University Park, Pa. — With 29 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 five of the 2010 season include career firsts for Arizona’s Levi Brown (touchdown), Green Bay’s Andrew Quarless (receptions), and Carolina’s Ed Johnson (interception) and Robbie Gould’s career-long field goal.
Anthony Adams (1999-02), DT, Chicago Bears
Chicago Bears 23, Carolina Panthers 6
Adams started at nose tackle for Chicago, making four solo tackles including two for a loss in the win over the Carolina Panthers.
Navorro Bowman (2007-09), LB, San Francisco 49ers
Philadelphia Eagles 27, San Francisco 49ers 24
Bowman recorded one tackle at linebacker for the 49ers, and also made two stops on special teams in the loss to Philadelphia.
Levi Brown (2003-06), OT, Arizona Cardinals
Arizona Cardinals 30, New Orleans Saints 20
Brown started his 46th consecutive regular season game at right tackle in the Cardinals’ upset win over the defending Super Bowl champion New Orleans Saints, protecting rookie quarterback Max Hall in his NFL debut. Brown scored his first career touchdown in the second quarter, recovering a Hall fumble and taking it into the end zone from two yards out.
Deon Butler (2005-08), WR, Seattle Seahawks
BYE
In his second NFL season, Butler currently ranks fourth on the team with eight receptions for 83 yards and one touchdown. Penn State’s all-time leading receiver could be in line for more playing time and more targets as starter Deion Branch was traded to the New England Patriots during the Seahawks’ bye week.
Kerry Collins (1992-94), QB, Tennessee Titans
Tennessee Titans 34, Dallas Cowboys 27
The longest active NFL tenured Nittany Lion, in his 17th professional season, Collins served as the No. 2 quarterback for the Titans but did not see any action on Sunday versus Dallas.
Dan Connor (2004-07), LB, Carolina Panthers
Chicago Bears 23, Carolina Panthers 6
Entrenched as Carolina’s starting middle linebacker, Connor recorded a team-high 11 tackles, including one for a loss.
John Gilmore (1999-01), TE, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Tampa Bay Buccaneers 24, Cincinnati Bengals 21
Gilmore started at tight end for the Buccaneers in the win over the Bengals, making one catch in the game for 11 yards.
Robbie Gould (2001-04), K, Chicago Bears
Chicago Bears 23, Carolina Panthers 6
Gould was successful on all three of his field goal attempts, converting on kicks of 28, 43 and 53 yards. The 53-yarder was a career-high, breaking his previous career mark of 52.
Tamba Hali (2002-05), DE, Kansas City Chiefs
Indianapolis Colts 19, Kansas City Chiefs 9
Hali recorded another sack on Sunday versus the Colts, giving him a team-high 4.5 sacks for the season. He also totaled six tackles, broke up a pass, and forced a fumble as the Chiefs’ suffered their first loss of the year.
Josh Hull (2006-09), LB, St. Louis Rams
Detroit Lions 44, St. Louis Rams 6
Hull tore his anterior cruciate ligament during 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
Detroit Lions 44, St. Louis Rams 6
Johnson did not have a catch for the Lions’ in their first win of the 2010 season.
Ed Johnson (2003-04, 2006), DT, Carolina Panthers
Chicago Bears 23, Carolina Panthers 6
Johnson started at left defensive tackle, recording two tackles and his first career interception, picking off Chicago quarterback Todd Collins on the goal line to end a Bears’ scoring threat late in the first quarter.
Jimmy Kennedy (1999-02), DT, Minnesota Vikings
New York Jets 29, Minnesota Vikings 20
Kennedy saw playing time as a back-up defensive tackle, posting one tackle and a half-sack for a loss of four yards in the Vikings’ Monday Night Football match-up with the Jets.
Justin King (2005-07), CB, St. Louis Rams
Detroit Lions 44, St. Louis Rams 6
King played but did not have a tackle in the Rams’ loss to Detroit.
Sean Lee (2005-07, 2009), LB, Dallas Cowboys
Tennessee Titans 34, Dallas Cowboys 27
Lee made his NFL debut on Sunday, recording two tackles on defense, including one for a loss. He also made one stop on special teams.
Aaron Maybin (2007-08), DE, Buffalo Bills
Jacksonville Jaguars 36, Buffalo Bills 26
Maybin appeared in the game against Jacksonville but did not record a tackle.
Kareem McKenzie (1997-00), OT, New York Giants
New York Giants 34, Houston Texans 10
McKenzie started at right tackle for the Giants and helped his team amass 414 yards of total offense in the decisive victory over Houston.
Jordan Norwood (2005-08), WR, Cleveland Browns
Atlanta Falcons 20, Cleveland Browns 10
Norwood is a member of the Cleveland Browns’ practice squad.
Jared Odrick (2006-09), DT, Miami Dolphins
BYE
After starting all four preseason games and the first game of the regular season, Odrick has been inactive for the next three contests while recovering from a leg injury.
Rich Ohrnberger (2006-08), OG, New England Patriots
BYE
Ohrnberger was activated to New England’s 53-man roster from the practice squad on Sept. 29.
Paul Posluszny (2003-06), LB, Buffalo Bills
Jacksonville Jaguars 36, Buffalo Bills 26
Posluszny started his third game of the season for the Bills, registering a team and game-high 13 tackles in the loss to the Jaguars.
Andrew Quarless (2006-09), TE, Green Bay Packers
Washington Redskins 16, Green Bay Packers 13 (OT)
Quarless made his first NFL receptions versus Washington, grabbing four passes for 51 yards. With injuries striking Green Bay’s top two tight ends, Quarless could see significant action in the weeks ahead.
Michael Robinson (2002-05), RB, Seattle Seahawks
BYE
Bryan Scott (1999-02), S, Buffalo Bills
Jacksonville Jaguars 36, Buffalo Bills 26
Scott was inactive versus Jacksonville.
Tim Shaw (2002, 2004-06), LB, Tennessee Titans
Tennessee Titans 34, Dallas Cowboys 27
Shaw saw action on special teams, notching three tackles in Tennessee’s win over Dallas.
A.Q. Shipley (2005-08), C, Philadelphia Eagles
Philadelphia Eagles 27, San Francisco 49ers 24
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, Miami Dolphins
BYE
Cameron Wake (2000, 2002-04), LB, Miami Dolphins
BYE
After the first four games of the season, Wake leads the Dolphins with 3.0 sacks.
Derrick Williams (2005-08), WR, Detroit Lions
Detroit Lions 44, St. Louis Rams 6
Williams saw action in the Lions’ rout of St. Louis but did not make a reception