Notre Dame in the NFL, Week 11: Cole Kmet one-handed catch adds to recent highlight reel
Former Notre Dame and current Chicago Bears tight end Cole Kmet keeps adding to his recent highlight reel. The third-year pro has awoken after a slow first two months to produce 5 touchdowns in his last four games. A three-game touchdown streak ended Sunday in Atlanta, but he replaced a score with what might be his most impressive catch of the year.
Kmet hauled in a 24-yard reception with one hand in the first half of the Bears’ 27-24 loss to the Falcons. It came on a seam route and pushed the Bears to the cusp of the red zone. It was part of a second-quarter field goal drive that gave Chicago a 10-7 lead.
Kmet left his feet, extended his right arm and corralled the ball in his hand. He somehow brought it into his chest as Falcons cornerback A.J. Terrell upended him.
From there, Kmet had a quiet final two-plus quarters, with just 2 catches for 11 yards. This game was, though, his third straight outing with 3 or more catches. He reached that number only twice in his first eight games. He has 14 catches for 161 yards and 5 touchdowns in his last four games. His rise has coincided with the Bears scoring at least 24 points in five straight games after topping 20 twice in the first six games.
Kmet is one of more than 40 former Notre Dame players who are on an NFL roster or practice squad. Here’s a look at how each fared in Week 11.
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Kevin Austin Jr. (Played at Notre Dame from 2018-21), WR, Jacksonville Jaguars
Signed to the Jaguars’ practice squad after being released during final preseason roster cuts and has not appeared in a game.
Aaron Banks (2017-20), OG, San Francisco 49ers
This week: Started at left guard and allowed 2 pressures in the 49ers’ 38-10 win over the Cardinals.
Season: 10 games (all starts), 0 sacks and 14 pressures allowed, 66.3 Pro Football Focus overall grade.
Alex Bars (2014-18), OL, Las Vegas Raiders
This week: Started at right guard and allowed 1 pressure in the Raiders’ 22-16 win over the Broncos.
Season: Nine games (eight starts), 2 sacks and 19 pressures allowed, 43.3 PFF overall grade … Signed to the active roster from the practice squad Oct. 1.
Ian Book (2016-20), QB, Philadelphia Eagles
This week: Inactive for Eagles’ 17-16 win over Colts.
Season: Has not appeared in a game.
Miles Boykin (2015-18), WR, Pittsburgh Steelers
This week: Played 3 snaps on offense and 4 on special teams in the Steelers’ 37-30 loss to the Bengals.
Season: 6 tackles (134 special teams snaps), 1 catch, 11 yards.
Chase Claypool (2016-19), WR, Chicago Bears
This week: 2 catches for 11 yards in the Bears’ 27-24 loss to the Falcons.
Season: 11 games (eight starts), 37 catches, 343 yards and 1 touchdown, 9 carries, 59 yards between the Bears and Steelers … Traded to the Bears Nov. 1.
Scott Daly (2012-15), LS, Detroit Lions
This week: Was the long snapper in the Lions’ 31-18 win over the Giants.
Season: Has played in 10 games.
Liam Eichenberg (2016-20), OL, Miami Dolphins
This week: Off (Placed on injured reserve Nov. 1 with an MCL sprain).
Season: Eight games (all starts), 2 sacks and 19 pressures allowed, 44.9 PFF overall grade.
Matthias Farley (2011-15), S, Las Vegas Raiders
This week: Made 1 tackle in 24 special teams snaps in the Raiders’ 22-16 overtime win over the Broncos.
Season: Nine games, 8 tackles, 205 special teams snaps.
Alohi Gilman (2017-19), S, Los Angeles Chargers
This week: 2 tackles, 1 fumble recovery in the Chargers’ 30-27 loss to the Chiefs.
Season: 10 games (one start), 23 tackles, 1 interception.
Robert Hainsey (2017-20), C, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
This week: Off
Season: 10 games (all starts), 0 sacks and 15 pressures allowed, 64.4 PFF overall grade.
Kyle Hamilton (2019-21), S, Baltimore Ravens
This week: Made 4 tackles in the Ravens’ 13-3 win over the Panthers.
