Notre Dame in the NFL, Week 18: Irish well-represented in playoff field

On3 imageby:Patrick Engel01/09/23

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It’s NFL Playoff time. The 14-team field is set and begins with Wild Card weekend Jan. 14. Notre Dame will be well-represented in it.

Ten of the playoff teams have at least one former Irish player on the roster or practice squad. Nine of the 12 that play in the wild card round can say the same. Here’s a look at all of them:

• Baltimore Ravens: tackle Ronnie Stanley, safety Kyle Hamilton, Daelin Hayes (injured reserve)

• Dallas Cowboys: guard Zack Martin

• Jacksonville Jaguars: wide receiver Kevin Austin Jr. (practice squad)

• Los Angeles Chargers: linebacker Drue Tranquill, safety Alohi Gilman

• Miami Dolphins: tight end Durham Smythe, guard Liam Eichenberg

• Minnesota Vikings: safety Harrison Smith

• New York Giants: safety Julian Love, safety Nick McCloud, linebacker Jaylon Smith

• Philadelphia Eagles: quarterback Ian Book

• San Francisco 49ers: guard Aaron Banks, tackle Mike McGlinchey

• Tampa Bay Buccaneers: tight end Kyle Rudolph, center Robert Hainsey

Of those 18 players, 11 have started at least 10 games this year. Three others made at least five starts or totaled 60 tackles. Three have not played this year.

The Kansas City Chiefs, Seattle Seahawks, Cincinnati Bengals and Buffalo Bills do not have a former Notre Dame player on the roster. Ex-Irish Defensive end Khalid Kareem was on the Bengals’ practice squad earlier this year. Running back Tony Jones Jr. played four games with the Seahawks this season before he was waived.

All told, more than 40 former Notre Dame players saw action in the 2022 NFL season or were on a practice squad. Here’s a look at how each fared in Week 18.

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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: Missed the 49ers’ 38-13 win over the Cardinals due to ankle and knee sprains.

Season: 16 games (all starts), 1 sack and 25 pressures allowed, 62.7 Pro Football Focus overall grade.

Alex Bars (2014-18), OL, Las Vegas Raiders

This week: Started at right guard and allowed 2 sacks and 8 pressures in the Raiders’ 31-13 loss to the Chiefs.

Season: 15 games (14 starts), 5 sacks and 38 pressures allowed, 45.4 PFF overall grade.

Ian Book (2016-20), QB, Philadelphia Eagles

This week: Inactive for the Eagles’ 22-16 win over the Giants.

Season: Did not appear in a game.

Miles Boykin (2015-18), WR, Pittsburgh Steelers

This week: 11 offensive snaps and 12 special teams snaps in the Steelers’ 28-14 win over the Browns.

Season: 16 games, 10 tackles (206 special teams snaps), 2 catches for 11 yards.

Chase Claypool (2016-19), WR, Chicago Bears

This week: 2 catches for 29 yards in the Bears’ 29-13 loss to the Vikings.

Season: 15 games (11 starts), 46 catches for 451 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’ 20-16 win over the Packers.

Season: Played in 17 games.

Liam Eichenberg (2016-20), OL, Miami Dolphins

This week: Started at left guard and allowed 1 pressure in the Dolphins’ 11-6 win over the Jets.

Season: 10 games (all starts), 2 sacks and 27 pressures allowed, 39.8 PFF overall grade.

Matthias Farley (2011-15), S, Las Vegas Raiders

This week: 20 special teams snaps and 1 defensive snap in the Raiders’ 31-13 loss to the Chiefs.

Season: 17 games, 11 tackles, 371 special teams snaps.

Alohi Gilman (2017-19), S, Los Angeles Chargers

This week: 5 tackles and 1 fumble recovery in the Chargers’ 31-28 loss to the Broncos.

Season: 17 games (five starts), 58 tackles, 1 interception, 2 passes broken up, 1 fumble recovery.

Robert Hainsey (2017-20), C, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

This week: Started at center and allowed 1 pressure in the Bucs’ 30-17 loss to the Falcons.

Season: 17 games (all starts), 0 sacks and 21 pressures allowed, 66.6 PFF overall grade.

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Kyle Hamilton (2019-21), S, Baltimore Ravens

This week: Started and made 5 tackles with 1 pass broken up in the Ravens’ 27-16 loss to the Bengals.

Season: 16 games (4 starts), 62 tackles, 2 sacks, 5 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: 2 tackles in the Texans’ 32-31 win over the Colts.

Season: 16 games (three starts), 23 tackles, 9 pressures.

J.J. Jansen (2004-07), LS, Carolina Panthers

This week: Was the long snapper in the Panthers’ 10-7 win over the Saints.

Season: Played in 17 games.

Jamir Jones (2016-19), DL, Pittsburgh Steelers

This week: 2 tackles in the Steelers’ 28-14 win over the Browns.

