on Sunday.
Kiondre Thomas, CB – Green Bay Packers
In his second season in Green Bay, Thomas is on the Packers’ practice squad. Green Bay earned an 18-17 home win over New Orleans to improve to 2-1 this year prior to hosting Detroit on Thursday night.
Skylar Thompson, QB – Miami Dolphins
Thompson, a seventh-round selection in the 2022 NFL Draft, served as the team’s third quarterback during Miami’s 70-20 home win over Denver. The victory improved to Dolphis to 3-0 this year, and they travel to face Buffalo on Sunday.
Deuce Vaughn, RB – Dallas Cowboys
Vaughn, a sixth-round selection in this year’s draft, was in for one special teams play in Dallas’ 28-16 loss at Arizona. Now 2-1 this season, the Cowboys host New England on Sunday.
Cody Whitehair, OL – Chicago Bears
Whitehair recorded his 110th-career start and was in for all 51 offensive snaps in Chicago’s 41-10 loss at Kansas City. The Bears, now 0-3 this year, host Denver on Sunday.
Russ Yeast, S – Los Angeles Rams
Yeast, a seventh-round selection last year, made six tackles in his 77 defensive snaps during the Rams’ 19-16 loss at Cincinnati on Monday night. Yeast notched his fourth-career start and third this year. Los Angeles fell to 1-2 on the season as they travel to face Indianapolis on Sunday.
Ty Zentner, P – Houston Texans
Zentner, who spent the majority of the preseason with Philadelphia before signing with Houston, punted four times for a 43.3-yard average – including a long of 54 yards – in Houston’s 37-17 win at Jacksonville. The Texans improved to 1-2 this year, and they host Pittsburgh on Sunday.
