The 2025 NFL regular season has arrived, folks, and with it comes the return to the field for dozens of Penn State Football alumni. Of course, the veterans suited up in helmets and pads this past week to begin another chapter of their careers, but some promising rookies showed out in their first-ever taste of NFL action as well.

Let’s take a look at how some Nittany Lions fared in week one of the NFL season.

Saquon Barkley, Philadelphia Eagles

Saquon Barkley and the Philadelphia Eagles opened the 2025 season with a 24-20 home win over the Dallas Cowboys on Thursday night. However, the reigning Offensive Player of the Year did not produce the video game numbers we’ve grown accustomed to. Barkley rushed for just 60 yards on 18 carries, averaging a measly three yards per carry. However, the running back was effective in other ways, as he came across the goal line at the end of the first half and hauled in four of his five targets for 24 yards.

Saquon scores from 10 yards out!

DALvsPHI on NBC
Stream on @NFLPlus + Peacock pic.twitter.com/6XGy746eDF

— NFL (@NFL) September 5, 2025

Jaquan Brisker, Chicago Bears

Jaquan Brisker racked up four solo tackles and an assisted tackle during the Chicago Bears’ 27-24 loss to the Minnesota Vikings on Monday Night Football. This is Brisker’s first game back since suffering a major head injury against the Washington Commanders on October 27, 2024.

Abdul Carter, New York Giants

Abdul Carter slowly worked his way into the Giants’ loaded defensive front rotation in New York’s 21-6 loss to the Washington Commanders. The pass rusher finished with three total tackles and half a sack in his debut.

Jahan Dotson, Philadelphia Eagles

Jahan Dotson reeled in all three of his targets for a team-high 59 yards during the Eagles’ 24-20 win over the Cowboys on Thursday night. The former Penn State pass catcher did most of his work on a 51-yard deep ball from Jalen Hurts at the end of the first half.

Hurts to Dotson for 51 yards!

DALvsPHI on NBC
Stream on @NFLPlus + Peacock pic.twitter.com/kLHv6sBygh

— NFL (@NFL) September 5, 2025

Arnold Ebiketie, Atlanta Falcons

Arnold Ebiketie tallied three solo and two assisted tackles in the Atlanta Falcons’ 23-20 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The fourth-year pass rusher was Atlanta’s highest-rated defender on Sunday, boasting a 78.4 PFF grade.

Pat Freiermuth, Pittsburgh Steelers

Pat Freiermuth hauled in all three targets from the seventh starting QB of his career, Aaron Rodgers. Those three catches went for a total of 28 yards and marked two first downs for the Steelers’ offense in their 34-32 win over the New York Jets.

Mike Gesicki, Cincinnati Bengals

Mike Gesicki, another former Penn State tight end, caught just one of his three targets for 14 yards in the Cincinnati Bengals’ 17-16 victory over the Cleveland Browns on Sunday.

Theo Johnson, New York Giants

The slow tight end debuts continued with Theo Johnson, who totaled five yards on a singular catch in New York’s 21-6 loss to the Washington Commanders on Sunday afternoon.

Micah Parsons, Green Bay Packers

Arguably, the most anticipated week one debut belonged to Micah Parsons. After being traded just two weeks before the start of the regular season, the former Penn State linebacker notched a solo tackle and his first sack as a Green Bay Packer in their 27-13 handling of the Detroit Lions. Not too shabby considering the highest-paid non-quarterback in NFL history had minimal time to acclimate with his new squad.

Welcome to Green Bay, Micah Parsons

DETvsGB on CBS/Paramount+https://t.co/HkKw7uXVnt pic.twitter.com/rijPUZ6ELm

— NFL (@NFL) September 7, 2025

Miles Sanders, Dallas Cowboys

Miles Sanders had a polarizing debut for the Dallas Cowboys in the team’s 24-20 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles. The former Philadelphia Eagle totaled 53 yards on four carries, one of which he took for 49 yards deep into the red zone. However, Sanders committed a back-breaking error just four players later, coughing up the football at Philadelphia’s 11-yard line to end a promising, go-ahead scoring drive for Dallas.

Nick Scott, Carolina Panthers

Nick Scott, a seven-year veteran, logged five total tackles and a pass breakup during the Carolina Panthers’ 26-10 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Brenton Strange, Jacksonville Jaguars

Speaking of the Jaguars, Brenton Strange had a strong outing for Jacksonville, reeling in all four of his targets for 59 yards in the winning effort. The Nittany Lion finds himself at the top of the Jaguars’ tight end depth chart to begin the 2025 season and is off to a strong start.

Tyler Warren, Indianapolis Colts

The reigning Mackey Award winner picked up in the NFL right where he left off in Happy Valley. Tyler Warren was targeted nine times, catching seven of them for a total of 76 yards in the Colts’ 33-8 beatdown of the Miami Dolphins.