Penn State in the NFL: Week 5
As Week 5 of the NFL season comes to a close, multiple Penn State products are making big plays for their respective teams and emerging as stars.
In the first game of the week on Thursday Night Football, former Penn State wide receiver Allen Robinson continued his dominant season, establishing himself as one of the elite receivers in the NFL. Robinson had 10 receptions, tying his season high, and 90 receiving yards in his matchup against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Even with a new quarterback running the offense in Chicago, Robinson is making the most of his contract year, as he currently leads the league in targets with 57. He should expect to become one of the highest-paid receivers in the game this offseason.
Another pass catcher making a name for himself is Miami Dolphins tight end Mike Gesicki. Coming out of Penn State, Gesicki was known for his elite athleticism, and, boy, did he show that off this weekend in his matchup against the San Francisco 49ers. In the second quarter, Dolphins quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick hit Gesicki on a deep ball that ended up going for 70 yards to put the Dolphins in scoring position. The tight end finished with five receptions for 91 yards, proving that he is becoming a force to be reckoned with in Miami.
Gesicki wasn’t the only former Penn Stater to have a highlight-reel-worthy moment for his team. Philadelphia Eagles running back Miles Sanders broke off a long 74-yard touchdown in the first quarter against Pittsburgh. Sanders did not make much of an impact on the ground aside from this play, as he finished with 80 rushing yards, but he did punch in a 1-yard touchdown in the second quarter. As Sanders ascends into stardom in his sophomore season, it is safe to say that he should no longer be referred to as “Saquon’s former backup.”
Even with the Denver Broncos game against New England being canceled, it was unlikely that we would’ve seen KJ Hamler take the field, as he continues to nurse a hamstring injury. When active, Hamler has shown some flashes of what he was like at Penn State and what he could be for the Broncos, but as injuries continue to derail his season, fans will have to wait to see the electrifying receiver at his best.
In the wake of Houston firing former Penn State head coach Bill O’Brien, the Texans won their first game this Sunday with Romeo Crennel running the show. Even though his stint as the head coach and general manager of the Texans was rocky to say the least, O’Brien should be back with a new team next season as either an offensive coordinator or position coach.
Jakob Schnur is a freshman majoring in broadcast journalism. To contact him, email him at jks6463@psu.edu.
