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 this year, registered one tackle and a quarterback hurry among his 13 defensive snaps in Kansas City’s 23-20 Sunday-night win at the New York Jets. The Chiefs improved to 3-1 this season prior to a game at Minnesota on Sunday.
Ekow Boye-Doe, CB – Kansas City Chiefs
A rookie free agent this past offseason, Boye-Doe is on the Chiefs’ practice squad. Kansas City picked up a 23-20 victory over the New York Jets on Sunday night to improve to 3-1. The Chiefs travel to face Minnesota on Sunday.
JuJu Brents, CB – Indianapolis Colts
Brents, a second-round selection in the 2023 NFL Draft, made his first-career start in his second NFL game, totaling nine tackles in the Colts’ 29-23 overtime home loss to the Los Angeles Rams. Indianapolis is now 2-2 this year prior to hosting Tennessee on Sunday.
Josh Hayes, DB – Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Hayes, a sixth-round selection in the 2023 NFL Draft, saw time on 21 special teams plays in Tampa Bay’s 26-9 victory at New Orleans. The Buccaneers evened their record at 2-2, and they are off this week.
Timmy Horne, DL – Atlanta Falcons
For a second-consecutive week, Horne was elevated from the practice squad to the active roster, and he saw time on 17 defensive snaps during Atlanta’s 23-7 loss to Jacksonville in London. The Falcons are now 2-2 this year, and they host Houston on Sunday.
Malik Knowles, WR – Minnesota Vikings
Knowles, a rookie free agent signee by Minnesota this past spring, is on injured reserve. Minnesota earned its first victory of the season, a 21-13 comeback victory at Carolina. The 1-3 Vikings host Kansas City on Sunday.
Tyler Lockett, WR – Seattle Seahawks
Making his 107th-career start, Lockett hauled in four receptions for 54 yards to help the Seahawks earn a 24-3 victory at the New York Giants on Monday night. Lockett now has 550 receptions for 7,257 yards and 56 touchdowns in his career. The Seahawks improved to 3-1 this season as they enter their bye week.
Cornelius Lucas, OL – Washington Commanders
A ninth-year pro, Lucas was in for five special teams plays in Washington’s 34-31 overtime loss at Philadelphia. The Commanders started the year 2-0 but are now 2-2, and they host Chicago on Thursday night.
Byron Pringle, WR – Washington Commanders
A signee by Washington this offseason, Pringle caught one pass for 15 yards among his 18 offensive snap in addition to seeing time on three special teams plays in Washington’s 34-31 overtime loss at Philadelphia. The Commanders, now 2-2 this season, host Chicago on Thursday night.
D.J. Reed, DB – New York Jets
Reed, who is in his second season in New York, came away with eight tackles among his 70 defensive snaps in the Jets’ 23-20 home loss to Kansas City. It was Reed’s 45th-career start and 23rd-straight start dating back to his final two games as a member of the Seattle Seahawks in 2021. Reed has played in nearly every defensive snap for the Jets this season, seeing time on 100% of the snaps in three of the four games. New York fell to 1-3, and the Jets travel to take on Denver on Sunday.
Dalton Risner, OL – Minnesota Vikings
Risner, who signed with the Vikings two weeks ago, saw time on three special teams plays in Minnesota’s 21-13 victory at Carolina. The Vikings earned their first win of the year and are now 1-3 prior to hosting Kansas City on Sunday.
Duke Shelley, DB – Los Angeles Rams
A free agent signee by the Rams after the preseason, Shelley was in for 18 special teams plays in Los Angeles’ 29-23 overtime win at Indianapolis. The Rams evened their record at 2-2 this year, and they host Philadelphia on Sunday.
Kiondre Thomas, CB – Green Bay Packers
Thomas, who is in his second season in Green Bay, is on the Packers’ practice squad but was elevated to the Packers’ active roster in their 34-20 home loss to Detroit on Thursday night. Thomas saw action on 11 special teams plays, including one where he recovered a muffed punt by his teammate. Green Bay fell to 2-2 on the year, and they play at Las Vegas on Sunday.
Skylar Thompson, QB – Miami Dolphins
A seventh-round selection in the 2022 NFL Draft, Thompson served as the team’s third quarterback for Miami’s 48-20 loss at Buffalo. It was Miami’s first loss of the season, and the 3-1 Dolphins look to get back on track by hosting the New York Giants on Sunday.
Deuce Vaughn, RB – Dallas Cowboys
A sixth-round selection in this year’s draft, Vaughn rushed eight times for nine yards in addition to catching one pass for two yards in Dallas’ 38-3 home win over New England. The Cowboys improved to 3-1 this season, and they travel to face San Francisco on Sunday night.
Cody Whitehair, OL – Chicago Bears
Whitehair notched his 111th-career start and was in for all 72 offensive snaps in Chicago’s 31-28 home loss to Denver. The Bears are now 0-4 this season, and they travel to face Washington on Thursday night.
Russ Yeast, S – Los Angeles Rams
A seventh-round selection last year, Yeast came away with five tackles and a pass breakup in his 63 defensive snaps to help the Rams pick up a 29-23 overtime in at Indianapolis. Now 2-2 this year, Los Angeles hosts Philadelphia on Sunday.
Ty Zentner, P – Houston Texans
Zentner punted three times for a 38.0-yard average with one punt landing inside the 20-yard line as the Texans defeated Pittsburgh, 30-6. Houston evened its record at 2-2 this year, and the Texans are at Atlanta on Sunday.
