University Park, Pa. — With 31 Nittany Lions on National Football League rosters, Penn State is well represented in the professional ranks. Each week throughout the year www.GoPSUsports.com will provide updates on the exploits of these former Nittany Lion greats. Highlights from week two of the 2010 season include a career day for Dolphins’ linebacker Cameron Wake and receiver Deon Butler receiving an ever-expanding role in the Seahawks’ offense. The news was not so good for 2010 draft picks Jared Odrick and Josh Hull, who each suffered leg injuries.
Anthony Adams (1999-02), DT, Chicago Bears
Chicago Bears 27, Dallas Cowboys 20
Adams started at nose tackle for the Bears, making three tackles.
Jay Alford (2003-06), DT, Oakland Raiders
Oakland Raiders 16, St. Louis Rams 14
Alford saw action as a back-up defensive lineman but did not record any tackles.
Navorro Bowman (2007-09), LB, San Francisco 49ers
New Orleans Saints 25, San Francisco 49ers 22
Bowman played extensively in the 49ers’ loss to the defending Super Bowl champion Saints, registering five tackles (two solo) on defense and one stop on special teams.
Levi Brown (2003-06), OT, Arizona Cardinals
Atlanta Falcons 41, Arizona Cardinals 7
Brown started his 43rd consecutive regular season game at right tackle for the Cardinals on Sunday.
Deon Butler (2005-08), WR, Seattle Seahawks
Denver Broncos 31, Seattle Seahawks 14
Butler made an impact in the passing game for the second straight week, recording five catches for 50 yards, both career highs.
Kerry Collins (1992-94), QB, Tennessee Titans
Pittsburgh Steelers 19, Tennessee Titans 11
Replacing an ineffective Vince Young in the fourth quarter, Collins completed 17-of-25 passes for 149 yards with one touchdown and one interception.
Dan Connor (2004-07), LB, Carolina Panthers
Tampa Bay Buccaneers 20, Carolina Panthers 7
In his second NFL start, Connor notched six tackles, including four solos and one for a loss.
John Gilmore (1999-01), TE, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Tampa Bay Buccaneers 20, Carolina Panthers 7
Gilmore played but did not have a catch in the Buccaneers’ win over Carolina.
Robbie Gould (2001-04), K, Chicago Bears
Chicago Bears 27, Dallas Cowboys 20
Gould converted on five kicking opportunities, connecting on field goals of 38 and 40 yards and all three PAT attempts.
Tamba Hali (2002-05), DE, Kansas City Chiefs
Kansas City Chiefs 16, Cleveland Browns 14
Starting at right outside linebacker in the Chiefs’ defensive 3-4 scheme, Hali recorded one quarterback hit.
Josh Hull (2006-09), LB, St. Louis Rams
Oakland Raiders 16, St. Louis Rams 14
The knee injury bug bit a former Penn State linebacker again when Hull tore his anterior cruciate ligament in the opening moments of special teams work at a practice on Sept. 15. He was placed on injured reserve and will miss the rest of his rookie season.
Bryant Johnson (1999-02), WR, Detroit Lions
Philadelphia Eagles 35, Detroit Lions 32
Johnson caught one pass for four yards as the Lions’ No. 3 receiver.
Ed Johnson (2003-04, 2006), DT, Carolina Panthers
Tampa Bay Buccaneers 20, Carolina Panthers 7
Johnson made his second straight start at left defensive tackle, helping to hold the Buccaneers to a 2.8 yards per rush average.
Larry Johnson (1999-02), RB, Washington Redskins
Houston Texans 30, Washington Redskins 27 (OT)
As the primary back-up to starting running back Clinton Portis, Johnson carried the ball twice in the Redskins’ overtime loss.
Jimmy Kennedy (1999-02), DT, Minnesota Vikings
Miami Dolphins 14, Minnesota Vikings 10
Kennedy’s knee injury showed progress throughout the week but he was held out of the Vikings’ game versus the Dolphins.
Justin King (2005-07), CB, St. Louis Rams
Oakland Raiders 16, St. Louis Rams 14
King did not play in the Rams’ loss to the Oakland Raiders, appearing on the inactive list.
Sean Lee (2005-07, 2009), LB, Dallas Cowboys
Chicago Bears 27, Dallas Cowboys 20
Listed third on the Cowboys’ depth chart at middle linebacker, Sean Lee was not active in week two.
Aaron Maybin (2007-08), DE, Buffalo Bills
Green Bay Packers 34, Buffalo Bills 7
Maybin recorded one tackle as a back-up defensive end role in the Bills’ loss to Green Bay.
Kareem McKenzie (1997-00), OT, New York Giants
Indianapolis Colts 38, New York Giants 14
The Giants offense struggled to find the end zone versus the Colts, amassing 257 total yards but only scoring 14 points.
Jordan Norwood (2005-08), WR, Cleveland Browns
Norwood is a member of the Cleveland Browns’ practice squad.
Jared Odrick (2006-09), DT, Miami Dolphins
Miami Dolphins 14, Minnesota Vikings 10
Odrick fractured his fibula after earning his first NFL start in week one. Reports are conflicting as to how many games he will miss but it could be as few as two.
Rich Ohrnberger (2006-08), OG, New England Patriots
New England Patriots 38, Cincinnati Bengals 24
After see playing time in three games as a rookie for New England, Ohrnberger, a fourth round choice in 2009, is currently on the Patriots’ practice squad.
Paul Posluszny (2003-06), LB, Buffalo Bills
Green Bay Packers 34, Buffalo Bills 7
The Bills’ starting middle linebacker, Posluszny was not active for the game against Green Bay after suffering a knee injury in week one. He is expected to miss the next two games.
Andrew Quarless (2006-09), TE, Green Bay Packers
Green Bay Packers 34, Buffalo Bills 7
Quarless was inactive for the second consecutive week.
Michael Robinson (2002-05), RB, Seattle Seahawks
Denver Broncos 31, Seattle Seahawks 14
Robinson continued to find a way to make a contribution to the Seahawks on game day, rushing for 15 yards on one carry, catching one pass for seven yards, and making one special teams tackle.
Bryan Scott (1999-02), S, Buffalo Bills
Green Bay Packers 34, Buffalo Bills 7
Scott served as a back-up safety, contributing three tackles, including two solos and one for a loss.
Tim Shaw (2002, 2004-06), LB, Tennessee Titans
Pittsburgh Steelers 19, Tennessee Titans 11
Shaw saw action on special teams, notching two solo tackles on kick coverage.
A.Q. Shipley (2005-08), C, Philadelphia Eagles
Philadelphia Eagles 35, Detroit Lions 32
Shipley joined the Eagles in the 2010 offseason and spent the entire training camp and preseason with the team before signing to the practice squad.
Mickey Shuler (2007-09), TE, Minnesota Vikings
Miami Dolphins 14, Minnesota Vikings 10
Shuler was inactive for the second consecutive week.
Cameron Wake (2000, 2002-04), LB, Miami Dolphins
Miami Dolphins 14, Minnesota Vikings 10
Starting at outside linebacker for the Dolphins for the second straight game, Wake registered five total tackles, including three solos, recorded 1.5 sacks, and forced a fumble in the end zone against the Vikings.
Derrick Williams (2005-08), WR, Detroit Lions
Philadelphia Eagles 35, Detroit Lions 32
Williams was inactive for the Lions’ intra-conference match-up with the Eagles.