MANHATTAN, Kan. (K-State Athletics) – Each week throughout the 2023 season, k-statesports.com recaps the action for the 17 former Kansas State football players currently in the NFL.
Felix Anudike-Uzomah, DE – Kansas City Chiefs
A first-round pick this year, Anudike-Uzomah had one tackle and a quarterback hit among his 25 defensive snaps to help the Chiefs pick up a 27-20 victory at Minnesota. It was Kansas City’s fourth-straight victory to improve to 4-1 this year prior to hosting Denver on Thursday night.
Ekow Boye-Doe, CB – Kansas City Chiefs
Boye-Doe, a rookie free agent this past offseason, is on the Chiefs’ practice squad. Kansas City earned a 27-20 win at Minnesota to improve to 4-1 this year prior, and the Chiefs host Denver on Thursday night.
JuJu Brents, CB – Indianapolis Colts
A second-round selection in the 2023 NFL Draft, Brents made his second-straight start and registered four tackles and a pass breakup during the Colts’ 23-16 home win over Tennessee. Indianapolis is now 3-2 this year, and the Colts travel to take on Jacksonville on Sunday.
Josh Hayes, DB – Tampa Bay Buccaneers
A sixth-round selection in the 2023 NFL Draft, Hayes and the Buccaneers were off last week. Tampa Bay is 3-1 this year and begins its stretch of 13 games in 13 weeks by hosting Detroit on Sunday.
Timmy Horne, DL – Atlanta Falcons
Horne, who was elevated from the practice squad to the active roster the previous two weeks, remained on the practice squad during Atlanta’s 21-19 victory over Houston on a walk-off field goal. The Falcons are now 3-2 this year and host Washington on Sunday.
Malik Knowles, WR – Minnesota Vikings
A rookie free agent signee by Minnesota this past spring, Knowles is on injured reserve. Minnesota fell to 1-4 this year following a 27-20 home loss to Kansas City, and the Vikings travel to face Chicago on Sunday.
Tyler Lockett, WR – Seattle Seahawks
Lockett and the Seahawks were off last week. Seattle, 3-1 this year, travels to face Cincinnati on Sunday.
Cornelius Lucas, OL – Washington Commanders
Lucas, a ninth-year pro, was a tackle eligible on one offensive snap and was in for three special teams plays during Washington’s 40-20 home loss to Chicago on Thursday night. The Commanders are now 2-3 this year, and they have a road test at Atlanta on Sunday.
Byron Pringle, WR – Washington Commanders
Pringle, a signee by Washington this offseason, hauled in one pass for 10 yards among his 11 offensive snaps in addition to seeing time on 14 special teams plays in the Commanders’ 40-20 home loss to Chicago on Thursday night. Washington fell to 2-3 on the year and travel to face Atlanta on Sunday.
D.J. Reed, DB – New York Jets
Reed was inactive due to injury for New York’s 31-21 victory at Denver. It snapped a 23-game starting streak for Reed, who missed his first game since Week 16 of the 2021 season when he was a member of the Seattle Seahawks. New York is now 2-3 this season, and the Jets host Philadelphia on Sunday.
Dalton Risner, OL – Minnesota Vikings
Risner, who spent the first four years of his career in Denver before signing with Minnesota last month, was in for four special teams plays during the Vikings’ 27-20 home loss to the Chiefs. Minnesota is now 1-4 this year prior to a game this Sunday at Chicago.
Duke Shelley, DB – Los Angeles Rams
Shelley, a free agent signee by the Rams after the preseason, broke up one pass among his nine defensive snaps in addition to seeing time on 12 special teams plays in Los Angeles’ 23-14 home loss to Philadelphia. Now 2-3 this year, the Rams host Arizona on Sunday.
Kiondre Thomas, CB – Green Bay Packers
In his second season in Green Bay, Thomas is on the Packers’ practice squad. Green Bay suffered a 17-13 loss at Las Vegas on Monday night to fall to 2-3 this year prior to its bye week.
Skylar Thompson, QB – Miami Dolphins
Thompson, a seventh-round selection in the 2022 NFL Draft, served as Miami’s third quarterback for its 31-16 home win over the New York Giants. The Dolphins are now 4-1 this year and host Carolina on Sunday.
Deuce Vaughn, RB – Dallas Cowboys
Vaughn, a sixth-round selection in this year’s draft, rushed three times for seven yards, caught a pass for one yard and returned a punt for 10 yards in Dallas’ 42-10 loss at San Francisco on Sunday night. The Cowboys fell to 3-2 this year, and they are on the west coast again this week with a Monday-night game at the Los Angeles Chargers.
Cody Whitehair, OL – Chicago Bears
Whitehair registered his 112th-career start and was in for 58 of the Bears’ 64 offensive snaps in their 40-20 Thursday-night road win over Washington. It was Chicago’s first win of the season as the Bears are now 1-4 and host Minnesota on Sunday.
Russ Yeast, S – Los Angeles Rams
Yeast, a seventh-round selection last year, totaled five tackles while playing on all 79 defensive snaps in addition to six special teams plays in the Rams’ 23-14 home loss to Philadelphia. Los Angeles fell to 2-3 this year, and the Rams host Arizona on Sunday.