Penn State Professional Athletes

The Nittany Lions had plenty to celebrate in NFL Week 1 — and plenty to fret over, depending on whether you're watching Jacksonville highlights or Pittsburgh contract updates.

Two Lions, One Blowout, Two TDs

The best Penn State story of the week came out of Jacksonville, where the Jaguars dismantled the Browns 34–10 and two Nittany Lions found the end zone in the same game. Wide receiver Parker Washington was the star of the show, hauling in 5 catches for 83 yards and a touchdown. Tight end Brenton Strange added 2 catches for 23 yards and also punched in a score. Two PSU alums, same blowout, both in the end zone — it's the kind of afternoon that fills up a school's NFL alumni highlight reel fast.

Freiermuth, Gesicki, and Warren Deliver at Tight End

Penn State's tight end pipeline had a strong Week 1 across the board. Pat Freiermuth went off for 5 catches, 46 yards, and a touchdown as Pittsburgh beat Atlanta 20–13. Mike Gesicki turned in one of the better individual performances of the week, catching 5 passes for 78 yards and a score in Cincinnati's 33–27 win over Tampa Bay. And Tyler Warren chipped in 3 catches for 13 yards and a touchdown for Indianapolis in a loss to Baltimore. Three Penn State tight ends, three touchdowns — a remarkable single-week stretch for what is quietly one of the program's deepest NFL position groups.

Barkley, Brisker, and Oweh Flash Elsewhere

Saquon Barkley ran for 83 yards as Philadelphia edged Washington 24–22, continuing his strong tenure with the Eagles. Jaquan Brisker picked off a pass for Pittsburgh in the same win over Atlanta where Freiermuth scored. And Odafe Oweh, now with Washington, registered a sack in that same NFC East thriller, though it came on the losing side.

The Joey Porter Jr. Mess

And then there's the storyline that refused to resolve itself quietly. Joey Porter Jr. did not play in Week 1 — or Week 2 — as his contract holdout with the Steelers dragged into the new season. Pittsburgh did not extend Porter before the opener, and the impasse has since generated a stream of trade speculation. According to Pro Football Talk, at least one team has already called the Steelers about acquiring him. Bleacher Report reported that Pittsburgh does not "intend to break" on its contract stance, while Sports Illustrated cited an insider who believes Porter wants out entirely.

The trade market, however, may be more complicated than Porter's camp hopes. An AFC executive, per Heavy Sports, drew a pointed distinction between Porter and the $30M cornerbacks currently setting the market. Porter was then ruled out for Week 2 against the Patriots due to a back injury and conditioning concerns, keeping the situation murky heading into the second week of the season.

Steelers assistant head coach Joe Whitt Jr. pushed back on negative characterizations of Porter's attitude during the holdout, telling reporters the public narrative isn't matching what the team sees internally. That's a notable data point — but it doesn't change the fact that one of Penn State's most prominent NFL alumni is watching games in street clothes while Pittsburgh navigates a standoff with no clear end in sight.

The Porter Saga: Pittsburgh's Most Expensive Waiting Game

No Penn State alumni story dominated the NFL's opening week like Joey Porter Jr.'s contract standoff with the Pittsburgh Steelers. With extension talks dragging into the final hours before the team's Week 1 matchup against the Falcons, Porter made clear he wants to stay in Pittsburgh — but not at the cost of leaving money on the table. The CB publicly denied reports that he was chasing a record-breaking deal, while simultaneously putting the Steelers on notice that the clock was running out.

Pittsburgh wasn't bluffing about its contingency planning. The Steelers elevated defensive back Doneiko Slaughter from the practice squad to the active roster — a move widely read as insurance against Porter sitting. A CB elevation ahead of a season opener is not a routine transaction; it's a franchise signaling to its cornerback that it will find a way forward with or without him. Porter was ultimately listed as questionable, leaving his Week 1 status unresolved heading into game day.

