Wheaton headed to NFL playoffs
January 06, 2016 | Football
Former Oregon State wide receiver Markus Wheaton (No. 11, pictured above) will play against Cincinnati in the National Football League playoffs on Saturday as he leads a vanguard of Beavers into the postseason.
Linebacker D.J. Alexander and cornerback Steven Nelson of Kansas City will also make their playoff debuts on Saturday when the Chiefs play the Houston Texans. Steven Jackson of the New England Patriots will play on Jan. 16 and Mike Remmers, Dwan Edwards and Derek Anderson of Carolina will play on Jan. 17.
Here is a roundup of how all the Beavers in the NFL fared in the regular season:
D.J.ALEXANDER (2011-14), KANSAS CITY: The rookie linebacker had 13 tackles for the Chiefs, who play at Houston on Saturday in the opening round of the playoffs.
DEREK ANDERSON (2001-04), CAROLINA: The quarterback was 4-for-6 passing for 36 yards, with a long completion of 24 yards, and rushed seven times for minus-2 yards for the Panthers, who begin the playoffs on Jan. 17 against a two-be-determined opponent.
JOSH ANDREWS (2010-13): The Philadelphia offensive lineman had no stats this season.
BRANDON BROWNER (2002-03), NEW ORLEANS: Brandon had 76 tackles and one interception for the Saints.
BRANDIN COOKS (2011-13), NEW ORLEANS: The 2013 Biletnikoff Award winner had 84 receptions for 1,138 yards and nine touchdowns, with a long catch of 78nyards. He also had eight carries for 18 yards, with a long run of 11 yards; two punt returns for six yards, and two tackles.
SCOTT CRICHTON (2011-13), MINNESOTA: The second-year defensive end had eight tackles before going on injured reserve on Dec. 19.
DWAN EDWARDS (2000-03), CAROLINA: The veteran defensive tackle had 14 tackles for the Panthers, who open the playoffs on Jan. 17 against a two-be-determined opponent.
OBUM GWACHAM (2011-14), NEW ORLEANS: The rookie linebacker had eight tackles and one fumble recovery for the Saints after being claimed on waivers from Seattle just before the start of the season.
CONNOR HAMLETT (2011-14), CLEVELAND: The rookie tight end signed a futures/reserve contract with the Browns on Jan. 5. He spent most of the season on the New Orleans and Cleveland practice squads.
JOHNNY HEKKER (2008-11), ST. LOUIS: The punter averaged 47.9 yards on 96 punts, with a long of 68 yards, had 41 punts downed inside the 20, was 1-for-4 passing for 20 yards and had two tackles for the Rams. He was selected to play in the 2016 National Football League Pro Bowl, to be played on Jan. 31 at Aloha Stadium in Honolulu. He was the only OSU alum chosen for the game.
STEVEN JACKSON (2001-03), NEW ENGLAND: The running back gained 50 yards on 21 carries and a TD, with a long run of seven yards, and one reception for 20 yards after being signed with two weeks remaining in the season. He now ranks No. 3 on the list of active rushers, and No. 18 on the NFL's all-time list, with 11,438 career yards. The Patriots open the playoffs at home on Jan. 16 against a two-be-determined opponent.
ANDY LEVITRE (2005-08), ATLANTA: Andy started at left guard all season and had three tackles for the Falcons.
KEENAN LEWIS (2005-08), NEW ORLEANS: Keenan had six tackles before going on injured reserve with a knee injury on Nov. 26.
SEAN MANNION (2011-14), ST. LOUIS: The rookie quarterback was 6-for-7 for 31 yards, with a long play of 11 yards, in his lone appearance for the Rams.
MATT MOORE (2005-06), MIAMI: The quarterback was 1-for-1 passing for 14 yards in his lone appearance this season.
STEVEN NELSON (2013-14), KANSAS CITY: The rookie defensive back had eight tackles for the Chiefs, who play at Houston on Saturday in the opening round of the playoffs.
STEPHEN PAEA (2008-10), WASHINGTON: The former Morris Trophy winner had 19 tackles before going on injured reserve on Dec. 11 with a toe injury.
JORDAN POYER (20009-12), CLEVELAND: The former All-American cornerback had 43 tackles; had 24 return yards on two interceptions, and had one run for 10 yards for the Browns.
MIKE REMMERS (2008-11), CAROLINA: The offensive right tackle started at right tackle all season and had one tackle for the Panthers, who open the playoffs on Jan. 17 against a to-be-determined opponent.
RASHAAD REYNOLDS (2010-13), JACKSONVILLE: The defensive back was released from the practice squad on Dec. 24.
JACQUIZZ RODGERS (2008-10), CHICAGO: Quizz had 41 yards on 14 carries, with a long run of five yards; one reception for 10 yards; a kickoff return for 15 yards and two tackles before going on injured reserve on Oct. 18 for a broken arm in his first season with the Bears.
TERRON WARD (2011-14), ATLANTA: The rookie running back had 29 carries for 95 yards and a touchdown, with a long run of 13 yards; caught nine passes for 73 yards, with a long play of 18 yards, and had one kickoff return for 10 yards for the Falcons.
MARKUS WHEATON (2009-12), PITTSBURGH: The third-year wide receiver had 44 catches for 749 yards and five TDs, with a long play of 72 yards; had five kickoff returns for 105 yards, with a long of 28 yards, and one tackle for the Steelers, who play at Cincinnati this Saturday in the opening round of the playoffs.
DYLAN WYNN (2011-14), CLEVELAND: The rookie defensive end signed a reserve/futures contract with the Browns on Jan. 5 after spending much of the season on their practice squad.
TYREQUEK ZIMMERMAN (2011-14), ARIZONA: The safety signed a futures/reserve contract with the Cardinals on Jan. 5. He was released from Cleveland's practice squad on Oct. 19.
