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 eight of the 2011 season include a standout effort by Tamba Hali on Monday Night Football, another double-digit tackle performance by 49ers linebacker Navorro Bowman, and a career day for Cleveland wide receiver Jordan Norwood. In other news, Pro Bowl candidate Sean Lee left the Cowboys’ game versus the Eagles’ late in the first quarter after sustaining a wrist injury.
Anthony Adams (1999-02), DT, Chicago Bears
BYE
Adams has 12 total tackles, including 10 solos, for the 4-3 Bears.
Navorro Bowman (2007-09), LB, San Francisco 49ers
San Francisco 49ers 20, Cleveland Browns 10
Bowman lead the 49ers in tackles, recording 11 (all solos), including one for a loss, and had one pass defensed. He also assisted on a special teams stop. Bowman ranks second in the NFL with 68 total tackles.
Levi Brown (2003-06), OT, Arizona Cardinals
Baltimore Ravens 30, Arizona Cardinals 27
Brown made his 66th career start for Arizona, anchoring its offensive line from his left tackle spot, as the Cardinals posted 27 points against one of the NFL’s top defenses.
Deon Butler (2005-08), WR, Seattle Seahawks
Cincinnati Bengals 34, Seattle Seahawks 12
Butler remains on Seattle’s physically unable to perform (PUP) list for the second week since becoming eligible to be added to the active roster. He continues to practice, but is not fully fit to play. Butler is still recovering from a broken leg suffered late in 2010.
Kerry Collins (1992-94), QB, Indianapolis Colts
Tennessee Titans 27, Indianapolis Colts 10
Collins, the longest active NFL tenured Nittany Lion, in his 17th professional season, was placed on injured reserve on October 25 and will miss the remainder of the 2011 season.
Dan Connor (2004-07), LB, Carolina Panthers
Minnesota Vikings 24, Carolina Panthers 21
Connor started at middle linebacker, making two solo tackles.
John Gilmore (1999-01), TE, New Orleans Saints
St. Louis Rams 31, New Orleans Saints 21
Gilmore played but did not have a catch in New Orleans’ loss to St. Louis.
Robbie Gould (2001-04), K, Chicago Bears
BYE
Through the first seven games of the 2011 season, Gould has connected on 14-of-15 (93.3%) field goals and is 18-for-18 in PATs.
Tamba Hali (2002-05), LB, Kansas City Chiefs
Kansas City Chiefs 23, San Diego Chargers 20 (OT)
Hali’s shined under the Monday Night Football spotlight, recording three tackles, two sacks for a loss of 17 yards, and one forced fumble. Pressuring San Diego quarterback Philip Rivers all night with his steady pass rush, Hali also forced Chargers’ offensive lineman into taking several holding penalties.
Josh Hull (2006-09), LB, St. Louis Rams
St. Louis Rams 31, New Orleans Saints 21
Hull saw action but did not have a tackle in the Rams’ first win of the season.
Bryant Johnson (1999-02), WR, Houston Texans
Houston Texans 24, Jacksonville Jaguars 14
Johnson had a season-high three solo special teams tackles in Houston’s win over Jacksonville.
Jimmy Kennedy (1999-02), DT, New York Giants
New York Giants 20, Miami Dolphins 17
Kennedy was inactive for the Giants’ game with Miami.
Justin King (2005-07), CB, St. Louis Rams
St. Louis Rams 31, New Orleans Saints 21
After King was limited in practice early in the week and sat out on Thursday due to a hamstring injury, he was on the inactive list for the Rams’ upset win over the Saints.
Sean Lee (2005-07, 2009), LB, Dallas Cowboys
Philadelphia Eagles 34, Dallas Cowboys 7
Lee started at linebacker but sustained a injury on the last play of the first quarter when his left wrist banged into Eagles’ quarterback Michael Vick’s helmet. X-rays were negative but he missed the final three quarters. At this time, Lee is not scheduled to have surgery on his wrist but will instead attempt to play the remainder of the season with the injury.
Aaron Maybin (2007-08), LB, New York Jets
BYE
In four games since joining the Jets, Maybin has made an immediate impact, registering six total tackles (4 solos) and three sacks.
Kareem McKenzie (1997-00), OT, New York Giants
New York Giants 20, Miami Dolphins 17
McKenzie made his 144th start at right tackle for New York on Sunday, as the Giants amassed 402 yards of offense, including 344 through the air, in their come-from-behind win over Miami.
Jordan Norwood (2005-08), WR, Cleveland Browns
San Francisco 49ers 20, Cleveland Browns 10
Norwood had a career-high five receptions for 32 yards in the Browns’ loss to the 49ers.
Ollie Ogbu (2007-10), DT, Indianapolis Colts
Tennessee Titans 27, Indianapolis Colts 10
Ogbu is a member of the Indianapolis Colts’ practice squad.
Jared Odrick (2006-09), DT, Miami Dolphins
New York Giants 20, Miami Dolphins 17
Odrick saw playing time in Miami’s defensive line rotation but he did not record a tackle in the loss to New York.
Rich Ohrnberger (2006-08), OG, New England Patriots
Pittsburgh Steelers 25, New England Patriots 17
Ohrnberger was placed on injured reserve on September 3 and will miss the 2011 season.
Scott Paxson (2003-05), OG, Cleveland Browns
San Francisco 49ers 20, Cleveland Browns 10
Paxson was part of Cleveland’s defensive line rotation, but he did not record a tackle.
Paul Posluszny (2003-06), LB, Jacksonville Jaguars
Houston Texans 24, Jacksonville Jaguars 14
Posluszny registered seven total tackles (5 solos), including one for a loss, and had one quarterback hit in Jacksonville’s loss to Houston.
Andrew Quarless (2006-09), TE, Green Bay Packers
BYE
Healthy before heading into the 7-0 Packers’ bye week, Quarless is expected to take on a larger role in the Green Bay offense throughout the remainder of the season.
Michael Robinson (2002-05), RB, Seattle Seahawks
Cincinnati Bengals 34, Seattle Seahawks 12
Robinson caught one pass for 11 yards and had one special teams tackle.
Evan Royster (2007-10), RB, Washington Redskins
Buffalo Bills 23, Washington Redskins 0
Royster, Penn State’s all-time leading rusher, is a member of the Washington Redskins’ practice squad.
Bryan Scott (1999-02), S, Buffalo Bills
Buffalo Bills 23, Washington Redskins 0
Scott recorded four tackles (three solos), contributing to Buffalo’s shutout win over Washington.
Tim Shaw (2002, 2004-06), LB, Tennessee Titans
Tennessee Titans 27, Indianapolis Colts 10
Shaw made two special teams tackles in the Titans’ win over the Colts.
Cameron Wake (2000, 2002-04), LB, Miami Dolphins
New York Giants 20, Miami Dolphins 17
Wake had two solo tackles and two quarterback hits in Miami’s narrow loss to the Giants.
Stefen Wisniewski (2007-10), OL, Oakland Raiders
BYE
Wisniewski has started all seven games at left guard in his rookie season for the 4-3 Raiders. Oakland boasts the NFL’s No. 2-ranked rushing offense, averaging 159.3 yards per game, while the offensive line leads the league in fewest sacks with eight.