The stalemate reflects a broader tension that's defined Porter's relationship with the organization: he's established himself as one of Pittsburgh's most important defenders, and he knows it. Whether the two sides bridge the gap before the regular season kicks into full gear remains the central Penn State alumni storyline to watch in Week 1 and beyond.

Kalen King Cashes In on Cardinals' Injury Misfortune

While Porter's situation plays out under a cloud, fellow Nittany Lion Kalen King got a clearer opportunity. The Arizona Cardinals elevated King from the practice squad ahead of their Week 1 clash against the Los Angeles Chargers, with the move triggered by an injury to cornerback Garrett Williams. It's a standard elevation in mechanics, but meaningful in substance — King gets a live NFL audition with the Cardinals' defense short-handed and in need of reliable depth at the position.

King, a 2023 third-round pick, has been grinding at the roster bubble. A strong showing in Arizona's opener could be the difference between a practice squad assignment and a permanent active roster spot.

Juice Scruggs: From Trade Afterthought to Day-One Starter

The most quietly impressive Penn State alumni development of the week belongs to Juice Scruggs. When the Detroit Lions sent running back David Montgomery to the Houston Texans in March, Scruggs was bundled into the deal largely as a salary-dump add-on alongside draft picks. Few gave him a second look. Fast forward to Week 1, and Scruggs is Detroit's starting center.

It's a remarkable pivot. Scruggs beat out the competition in training camp to earn the job outright, turning a transaction that barely registered at the time into a genuine opportunity at one of football's most cerebral positions. For a Lions offensive line aiming to protect Jared Goff and fuel a contending offense, the center role is no afterthought — and neither is Scruggs anymore.

Around the League

Elsewhere in the Penn State alumni network, DaQuan Jones signed with the New England Patriots on a reported $6 million deal, giving him a fresh start after a stint with the Bills. Odafe Oweh cleared the injury report for Washington ahead of their Week 1 matchup against the Eagles, getting a clean bill of health just in time to face Saquon Barkley and Philadelphia's offense. Barkley himself continues to be a focal point for opposing defensive coordinators entering his third season with the Eagles.

Penn State's NFL footprint is impossible to miss heading into the 2026 season — but not always for the reasons Nittany Lion fans would prefer. Four notable alumni are making waves across the league, ranging from a sobering injury update to contentious contract standoffs to an outright roster cut.

Parsons Lands on IR, but an October Return Is the Target

The biggest name is also the most complicated story. The Green Bay Packers officially placed Micah Parsons on injured reserve to open the regular season as he continues his recovery from a torn ACL suffered last December. Parsons started training camp on the physically unable to perform list, but the timeline offers a sliver of optimism: reports indicate he could begin practicing around Week 2 and potentially be activated as early as Week 5. In 2025, Parsons was dominant for Green Bay, logging 41 tackles, 12.5 sacks, 2 forced fumbles, and 48 quarterback pressures. The Packers, who traded for Parsons expecting an elite pass rush, are now scrambling to find a credible short-term replacement — with the front office publicly messaging readiness while privately scouting veteran options. Green Bay's edge rusher depth behind Parsons has drawn pointed criticism, and the pressure is on GM Brian Gutekunst to bridge the gap.

Porter Jr. Holds Out, but Steelers Won't Blink

In Pittsburgh, another Penn Stater is making headlines for what he's refusing to do. Cornerback Joey Porter Jr. is in the middle of a contract holdout, openly stating he might sit out Week 1 if a new deal isn't reached. Head coach Mike McCarthy confirmed Porter Jr. did return to practice at one point, calling his effort "a good job," but the underlying standoff with the franchise hasn't resolved. Pittsburgh has long maintained a strict internal pay hierarchy, and some observers — including former Steelers players — are urging the team to break that tradition for Porter Jr. Heavy Sports reported the club may lean on a franchise tag approach valued around $23 million as leverage. A Lions trade package has even been floated externally, though there's no indication Pittsburgh is entertaining offers.

