Notre Dame in the NFL, Week 16: Two former Irish players on Pro Bowl games rosters
Former Notre Dame offensive linemen Zack Martin and Quenton Nelson have played a combined 14 NFL seasons, the former entirely with the Dallas Cowboys and the latter with the Indianapolis Colts. They have now made 13 total Pro Bowls.
Martin and Nelson were named to the NFC and AFC rosters for the 2023 Pro Bowl Games. This is the second straight selection and eighth overall for Martin, who has been the Cowboys’ starting right guard since 2014. Nelson has made the Pro Bowl in each of his first five seasons as the Colts’ left guard.
Martin has not allowed a sack in 15 starts this year and has surrendered just 16 pressures. He has a Pro Football Focus overall grade of 72.5 and a 79.5 pass-blocking grade. His career Pro Bowl selections now outnumber his career holding penalty count (seven). Nelson has allowed 4 sacks and 27 pressures in 15 starts. Both are single-season highs for him. He gave up 4 sacks in his first four seasons combined. His 68.6 PFF overall grade would be a career-low if it holds. His 74.5 pass-blocking grade, though, is up from 62.0 last year.
The Pro Bowl Games are replacing the traditional Pro Bowl format this year. They will include a week of skills competitions and end with a flag football game Feb. 5 at 3 p.m. ET. Peyton and Eli Manning will coach the flag football teams.
Martin and Nelson are two 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 16.
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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 0 pressures in the 49ers’ 37-20 win over the Commanders.
Season: 15 games (all starts), 1 sack and 25 pressures allowed, 61.4 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’ 13-10 loss to the Steelers.
Season: 13 games (12 starts), 3 sacks and 27 pressures allowed, 50.1 PFF overall grade.
Ian Book (2016-20), QB, Philadelphia Eagles
This week: Active but did not play in the Eagles’ 40-34 loss to the Cowboys.
Season: Has not appeared in a game.
Miles Boykin (2015-18), WR, Pittsburgh Steelers
This week: 10 special teams snaps and 13 offensive snaps in the Steelers’ 13-10 win over the Raiders.
Season: 15 games, 8 tackles (181 special teams snaps), 2 catches for 11 yards.
Chase Claypool (2016-19), WR, Chicago Bears
This week: Missed the Bears’ 35-13 loss to the Bills with a knee injury.
Season: 13 games (11 starts), 44 catches for 422 yards and 1 touchdown, and 9 carries for 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’ 37-23 loss to the Panthers.
Season: Has played in 15 games.
Liam Eichenberg (2016-20), OL, Miami Dolphins
This week: Did not play (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: 20 special teams snaps in the Raiders’ 13-10 loss to the Steelers.
Season: 15 games, 11 tackles, 324 special teams snaps.
Alohi Gilman (2017-19), S, Los Angeles Chargers
This week: 6 tackles in the Chargers’ 20-3 win over the Colts.
Season: 15 games (four starts), 50 tackles, 1 interception, 2 passes broken up.
Robert Hainsey (2017-20), C, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
This week: Started at center and allowed 1 pressure in the Bucs’ 19-16 overtime win over the Cardinals.
Season: 15 games (all starts), 0 sacks and 19 pressures allowed, 69.0 PFF overall grade.
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Kyle Hamilton (2019-21), S, Baltimore Ravens
This week: Started and made 3 tackles with 1 pass broken up in the Ravens’ 17-9 win over the Falcons.
Season: 14 games (2 starts), 50 tackles, 2 sacks, 4 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: Made 2 tackles in the Texans’ 19-14 win over the Titans.
Season: 14 games (three starts), 16 tackles, 8 pressures.
J.J. Jansen (2004-07), LS, Carolina Panthers
This week: Was the long snapper in the Panthers’ 37-23 win over the Lions.
Season: Has played in 15 games.
Jamir Jones (2016-19), DL, Pittsburgh Steelers
This week: 2 defensive snaps and 11 special teams snaps in the Steelers’ 13-10 win over the Raiders.
Season: 15 games, 8 tackles, 1 pass broken up.
Tony Jones Jr. (2016-19), RB, Free Agent
This week: Waived by the Seattle Seahawks Dec. 21.
Season: Six games, 10 carries for 24 yards and 5 catches for 30 yards between the Saints and the Seahawks … Waived by the Saints Oct. 8 and claimed by the Seahawks Oct. 10.
Khalid Kareem (2016-19), DL, Indianapolis Colts
This week: 2 pressures in the Colts’ 20-3 loss to the Chargers.
Season: Two games, 2 pressures … Signed by Indianapolis off the Cincinnati Bengals’ practice squad Nov. 22 … 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: 5 catches for 27 yards in the Bears’ 35-13 loss to the Bills.
Season: 15 games (all starts), 44 catches for 460 yards and 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: 6 tackles and 1 pass broken up in the Giants’ 27-24 loss to the Vikings.
Season: 15 games (all starts), 120 tackles, 1 sack, 1 forced fumble, 1 fumble recovery, 3 passes broken up and 2 interceptions.
Nick Martin (2011-15), C, Washington Commanders
This week: Active but did not see action in the Commanders’ 37-20 loss to the 49ers.
Season: Three games (two starts), 4 pressures allowed, 42.6 PFF overall grade.