Season: 10 games, 29 tackles, 1 sack, 2 passes broken up, 1 forced fumble.
Daelin Hayes (2016-20), DE, Baltimore Ravens
Waived/injured by the Ravens at final cuts and placed on injured reserve.
Kurt Hinish (2017-21), DT, Houston Texans
This week: Played 31 snaps and had 1 pressure in the Texans’ 23-10 loss to the Commanders.
Season: Nine games (three starts), 13 tackles, 8 pressures.
J.J. Jansen (2004-07), LS, Carolina Panthers
This week: Was the long snapper in the Panthers’ 13-3 loss to the Ravens.
Season: Has played in 11 games.
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Jamir Jones (2016-19), DL, Pittsburgh Steelers
This week: 1 tackle, 3 defensive snaps, 21 special teams snaps in the Steelers’ 37-30 loss to the Bengals.
Season: 10 games, 6 tackles, 1 pass broken up.
Tony Jones Jr. (2016-19), RB, Seattle Seahawks
This week: Off.
Season: Two games, 2 carries for 8 yards, 2 catches for 12 yards, all with the New Orleans Saints … Waived by the Saints Oct. 8 and claimed by the Seahawks Oct. 10 … Has played two games this season, both for New Orleans.
Khalid Kareem (2016-19), DL, Indianapolis Colts
Signed by Indianapolis off the Cincinnati Bengals’ practice squad Tuesday … Signed to the Bengals’ practice squad Oct. 13 two days after the team placed him on waivers … Activated from injured reserve Oct. 10 after missing the Bengals’ first five games due to a hamstring injury.
Cole Kmet (2017-19), TE, Chicago Bears
This week: Started and caught 3 passes for 35 yards in the Bears’ 27-24 loss to the Falcons.
Season: 11 games (all starts), 26 catches, 309 yards, 5 touchdowns.
Tommy Kraemer (2016-20), OL, Detroit Lions
Placed on injured reserve with a back injury Sept. 15 … Has not appeared in a game this season.
Julian Love (2016-18), S, New York Giants
This week: Started and made 8 tackles with 1 pass broken up in the Giants’ 31-18 loss to the Lions.
Season: 10 games (all starts, 65 tackles, 1 sack, 1 forced fumble, 1 fumble recovery, 2 passes broken up and 1 interception.
Nick Martin (2011-15), C, Washington Commanders
This week: Active but did not play in the Commanders’ 23-10 win over the Texans.
Season: Two games (two starts), 4 pressures allowed, 44.3 PFF overall grade.
Zack Martin (2009-13), OG, Dallas Cowboys
This week: Started at right guard and allowed 1 pressure in the Cowboys’ 40-3 win over the Vikings.
Season: 10 games (all starts), 11 pressures allowed, 69.8 PFF overall grade.
Nick McCloud (2020), CB/S, New York Giants
This week: Made 3 tackles in the Giants’ 31-18 loss to the Lions.
Season: 7 games, 11 tackles, 1 pass broken up.
Mike McGlinchey (2013-17), OT, San Francisco 49ers
This week: Started at right tackle and allowed 2 pressures in the 49ers’ 38-10 win over the Cardinals.
Season: 10 games (all starts), 5 sacks and 17 pressures allowed, 69.7 PFF overall grade.
Sam Mustipher (2014-18), C, Chicago Bears
This week: Started at center and allowed 0 pressures in the Bears’ 27-24 loss to the Falcons.
Season: 11 games (10 starts), 13 pressures allowed, 65.3 PFF overall grade.
Quenton Nelson (2014-17), OG, Indianapolis Colts
This week: Started at left guard and allowed 4 pressures in the Colts’ 17-16 loss to the Eagles.
Season: 11 games (all starts), 17 pressures allowed, 69.5 PFF overall grade.
Adetokunbo Ogundeji (2016-20), DE, Atlanta Falcons
This week: Started and made 1 tackle in the Falcons’ 27-24 win over the Bears.
Season: 10 games (all starts), 22 tackles, 1 sack.
Julian Okwara (2016-19), LB, Detroit Lions
This week: Played 32 defensive snaps and had 2 pressures in the Lions’ 31-18 win over the Giants.