Washington Wants His Money in Jacksonville

Down in Jacksonville, Parker Washington is pushing for an extension before the season kicks off, and the Jaguars aren't making it easy. Washington showed out in training camp, cementing his role as a key piece of Trevor Lawrence's offense, but the team has offered a "crucial hint" that an immediate extension isn't coming. Per Heavy Sports and Sports Illustrated's coverage of Jacksonville's roster cuts week, Washington's situation remains unresolved with the Browns opener looming. The receiver is reportedly channeling his frustration while staying engaged — a difficult balancing act for a player trying to prove his worth in real time.

Tinsley Waived by the Bengals

Mitchell Tinsley was cut by the Bengals, per Yahoo Sports, raising questions about whether he would find a home elsewhere. The active alumni data indicates Tinsley landed with the Texans, suggesting he cleared waivers or was quickly claimed after the move. For the former Penn State wideout, it's a reset moment heading into a critical stretch of his young NFL career.

Penn State's NFL pipeline remains one of the deepest in the sport, but Week 1 of 2026 arrives with the program's most prominent alumni navigating injuries, leverage battles, and roster uncertainty rather than celebrating fresh starts.

Penn State's NFL alumni are making headlines for all different reasons this week — one climbing the league's prestige rankings, one stuck in a contract standoff that could end his Pittsburgh tenure, and one landing a fresh start in New England.

Micah Parsons: No. 8 and Still Rising

Micah Parsons landed eighth overall on the NFL Top 100 — the player-voted list that serves as the league's informal peer-review — cementing his status as one of the game's elite pass rushers even after his move from Dallas to Green Bay. The edge rusher has been active off the field too, praising Lions running back Jahmyr Gibbs as "the fastest person I've ever seen on the field," a notable nod to a divisional rival. Parsons enters 2026 as the face of a Packers defense that figures to lean heavily on his disruptive ability in the NFC North.

Joey Porter Jr.: Pittsburgh's Unresolved Headache

The more urgent Penn State storyline is unfolding in Pittsburgh, where cornerback Joey Porter Jr. remains in a full contract standoff with the Steelers. Head coach Mike McCarthy publicly acknowledged the team has reached an "impasse" with Porter, who is holding in rather than holding out as he seeks a new deal heading into the final year of his rookie contract. The situation has grown uncomfortable enough that trade speculation is swirling — the Cowboys have been named among potential landing spots, and analysts have been publishing trade package proposals with increasing specificity.

Some leverage analysis cuts Pittsburgh's way: the Steelers hold the fifth-year option and Porter has no route to unrestricted free agency until a deal is done or the season plays out. But with Week 1 approaching and McCarthy admitting the team is stuck, the clock is adding pressure to both sides. Porter is widely regarded as one of the better young corners in the AFC — losing him, or alienating him into a down year, would meaningfully hurt a Steelers secondary already navigating its own roster questions.

Jaylen Reed: New England's Calculated Acquisition

While Porter's future in Pittsburgh is uncertain, Penn State safety Jaylen Reed is starting fresh after landing with the New England Patriots in the trade that sent receiver Kayshon Boutte to the Houston Texans. New England received Reed and a 2028 seventh-round pick in the deal.

The Patriots weren't passive participants — Patriots GM Eliot Wolf made clear that acquiring Reed was a deliberate priority, not a byproduct of moving Boutte. Wolf said Reed was "someone we wanted to acquire," framing the trade as a targeted defensive back addition rather than a salary-dump maneuver. Analysis from Yahoo Sports positioned Reed as filling a foundational role in New England's defense, with long-term upside as the franchise continues its rebuild. For a Penn State safety who has flashed starting potential, the Patriots represent a real opportunity for expanded responsibility.

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Three alumni, three distinct trajectories. Parsons is at the peak of the league's esteem. Porter is at a crossroads that could define where he plays the next several years. Reed is at the start of something new. For Nittany Lions fans tracking the NFL footprint, this is one of the more eventful weeks of the offseason.