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WILDCATS IN THE NFL: Week 1

BracketCat takes a look at how former Kansas State Wildcats performed in Week 1 of the 2015 NFL season.

Tyler Lockett made a huge splash in the first week of the 2015 National Football League season. Find out what the other K-Staters in the NFL did in the return of this regular feature.
Tyler Lockett made a huge splash in the first week of the 2015 National Football League season. Find out what the other K-Staters in the NFL did in the return of this regular feature.
Dilip Vishwanat/Getty Images

This is a feature in which I track the progress of former Wildcats such as Tyler Lockett and Darren Sproles in the ranks of professional football.

This feature still is restricted to National Football League performances for now due to my time constraints, but expanding it to other professional leagues such as the Canadian Football League and Arena Football remains a future possibility.

Players are ordered by position, but inactive players are listed at the bottom. I hope that helps people to find the performances they're seeking more easily.

Offense

Tyler Lockett

WR — Seattle Seahawks
K-Stater from 2011 to 2014
Drafted by the Seahawks in 2015

Lockett shined in his NFL debut as the 2015 third-round pick carded 153 all-purpose yards — highlighted by a 57-yard punt return touchdown — but it wasn’t enough Sunday as Seattle fell, 34-31, at St. Louis in overtime.

Lockett, who had touchdowns via a kickoff return, punt return and reception in the preseason, caught all four passes intended for him for 34 yards, while he averaged 28 yards on two kickoff returns.

His 153 all-purpose yards during week one was the fifth most in the NFL, just 2 yards ahead of another former Wildcat, Darren Sproles.

Cornelius Lucas

OL — Detroit Lions
K-Stater from 2009 to 2013
Signed by the Lions in 2014

An undrafted rookie free agent signed last year by Detroit, Lucas started at right tackle in the Lions’ 33-28 last-minute loss Sunday at San Diego.

Lucas played in 15 games and made three starts during the regular season in 2014, while he also started the Lions’ playoff game at Dallas.

Darren Sproles

RB — Philadelphia Eagles
K-Stater from 2001 to 2004
Drafted by the Chargers in 2005

Now entering his 11th NFL season and his second with Philadelphia, Sproles carded 151 all-purpose yards — including 76 receiving yards on seven catches — but the Eagles lost Monday night at Atlanta, 26-24.

Sproles also was Philadelphia’s leading rusher, with 50 yards on five carries — highlighted by a 27-yard burst — and 25 punt return yards on three returns.

In his 10-plus seasons, Sproles has 16,883 career all-purpose yards to rank 16th in NFL history and is second among active players.

Defense

Arthur Brown

LB — Baltimore Ravens
K-Stater from 2010 to 2012
Drafted by the Ravens in 2013

Now in his third year in Baltimore, Brown played in the Ravens’ 19-13 loss Sunday at Denver, but did not record any statistics.

A second-round draft pick in the 2013 NFL Draft, Brown has played in 18 career games, but with just 15 tackles.

Emmanuel Lamur

LB — Cincinnati Bengals
K-Stater from 2009 to 2011
Signed by the Bengals in 2012

An undrafted rookie free agent signed by Cincinnati in 2012, Lamur made a pair of tackles — including one special teams stop — in the Bengals’ 33-13 win Sunday at Oakland.

In three years, Lamur has totaled 113 tackles, eight passes defended and two interceptions.

Terence Newman

CB — Minnesota Vikings
K-Stater from 1998 to 2002
Drafted by the Cowboys in 2003

Now playing in his 13th NFL season and his first as a member of the Vikings, Newman started and made seven tackles in Minnesota’s 20-3 loss Monday night at San Francisco.

It was Newman’s 175th career game played, including his 173rd career start, as he suits up for his third team (Dallas in 2003 to 2011, and Cincinnati in 2012 to 2014).

Newman now has 748 tackles, two sacks, 147 passes defended and 37 interceptions in his career.

Justin Tuggle

LB — Houston Texans
K-Stater from 2011 to 2012
Signed by the Texans in 2013

An undrafted rookie free agent signed by Houston prior to the 2013 season, Tuggle played in the Texans’ 27-20 home loss Sunday to Kansas City, but did not record any statistics.

In his two-plus-year career, Tuggle has made 53 tackles, two passes defended and recorded one interception.

Inactive

Bryce Brown

RB — Buffalo Bills
K-Stater from 2010 to 2011
Drafted by the Eagles in 2012

A seventh-round pick in 2012 by Philadelphia who was traded to Buffalo last offseason, Brown was inactive for the Bills’ 27-14 victory Sunday over Indianapolis.

Randall Evans

DB — Philadelphia Eagles
K-Stater from 2010 to 2014
Drafted by the Eagles in 2015

Evans, a 2015 sixth-round draft pick by Philadelphia, is on the Eagles’ practice squad. Philadelphia fell Monday night at Atlanta, 26-24.

Chris Harper

WR — New York Giants
K-Stater from 2010 to 2012
Drafted by the Seahawks in 2013

Harper, a 2013 draft pick by Seattle who also has played for San Francisco and Green Bay, is on injured reserve for the New York Giants. The Giants lost Sunday night at Dallas, 27-26.

Ryan Mueller

LB — San Diego Chargers
K-Stater from 2010 to 2014
Signed by the Chargers in 2015

An undrafted free agent signed by San Diego in 2015, Mueller is on the Chargers’ practice squad. San Diego came from behind Sunday to defeat Detroit, 33-28.

Jordy Nelson

WR — Green Bay Packers
K-Stater from 2003 to 2007
Drafted by the Packers in 2008

A Pro Bowler in 2014, Nelson unfortunately will be out for the entire 2015 season after suffering an anterior cruciate ligament injury during the preseason.

Nelson has totaled 400 receptions for 6,109 yards and 49 touchdowns in his seven-year career, including a 98-reception, 1,519-yard, 13-touchdown effort in 2014.