Wisniewski appeared in all 16 games in his first season with the Eagles and made six starts. Photo by Jesse Simmers/contrastphotography.com

McGloin thrust into bigger role with Raiders; Hodges, Robinson post big numbers

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa.; Dec. 28, 2016 – A total of 31 Penn State football alumni are populating the active rosters of 22 National Football League teams. The Nittany Lions annually are among the top 20 programs nationally in producing players in the NFL. Each week throughout the year, GoPSUsports.com will provide updates on the exploits of these former Nittany Lion greats.

Former Nittany Lion quarterback Matt McGloin had made just one appearance this season prior to Week 16, but the AFC West-leading Raiders will be counting on the Scranton native as their starter in the final week of the regular season and in the playoffs after starter Derek Carr suffered a season-ending injury in the fourth quarter in a win over the Colts. A pair of Nittany Lions returning their respective teams’ starting lineups enjoyed big games as 49ers linebacker Gerald Hodges tied a career high with 13 stops in a win over the Rams and Steelers tight end Jesse James made four catches for 49 yards in a win over the Ravens, including two for first downs on the game-winning drive. The Jaguars-Titans game featured four active Nittany Lions with the Jacksonville duo of Paul Posluszny and Allen Robinson enjoying the upper-hand, as Posluszny made nine tackles and Robinson made nine catches for a season-high 147 yards.

Adrian Amos (2011-14) FS, Chicago Bears
Redskins 41, Bears 21
Amos made one stop against the Redskins.

NaVorro Bowman (2007-09) LB, San Francisco 49ers
49ers 22, Rams 21
Bowman is out for the season with a torn Achilles.

Kyle Carter (2012-15) TE, Minnesota Vikings
Packers 38, Vikings 25
Carter is on the Vikings practice squad.

Jack Crawford (2008-11) DE, Dallas Cowboys
Cowboys 42, Lions 21
Crawford was in on four tackles and made one quarterback hit in a win over the Lions on Monday night.

Garry Gilliam (2010-12) T, Seattle Seahawks
Cardinals 34, Seahawks 31
Gilliam started and helped protect Russell Wilson as he passed for 350 yards in a loss to the Cardinals.

Robbie Gould (2001-04) K, New York Giants
Eagles 24, Giants 19
Gould converted four field goals with a long of 41 yards, but it was not enough in a divisional matchup with the Eagles.

Christian Hackenberg (2013-15) QB, New York Jets
Patriots 41, Jets 3
Hackenberg was inactive for Week 16. He is slated to serve as the backup quarterback for the Jets in Week 17.

Tamba Hali (2002-05) LB, Kansas City Chiefs
Chiefs 33, Broncos 10
Hali assisted on a tackle in a win over the Broncos.

Chris Hogan (men’s lacrosse 2007-10) WR, New England Patriots
Patriots 41, Jets 3
Hogan made his 13th start and recorded one reception for 22 yards in a rout of the Jets.

Gerald Hodges (2009-12) LB, San Francisco 49ers
49ers 22, Rams 21
Hodges returned to action and tied a career high with 13 tackles (nine solo) in a win over the Rams.

Mike Hull (2011-14) LB, Miami Dolphins
Dolphins 34, Bills 31 (OT)
Hull made a tackle on special teams in an overtime victory over the Bills.

Jesse James (2012-14) TE, Pittsburgh Steelers
Steelers 31, Ravens 27
James started against the Ravens on Christmas and caught four passes for 49 yards, including a 21-yard reception. He had two catches, both for first downs, on the game-winning drive in the fourth quarter.

DaQuan Jones (2010-13) DE, Tennessee Titans
Jaguars 38, Titans 17
Jones started and made three solo tackles against the Jaguars.

Austin Johnson (2012-15) DT, Tennessee Titans
Jaguars 38, Titans 17
Johnson made a pair of tackles against the Jaguars.

Sean Lee (2005-07, 2009) MLB, Dallas Cowboys
Cowboys 42, Lions 21
Lee was in on five tackles in a Monday night win over the Lions. Lee ranks second in the NFL with 145 tackles on the season.

Matt McGloin (2010-12) QB, Oakland Raiders
Raiders 33, Colts 25
McGloin played for the second time this season, entering in the fourth quarter against the Colts to relieve an injured Derek Carr. McGloin completed 2-of-3 passes for 29 yards. He will be Oakland’s likely starter at QB going forward as Carr is out for the season with a broken leg.

Carl Nassib (2011-15) DE, Cleveland Browns
Browns 20, Chargers 17
Nassib made his third start of the season and was in on two stops as the Browns picked up their first win of the season.

Jordan Norwood (2005-08) WR, Denver Broncos
Chiefs 33, Broncos 10
Norwood caught one pass for 17 yards on Christmas.

Jared Odrick (2006-09) DE, Jacksonville Jaguars
Jaguars 38, Titans 17
Odrick was placed on injured reserve prior to Week 14.

Paul Posluszny (2003-06) LB, Jacksonville Jaguars
Jaguars 38, Titans 17
Posluszny recorded a team-high nine tackles (seven solo) and broke up a pass in a win over the Titans. He is tied for ninth in the NFL with 127 tackles this season.

Allen Robinson (2011-13) WR, Jacksonville Jaguars
Jaguars 38, Titans 17
Robinson matched his season high with nine catches for a season-high 147 receiving yards in a win over the Titans.

A.Q. Shipley (2005-08) C, Arizona Cardinals
Cardinals 34, Seahawks 31
Shipley started at center and anchored an offensive line that yielded just one sack in a win over the Seahawks.

Donovan Smith (2012-13) OT, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Saints 31, Buccaneers 24
Smith started in the Bucs’ Christmas Eve contest against the Saints.

Devon Still (2007-11) DT, Houston Texans
Texans 12, Bengals 10
Still is on injured reserve with a foot injury.

Nate Stupar (2008-11) LB, New Orleans Saints
Saints 31, Buccaneers 24
Stupar made two tackles on defense and saw action on special teams in a win over the Bucs.

Ross Travis (men’s basketball 2011-14) TE, Kansas City Chiefs
Chiefs 33, Broncos 10
Travis was inactive in Week 16.

John Urschel (2011-13) OL, Baltimore Ravens
Steelers 31, Ravens 27
Urschel saw action in the Ravens’ Christmas Day contest against the Steelers.

Cameron Wake (2000, 02-04) DE, Miami Dolphins
Dolphins 34, Bills 31 (OT)
Wake recorded a sack and a total of three tackles in an overtime victory over the Bills. It was his third straight game with a sack (at least 0.5 sack in nine of last 10 games). He has 11.5 on the season to rank in a tie for fourth in the NFL.

Trevor Wiliams (2012-15) CB, San Diego Chargers
Browns 20, Chargers 17
Williams made his fourth career start and recorded a career-high six tackles.

Stefen Wisniewski (2007-10) G/C, Philadelphia Eagles
Eagles 24, Giants 19
Wisniewski saw action on 77 percent of the offensive snaps as he and the rest of the Eagles offensive line did not allow a sack in a win over the Giants.

Anthony Zettel, 2012-2015, DL, Detroit Lions
Cowboys 42, Lions 21
Zettel saw action in a Monday Night matchup with the Cowboys.