As the NFL regular season concluded this past weekend, several ex-Penn State Nittany Lions made notable contributions for their teams. Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Parker Washington and tight end Brenton Strange each scored touchdowns in a dominant win over the Tennessee Titans. Other former players also stood out in their respective games.
The NFL's regular season ended on Sunday, with former Penn State players delivering key performances across the league.
In Jacksonville's 41-7 victory over the Tennessee Titans, wide receiver Parker Washington led the team in receiving yards for the third straight week. He caught five passes for 87 yards on nine targets, including a 23-yard touchdown reception midway through the first quarter that gave the Jaguars an early lead. Washington wrapped up his third NFL season with career highs of 58 receptions, 847 yards, and five touchdowns. Selected in the sixth round of the 2023 draft, he enters the playoffs with the Jaguars as the No. 3 seed in the AFC, following recent games of 145 yards against the Denver Broncos and 115 against the Indianapolis Colts.
Tight end Brenton Strange complemented Washington's efforts, securing six catches for 52 yards on six targets, highlighted by a 7-yard touchdown in the second quarter. His season totals reached new personal bests with 46 receptions, 540 yards, and three touchdowns, including scores in two of the last three games. Strange, like Washington, will continue into the postseason with Jacksonville.
For the Chicago Bears in a 19-16 loss to the Detroit Lions, safety Jaquan Brisker tied for the team lead with eight tackles, his third consecutive game with at least that many. He added two pass breakups, allowing just three catches for 14 yards on four targets. Brisker's bounce-back year after a prior injury ended with 93 tackles, seven pass breakups, and one interception. The Bears enter the playoffs as the No. 2 seed in the NFC.
Tight end Juwan Johnson led the New Orleans Saints in receiving during a 19-17 defeat to the Atlanta Falcons, with three catches for 61 yards, featuring a one-handed grab. In his sixth NFL season, he set career highs of 77 receptions, 889 yards, and three touchdowns.