Zack Martin (2009-13), OG, Dallas Cowboys
This week: Started at right guard and allowed 1 pressure in the Cowboys’ 40-34 win over the Eagles.
Season: 15 games (all starts), 16 pressures allowed, 72.5 PFF overall grade.
Nick McCloud (2020), S, New York Giants
This week: Started and made 2 tackles in the Giants’ 27-24 loss to the Vikings.
Season: 12 games (six starts), 36 tackles, 5 passes broken up.
Mike McGlinchey (2013-17), OT, San Francisco 49ers
This week: Started at right tackle and allowed 1 pressure in the 49ers’ 37-20 win over the Commanders.
Season: 15 games (all starts), 5 sacks and 22 pressures allowed, 71.6 PFF overall grade.
Sam Mustipher (2014-18), C, Chicago Bears
This week: Started at center and allowed 2 pressures in the Bears’ 35-13 loss to the Bills.
Season: 15 games (14 starts), 2 sacks and 19 pressures allowed, 63.1 PFF overall grade.
Quenton Nelson (2014-17), OG, Indianapolis Colts
This week: Started at left guard and allowed 1 sack and 3 pressures in the Colts’ 20-3 loss to the Chargers.
Season: 15 games (all starts), 4 sacks and 27 pressures allowed, 68.6 PFF overall grade.
Adetokunbo Ogundeji (2016-20), DE, Atlanta Falcons
This week: 2 tackles in the Falcons’ 17-9 loss to the Ravens.
Season: 14 games (all starts), 37 tackles, 5 pressures and 1 sack.
Julian Okwara (2016-19), LB, Detroit Lions
This week: Placed on injured reserve with an elbow injury Dec. 3.
Season: 10 games (two starts), 17 tackles, 12 pressures, 2 sacks.
Romeo Okwara (2012-15), DE, Detroit Lions
This week: 1 tackle in the Lions’ 37-23 loss to the Panthers.
Season: Three games, 5 tackles, 4 pressures and 2 sacks … Activated from the physically unable to perform list Dec. 4.
Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah (2017-20), LB, Cleveland Browns
This week: Placed on injured reserve Dec. 13 and will miss the rest of the regular season with a foot injury.
Season: 12 games (11 starts), 70 tackles, 4 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) and 12 tackles … Began the season on the practice squad and was signed to the 53-man roster Sept. 21, but was waived Nov. 12.
Kyle Rudolph (2008-10), TE, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
This week: 11 offensive snaps in the Bucs’ 19-16 overtime win over the Cardinals.
Season: Six games, 57 offensive snaps, 2 catches for 20 yards.
Ben Skowronek (2020), WR, Los Angeles Rams
This week: Missed the Rams’ 51-14 win over the Broncos with a calf injury.
Season: 14 games (11 starts), 39 catches for 376 yards, 1 carry for 17 yards and a touchdown.
Harrison Smith (2007-11), S, Minnesota Vikings
This week: 3 tackles in the Vikings’ 27-24 win over the Giants.
Season: 13 games (all starts), 77 tackles, 5 interceptions, 5 passes broken up.
Jaylon Smith (2013-15), LB, New York Giants
This week: 10 tackles and 1 sack in the Giants’ 27-24 loss to the Vikings.
Season: 12 games (10 starts), 79 tackles, 1 sack and 1 fumble recovery.
Durham Smythe (2013-17), TE, Miami Dolphins
This week: 1 catch for 8 yards in the Dolphins’ 26-20 loss to the Packers.
Season: 14 games (13 starts), 11 catches for 81 yards and 1 touchdown, 2 rushing attempts for 1 yard and 1 touchdown.
Equanimeous St. Brown (2015-17), WR, Chicago Bears
This week: Missed the Bears’ 35-13 loss to the Bills with a concussion.
Season: 14 games (all starts), 18 catches for 300 yards and 1 touchdown, 6 carries for 54 yards.
Ronnie Stanley (2012-15), OT, Baltimore Ravens
This week: Started at left tackle and allowed 1 pressure in the Ravens’ 17-9 win over the Falcons
Season: Nine games (all starts), 9 pressures allowed, 73.2 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: 1 tackle in the Raiders’ 13-10 loss to the Steelers.
Season: 13 games (three starts), 16 tackles, 17 pressures, 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: 11 tackles and 1 sack in the Chargers’ 20-3 win over the Colts.
Season: 15 games (14 starts), 129 tackles, 5 sacks, 4 passes broken up, 1 interception, 1 forced fumble.
Tommy Tremble (2018-20), TE, Carolina Panthers
This week: 2 catches for 18 yards in the Panthers’ 37-23 win over the Lions.
Season: 15 games (four starts), 15 catches for 139 yards and 2 touchdowns.
Kyren Williams (2019-21), RB, Los Angeles Rams
This week: 6 carries for 18 yards and 1 catch for 3 yards in the Rams’ 51-14 win over the Broncos.
Season: Eight games, 33 carries for 133 yards, 9 catches for 76 yards.
Brock Wright (2017-20), TE, Detroit Lions
This week: 1 catch for 11 yards in the Lions’ 37-23 loss to the Panthers.
Season: 15 games (eight starts), 15 catches, 203 yards, 2 touchdowns.