Season: Nine games (two starts), 16 tackles, 2 sacks.
Romeo Okwara (2012-15), DE, Detroit Lions
Placed on reserve/physically unable to perform list Aug. 23 and has not played this season … Still rehabbing from torn Achilles suffered in Week 4 of the 2021 season.
Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah (2017-20), LB, Cleveland Browns
This week: Started and made 12 tackles in the Browns’ 31-23 loss to the Bills.
Season: Nine games (eight starts), 51 tackles, 3 passes broken up, 2 forced fumbles.
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Isaac Rochell (2013-16), DL, Cleveland Browns
This week: Signed to Browns practice squad Nov. 15 after clearing waivers.
Season: Six games (one start), 12 tackles … Began the season on the practice squad and was signed to the 53-man roster Sept. 21, but waived Nov. 12.
Kyle Rudolph (2008-10), TE, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
This week: Off.
Season: Five games, 2 catches, 20 yards
Ben Skowronek (2020), WR, Los Angeles Rams
This week: Started and had 1 catch for 4 yards in the Rams’ 27-20 loss to the Saints.
Season: 10 games (seven starts), 27 catches, 249 yards, 1 carry for 17 yards.
Harrison Smith (2007-11), S, Minnesota Vikings
This week: Made 7 tackles in the Vikings’ 40-3 loss to the Cowboys.
Season: Nine games (all starts), 57 tackles, 4 interceptions and 3 passes broken up.
Jaylon Smith (2013-15), LB, New York Giants
This week: Started and made 6 tackles in the Giants’ 31-18 loss to the Lions.
Season: Seven games (five starts), 37 tackles, 1 fumble recovery … Signed to the Giants’ practice squad Sept. 19 and elevated to the active roster Oct. 1.
Durham Smythe (2013-17), TE, Miami Dolphins
This week: Off.
Season: nine games (all starts), 6 catches, 50 yards, 1-yard rushing touchdown.
Equanimeous St. Brown (2015-17), WR, Chicago Bears
This week: 2 catches for 24 yards in the Bears’ 27-24 loss to the Falcons.
Season: 13 catches, 188 yards, 1 touchdown.
Ronnie Stanley (2012-15), OT, Baltimore Ravens
This week: Started at left tackle and allowed 1 pressure in the Ravens’ 13-3 win over the Panthers.
Season: Six games (all starts), 3 pressures allowed, 73.9 PFF overall grade.
Myron Tagovailoa-Amosa (2017-21), DL, Las Vegas Raiders
Placed on the Raiders’ practice squad reserve/injured list Nov. 3 … Signed to the Raiders’ practice squad Aug. 31 after team waived him during final cuts.
Jerry Tillery (2015-18), DT, Las Vegas Raiders
This week: Made 1 tackle in the Raiders’ 22-16 win over the Broncos.
Season: Eight games, 9 tackles, 1 sack between the Raiders and Chargers … Waived by the Chargers Nov. 10 and claimed by the Raiders Nov. 14.
Drue Tranquill (2014-18), LB, Los Angeles Chargers
This week: Started and made 7 tackles in the Chargers’ 30-27 loss to the Chiefs.
Season: 10 games (nine starts), 89 tackles, 3 sacks, 1 pass broken up, 1 interception.
Tommy Tremble (2018-20), TE, Carolina Panthers
This week: Active but did not catch a pass in the Panthers’ 13-3 loss to the Ravens.
Season: 11 games (three starts), 10 catches, 99 yards, 2 touchdowns.
Kyren Williams (2019-21), RB, Los Angeles Rams
This week: 7 carries for 36 yards and 1 catch for 9 yards in the Rams’ 27-20 loss to the Saints.
Season: Three games, 8 carries for 45 yards, 4 catches for 38 yards … activated from injured reserve Nov. 12 after missing seven games with a high ankle sprain.
Brock Wright (2017-20), TE, Detroit Lions
This week: Started and caught 2 passes for 20 yards in the Lions’ 31-18 win over the Giants.
Season: 10 games (five starts), 9 catches, 110 yards, 1 touchdown.
