Spartans in the pros: Lawrence Thomas finds new home in Jets’ backfield

LANSING — Lawrence Thomas can best be described as the Jets’ new Swiss army knife.

Last week, the former Michigan State Spartan became the first New York player in three seasons to play offense, defense and special teams in one game. He came to camp a defensive end, wearing No. 97. Now, he is the bruising tailback in the No. 44 jersey.

"He's going to line up at fullback, but he'll play defense in emergencies," coach Todd Bowles told ESPN.com.

He did just that Sunday, catching one pass for five yards in a controversial 24-17 home loss to rival New England. He now has two receptions for 20 yards on the season. The undrafted Thomas only appeared in three games for the Jets in last season. A shoulder injury ended his rookie campaign.

“It feels good just to be able to do so much at the highest level," Thomas told ESPN.com. "It's like going back to my roots -- little league football, high school and college. I like being able to do everything, being the versatile player that I am. It's showing I can do it all right now at this high level."

This isn’t Thomas’ first time playing the role of lead blocker. As a freshman at MSU, Thomas caught seven passes out of the backfield and blocked for a guy named Le’Veon Bell. He spent his final three seasons on the Spartans’ defensive line.

His focus is now on protecting the quarterback, not crushing him. And he hopes another first is on the horizon.

"Scoring a touchdown would be amazing," he told the website. "It would be a dream come true, but I just want to do what's best for the team."

Here’s how the rest of the Spartans in the NFL fared during Week 6:

Le’Veon Bell, RB, Pittsburgh Steelers — Inconsistency has been the theme for Le’Veon Bell — and the Steelers — through five weeks of the NFL season. Coming off a 47-yard rushing performance in a stunning home loss to Jacksonville, Bell rushed for 179 yards on 32 carries and scored a touchdown Sunday in a 19-13 win over the previously unbeaten Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium. Bell also hauled in three passes for 12 yards for the 3-2 Steelers.

Shilique Calhoun, LB, Oakland Raiders — Shilique Calhoun may not have gotten on the stat sheet for the Raiders Sunday in a 17-16 home loss to the Chargers, but he was in uniform. Last Saturday, the 6-foot-4, 250-pound linebacker was signed to the active roster after spending the first five games of the season on the practice squad. The third-round pick of the Raiders in 2016 totaled five tackles and half a sack in his first 10 games with the silver and black before suffering a season-ending knee injury. Now, he’s back.

Garrett Celek, TE, San Francisco 49ers — Garrett Celek hasn’t caught more than one pass in a game this season. That didn’t change Sunday in a 26-24 loss to the Redskins. Celek, a sixth-year tight end out of Michigan State, caught one pass for 13 yards for the winless Niners. This season, Celek has four receptions for 26 yards and a touchdown.

Jack Conklin, T, Tennessee Titans — Tennessee snapped an 11-game losing streak against Indianapolis Monday night behind a big passing night from Marcus Mariota, who missed the last game with a hamstring injury. Second-year All-pro right tackle Jack Conklin helped open holes for Derrick Henry, who rushed for a season-high 131 yards and a touchdown in the 36-22 win in Nashville. Running back DeMarco Murray also found the end zone behind Conklin and Co.

Kirk Cousins, QB, Washington Redskins — Coming off a bye week, Washington quarterback Kirk Cousins completed 25 of 37 throws for 330 yards and a pair of touchdowns Sunday in a 26-24 win over the winless San Francisco 49ers. Cousins, a Holland native, also rushed for a score in the Redskins’ third win of the season. He also threw a pick, only his second of the 2017 campaign.

Demetrious Cox, S, Carolina Panthers — Rookie safety Demetrious Cox saw his first extended action Thursday night in a 28-23 home loss to the Philadelphia Eagles, racking up four tackles out of the Carolina secondary. Cox, who went undrafted, played limited minutes in wins over Detroit and New England earlier this season.

