MANHATTAN, Kan. (K-State Sports) – 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 saw time on six defensive snaps and four special teams plays in Kansas City’s 20-17 home loss to Buffalo. The Chiefs fell to 8-5 on the season but still lead the AFC West by one game over Denver. Kansas City travels to face New England on Sunday.
Ekow Boye-Doe, CB – Kansas City Chiefs
A rookie free agent this past offseason, Boye-Doe downed a punt among his eight special teams plays during Kansas City’s 20-17 home loss to Buffalo. It was his second game played as he spent the first 12 weeks on the practice squad. The Chiefs, now 8-5 this year to hold a one-game lead in the AFC West, are at New England on Sunday.
JuJu Brents, CB – Indianapolis Colts
A second-round selection in the 2023 NFL Draft who has started four games this season, Brents was inactive due to injury for an eighth time this season during the Colts’ 34-14 loss at Cincinnati. Indianapolis is now 7-6 this year – a game back in the AFC South – prior to hosting Pittsburgh on Saturday.
Josh Hayes, DB – Tampa Bay Buccaneers
A sixth-round selection in the 2023 NFL Draft, Hayes made one tackle on punt coverage as he was in for 14 defensive snaps and 26 special teams plays to help Tampa Bay earn a 29-25 victory at Atlanta. It was the Buccaneers’ second-straight win to improve to 6-7 this season and sit in a three-way tie for first place in the NFC South. Tampa Bay is at Green Bay on Sunday.
Timmy Horne, DL – Atlanta Falcons
Horne, a second-year veteran, is on the Falcons practice squad. Atlanta lost a 29-25 home contest to Tampa Bay to fall to 6-7 on the year and into a three-way tie for first place in the NFC South. The Falcons are at Carolina on Sunday.
Malik Knowles, WR – Minnesota Vikings
A rookie free agent signee by Minnesota this past spring, Knowles is on injured reserve. Minnesota picked up a 3-0 win at Las Vegas to improve to 7-6 this season prior to a game at Cincinnati on Saturday.
Tyler Lockett, WR – Seattle Seahawks
Lockett made his 116th career start and was the team’s leading receiver with six catches for 89 yards in Seattle’s 28-16 loss at San Francisco. The Seahawks have lost four-straight games to fall to 6-7 this season, and they host Philadelphia on Monday night.
Cornelius Lucas, OL – Washington Commanders
A ninth-year pro, Lucas and the Washington Commanders were off last week. Washington, 4-9 this season, travels to take on the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday.
Byron Pringle, WR – Washington Commanders
A signee by Washington this offseason, Pringle and the Washington Commanders had their bye last week. The Commanders are 4-9 this year and begin their final four-game stretch at the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday.
D.J. Reed, DB – New York Jets
Making the 52nd start of his career and 11th this season, Reed registered four tackles and three pass breakups to help the Jets earn a 30-6 home win over Houston. New York broke a five-game losing streak and improved to 5-8 this year as they travel to face Miami on Sunday.
Dalton Risner, OL – Minnesota Vikings
An in-season acquisition by Minnesota, Risner carded his seventh-straight start and was in for 70 of the Vikings’ 72 offensive snaps in a 3-0 victory at Las Vegas. Minnesota improved to 7-6 this season prior to playing at Cincinnati on Saturday.
Duke Shelley, DB – Los Angeles Rams
A free agent signee after the preseason, Shelley was placed on injured reserve on November 27. The Rams dropped to 6-7 this season after a 37-31 overtime loss at Baltimore, and they host Washington on Sunday.
Skylar Thompson, QB – Miami Dolphins
Thompson served as the third quarterback for the 13th time this season during Miami’s 28-27 loss at Tennessee on Monday night. The Dolphins continue to lead the AFC East with a 9-4 record, and they host the New York Jets on Sunday.
Deuce Vaughn, RB – Dallas Cowboys
A sixth-round selection in this year’s draft, Vaughn was inactive for the Cowboys’ 33-13 Sunday-night win over Philadelphia. It was Dallas’ fifth-straight victory to improve to 10-3 this season and move into a tie for first place in the NFC East with the Eagles. The Cowboys are at Buffalo on Sunday.
Cody Whitehair, OL – Chicago Bears
Whitehair was in for five special teams plays during Chicago’s 28-13 home win over Detroit. The Bears are now 5-8 this season and travel to face Cleveland on Sunday.
Russ Yeast, S – Los Angeles Rams
Yeast, a seventh-round selection last year, recorded three tackles among his 33 defensive snaps while also seeing time on two special teams plays in LA’s 37-31 overtime loss at Baltimore. The Rams, 6-7 this season, host Washington on Sunday.
Ty Zentner, P – Tennessee Titans
Zentner punted five times for a 44.8-yard average with a long of 53 yards and two punts downed inside the Dolphins’ 20-yard line to help Tennessee earn a 28-27 Monday-night victory over Miami. Zentner, who spent the preseason with Philadelphia and the first four weeks of the regular season with Houston, was signed to Tennessee’s practice squad on December 6 and then to the active roster on December 11. Tennessee is now 5-8 this season, and they host Houston on Sunday.
