Penn State’s NFL footprint was front and center during final roster cutdown weekend, with Micah Parsons’ status grabbing the biggest spotlight and a wave of former Nittany Lions now waiting to see what comes next.
The headline belongs to Parsons, the former Penn State All-American who was officially placed on the Reserve/Physically Unable to Perform list by the Green Bay Packers on Sunday. That move locks in a minimum four-game absence to open the 2026 season as he continues working back from the torn ACL he suffered late last year.
The decision had been expected, but now it’s official. Parsons has said a return in October is still the goal, though Green Bay is clearly going to be careful with one of the NFL’s top defensive players.
Beyond Parsons, Sunday brought a long list of Penn State names caught up in the league-wide roster trim. Among those waived were linebacker Dominic DeLuca, center Nick Dawkins and linebacker Adisa Isaac by the Baltimore Ravens; quarterback Sean Clifford, cornerback Jalen Kimber and wide receiver Mitch Tinsley by the Cincinnati Bengals; defensive back Kalen King by the Arizona Cardinals; offensive tackle Nolan Rucci by the Indianapolis Colts; wide receiver Trebor Pena by the Jacksonville Jaguars; long snapper Tyler Duzansky by the Las Vegas Raiders; wide receiver Liam Clifford and receiver Devonte Ross by the Los Angeles Chargers; and tight end Khalil Dinkins by the San Francisco 49ers.
The next day will matter for plenty of those players, since claims can still be made before practice squads start to come into focus. For names like DeLuca, Dawkins, Clifford and King, the weekend’s transactions may not be the end of the road. It’s just the latest test in the push to stick around in the NFL.
In Other News...
Two Former Penn State Rookies Face An Uncertain NFL Turn
A pair of former Penn State rookies are suddenly back on the open market after the latest round of NFL roster cuts. Offensive lineman Nolan Rucci was released by the Indianapolis Colts after dealing with injuries in training camp, while long snapper Tyler Duzansky was let go by the Las Vegas Raiders as they trimmed down their roster ahead of the season.
Rucci went undrafted in 2026 but had still managed to start games for Indianapolis, giving him a path that now depends on what comes next. Duzansky, who signed a three-year deal with the Raiders as an undrafted free agent, lost the long snapper job to Alex Ward and could return if he clears waivers, leaving both former Nittany Lions in an uncertain spot as teams settle their final plans. [Read more 🡒]
Penn State Fans Just Got A Reminder About Their QB Depth
Virginia Techs quarterback decision has a Penn State angle attached to it, since Ethan Grunkemeyer will open the upcoming season as the Hokies starter after transferring out of Happy Valley. The move brings a familiar name back into the conversation for Penn State fans, because Grunkemeyer was forced into action late last season and ended up starting the final six games after the starter went down with an injury.
James Franklin confirmed the choice and had plenty of praise for Grunkemeyers approach, pointing to his work ethic, decision-making and leadership as he prepared for a fresh start. For Penn State, it is also a reminder of how much depth matters at quarterback, especially when a backup who got meaningful reps in a pinch is now heading elsewhere with a chance to run his own offense. [Read more 🡒]
Penn State Players Just Felt The NFL Roster Cut Crunch
The NFLs roster-cut deadline always sends a ripple back to Happy Valley, and this year was no different. By Sunday, teams had trimmed down to 53 players, and several former Penn State standouts were part of the squeeze, including Adisa Isaac, Jesse Luketa, Will Levis and Sean Clifford. For a program that keeps producing pros, the cutdown day serves as a reminder of how crowded the path can be even for players with college rsums that once made them fixtures in State College.
Still, the broader picture remains strong for Penn States NFL pipeline. More than two dozen former Nittany Lions are set to open the 2026 season on active rosters, a group spread across the league and giving the program a steady presence on Sundays. The full list is long, which is part of the point: even as a few names hit the waiver wire, Penn States footprint in the pros remains sizable, and there will be plenty of eyes on which of those recent cuts find another landing spot. [Read more 🡒]