Kurtis Drummond, S, Houston Texans — What is better for stats than playing the Cleveland Browns? I’m sure Kurtis Drummond would agree. The third-year safety out of MSU tallied five tackles and a sack Sunday in a 33-17 win over the 0-6 Browns. Drummond now has eight tackles and a pair of assists for the Deshaun Watson-led Texans.

Bennie Fowler, WR, Denver Broncos — With Emmanuel Sanders sidelined with an injury and Demaryius Thomas hobbled through much of Sunday night, Bennie Fowler became a primary target for Denver QB Trevor Siemian. He was targeted eight times — he only caught three passes. Fowler racked up a pedestrian 21 yards in a 23-10 drubbing at the hands of the previously winless Giants. Fowler now has 13 catches for 140 yards and two touchdowns on the season.

William Gholston, DE, Tampa Bay Buccaneers — Adrian Peterson played like the Adrian Peterson of old on Sunday. That wasn't good news for William Gholston and the Bucs. Peterson gashed the Tampa Bay defense for 134 yards and a pair of touchdowns in his Cardinals debut and Arizona held on for a 38-33 win. Gholston, a fifth-year defensive end, tallied a tackle in the loss.

Joel Heath, DE, Houston Texans — Coming off his best performance of the season — four tackles and a sack — in a loss to the Chiefs in week five, Joel Heath capped week six with a one tackle performance in a 33-17 win Sunday over the visiting Cleveland Browns.

Brian Hoyer, QB, San Francisco 49ers — Last week, Brian Hoyer threw a pair of touchdown passes and wasn’t picked off for the first time all season. Sunday afternoon in Washington, he was benched. Hoyer completed only 4 of 11 passes for 34 yards in a 26-24 loss to the Redskins. He was replaced by former Iowa standout CJ Beathard, who threw for 245 yards and a score, in mop-up duty. It was enough to earn the starting job next week when the Cowboys visit Levi’s Stadium.

Montae Nicholson, S, Washington Redskins — Rookie safety Montae Nicholson finished with four solo tackles and a pair of assists in a 26-24 home win over the winless 49ers Sunday. Unfortunately, no one will remember this game for Nicholson’s solid performance, but instead a violent hit that sent his helmet flying and left him kicking and shaking on the field. After he successfully cleared concussion protocol, Nicholson returned to the Redskins’ secondary during the second half.

Domata Peko, DT, Denver Broncos — Denver’s top-ranked rush defense, led by Domata Peko, hasn’t allowed a 100-yard rusher this season. That is until Orleans Darkwa and the Giants gashed the Broncos for 148 yards in a 23-10 upset Sunday night at Mile High Stadium. Peko, the 12th-year defensive tackle out of MSU, tallied three solo tackles and four assists in the stunning loss to the previously winless Giants. He also finished with a “stuff.”

Taybor Pepper, LS, Green Bay Packers — Green Bay long snapper Taybor Pepper executed six punt snaps, a field goal and an extra point Sunday in a 23-10 loss to rival Minnesota. With quarterback Aaron Rodgers possibly lost for the season with a collarbone injury, Pepper’s workload is sure to increase. Punting-wise, anyway.

MORE FROM CODY TUCKER:

* Michigan State football in-game fan rants and raves — Minnesota edition 

* At the Izzone Campout, making a connection 

* Vegas shooting hits too close to home for Michigan State's Ben Carter

Dion Sims, TE, Chicago Bears — It’s safe to say that Dion Sims is happy with the quarterback change in Chicago. A week after catching a pass for 17 yards, Sims hauled in two passes Sunday, including a 27-yard touchdown strike from rookie Mitchell Trubisky in a 27-24 road win over Baltimore. Sims now has six catches for 98 yards and a score during the 2017 campaign. Trubisky has targeted Sims eight times through two games.

Trae Waynes, CB, Minnesota Vikings — Trae Waynes picked off his second pass of the season Sunday in a 23-10 home win over the Packers. Waynes, a 2015 first-round pick of the Vikings, also finished with six solo tackles and a “stuff” in the win. He also knocked down a pass.

— Cody Tucker