Wildcats in the NFL – Week 1
MANHATTAN, Kan. (Kansas State Athletics) – Each week throughout the 2022 season, k-statesports.com recaps the action for the 14 former Kansas State football players currently in the NFL.
Timmy Horne, DL – Atlanta Falcons
A rookie free agent who made the active roster, Horne carded one tackle in his first-career NFL game in Atlanta’s 27-26 last-minute loss to New Orleans. Horne saw time on 19 defensive snaps while also playing on four special teams plays. The Falcons travel to face the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday.
Elijah Lee, LB – Kansas City Chiefs
Lee signed with his hometown Kansas City Chiefs in the offseason. He began his career as a 2017 draft pick by Minnesota before signing with San Francisco, while he has also played with Detroit and Cleveland during his seven-year career. He helped the Chiefs pick up a 44-21 win at Arizona, making a tackle among his 20 special teams plays while also seeing time on eight defensive snaps. Kansas City hosts the Los Angeles Chargers on Thursday night.
Tyler Lockett, WR – Seattle Seahawks
Lockett began his eighth NFL season by making his 88th-career start, and he came away with three catches for 28 yards as he helped Seattle pick up a 17-16 win against Denver on Monday night. The Seahawks travel to face San Francisco on Sunday.
Cornelius Lucas, OL – Washington Commanders
Lucas, in his eighth season, was in for one offensive snap as a tackle eligible and two special teams plays as Washington hung on for a 28-22 win over Jacksonville. The Commanders travel to face Detroit on Sunday.
AJ Parker, DB – Detroit Lions
Parker, who is in his second season in the NFL, is on Detroit’s practice squad. The Lions lost at home to Philadelphia, 38-35, and they host Washington on Sunday.
Byron Pringle, WR – Chicago Bears
In his first season in Chicago after spending the first four years of his career in Kansas City, Pringle came down with one catch for 22 yards during his 10 offensive snaps in Chicago’s 19-10 comeback win over San Francisco. The Bears travel to face Green Bay on Sunday night.
D.J. Reed, DB – New York Jets
Reed, who signed with the Jets during the offseason prior to his fifth NFL season, intercepted a pass, forced a fumble and made two tackles in New York’s 24-9 loss to Baltimore. The Jets travel to take on Cleveland on Sunday.
.@D7_Reed went up and got it.#BALvsNYJ on CBS pic.twitter.com/CKdt4ZFi24
— New York Jets (@nyjets) September 11, 2022
DJ Reed dedicated his interception Sunday to his dad who passed before the game.
Thinking about you and your family, @D7_Reed
pic.twitter.com/4n5FCHd0jf
— New York Jets (@nyjets) September 12, 2022
The duo of @D7_Reed & @iamSauceGardner on Sunday:
9 targets
1 catch
8 yards(h/t @PFF) pic.twitter.com/fakZ0JdSS4
— New York Jets (@nyjets) September 12, 2022
Dalton Risner, OL – Denver Broncos
Beginning his fourth NFL season, Risner made his 48th career start and was in for all 66 offensive snaps in Denver’s 17-16 Monday night loss at Seattle. Risner has seen time on 2,881 of the Broncos’ 3,322 offensive snaps (86.7%) since he began his career in 2019. The Broncos host Houston on Sunday.
Duke Shelley, DB – Minnesota Vikings
After playing the first three years of his career in Chicago, Shelley was signed to Minnesota’s practice squad just prior to the start of the regular season. The Vikings picked up a 23-7 win over Green Bay, and they travel to face Philadelphia on Monday night.
Kiondre Thomas, CB – Green Bay Packers
After spending the entire 2021 season on the Chargers’ practice squad, Thomas is on Green Bay’s practice squad this season. The Packers fell at Minnesota, 23-7, and they host Chicago on Monday night.
Skylar Thompson, QB – Miami Dolphins
A seventh-round draft choice who made the active roster, Thompson was inactive for Miami’s 20-7 victory over New England. Miami hits the road for the first time in 2022 by traveling to face Baltimore on Sunday.
Cody Whitehair, OL – Chicago Bears
Whitehair began his seventh NFL season by making his 96th-career start and was in for all 58 offensive snaps in Chicago’s 19-10 comeback victory over San Francisco. The Bears will look to start 2-0 for the second time in three years as they play at Green Bay on Monday night.
Jordan Willis, DL – San Francisco 49ers
Willis, in his sixth NFL season, was inactive for San Francisco’s 19-10 loss at Chicago. The 49ers open their home slate on Sunday by hosting Seattle.
Russ Yeast, S – Los Angeles Rams
Yeast, a seventh-round selection in this year’s draft, was inactive for the Rams’ 31-10 home loss to Buffalo last Thursday to kick off the 2022 NFL season. Los Angeles stays home to host Atlanta on Sunday.