Season: 16 games, 10 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: 1 tackle and 1 pressure in the Colts’ 32-31 loss to the Texans.

Season: Four games, 61 defensive snaps, 20 special teams snaps, 1 tackle, 4 pressures … Signed by Indianapolis off the Cincinnati Bengals’ practice squad Nov. 22.

Cole Kmet (2017-19), TE, Chicago Bears

This week: 4 catches for 57 yards and 1 touchdown in the Bears’ 29-13 loss to the Vikings.

Season: 17 games (all starts), 50 catches for 544 yards and 6 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: Did not play (rest) in the Giants’ 22-16 loss to the Eagles.

Season: 16 games (all starts), 124 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: 7 special teams snaps in the Commanders’ 26-6 win over the Cowboys.

Season: Four 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 0 pressures in the Cowboys’ 26-6 loss to the Commanders.

Season: 17 games (all starts), 16 pressures allowed, 73.3 PFF overall grade.

Nick McCloud (2020), S, New York Giants

This week: Started and had 5 tackles, 1.5 sacks and 1 pass broken up in the Giants’ 22-16 loss to the Eagles.

Season: 14 games (eight starts), 43 tackles, 1.5 sacks, 7 passes broken up.

Mike McGlinchey (2013-17), OT, San Francisco 49ers

This week: Started at right tackle and allowed 1 sack and 3 pressures in the 49ers’ 38-13 win over the Cardinals.

Season: 17 games (all starts), 6 sacks and 27 pressures allowed, 71.5 PFF overall grade.

Sam Mustipher (2014-18), C, Chicago Bears

This week: Started at center and allowed 0 pressures in the Bears’ 29-13 loss to the Vikings.

Season: 17 games (16 starts), 2 sacks and 20 pressures allowed, 63.4 PFF overall grade.

Quenton Nelson (2014-17), OG, Indianapolis Colts

This week: Started at left guard and allowed 1 pressure in the Colts’ 32-31 loss to the Texans.

Season: 17 games (all starts), 5 sacks and 31 pressures allowed, 68.2 PFF overall grade.

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Adetokunbo Ogundeji (2016-20), DE, Atlanta Falcons

This week: 2 tackles in the Falcons’ 30-17 win over the Bucs.

Season: 16 games (all starts), 42 tackles, 6 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’ 20-16 win over the Packers.

Season: Five games, 8 tackles, 6 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.

Isaac Rochell (2013-16), DL, Las Vegas Raiders

This week: Did not play in the Raiders’ 31-13 loss to the Chiefs.

Season: Seven games (one start) and 12 tackles between the Raiders and Browns … Began the season on the Browns’ practice squad, signed to the 53-man roster Sept. 21, was waived Nov. 12 and assigned back to practice squad … Signed by the Raiders Dec. 28 after terminating his practice squad contract with the Browns.

Kyle Rudolph (2008-10), TE, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

This week: 1 catch for an 8-yard touchdown in the Bucs’ 30-17 loss to the Saints.

Season: Eight games, 79 offensive snaps, 3 catches for 28 yards and 1 touchdown.

Ben Skowronek (2020), WR, Los Angeles Rams

This week: Missed the Rams’ 19-16 overtime loss to the Seahawks 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: Missed the Vikings’ 29-13 win over the Bears with a knee injury.

Season: 14 games (all starts), 85 tackles, 5 interceptions, 5 passes broken up.

Jaylon Smith (2013-15), LB, New York Giants

This week: Did not play (rest) in the Giants’ 22-16 loss to the Eagles.

Season: 13 games (11 starts), 87 tackles, 1 sack and 1 fumble recovery.

Durham Smythe (2013-17), TE, Miami Dolphins

This week: 3 catches for 39 yards in the Dolphins’ 11-6 win over the Jets.

Season: 16 games (15 starts), 15 catches for 129 yards and 1 touchdown, 2 rushing attempts for 1 yard and 1 touchdown.

Equanimeous St. Brown (2015-17), WR, Chicago Bears

This week: 1 catch for 3 yards in the Bears’ 29-13 loss to the Vikings.

Season: 16 games (all starts), 21 catches for 323 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 sack and 4 pressures in the Ravens’ 27-16 loss to the Steelers.

Season: 11 games (all starts), 1 sack and 16 pressures allowed, 70.9 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: 1 tackle and 2 pressures in the Raiders’ 31-13 loss to the Chiefs.

Season: 15 games (four starts), 18 tackles, 19 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: 6 tackles in the Chargers’ 31-28 loss to the Broncos.

Season: 17 games (16 starts), 146 tackles, 5 sacks, 4 passes broken up, 1 interception, 1 forced fumble.

Tommy Tremble (2018-20), TE, Carolina Panthers

This week: 1 catch for 2 yards in the Panthers’ 10-7 win over the Saints.

Season: 17 games (four starts), 18 catches for 172 yards and 3 touchdowns.

Kyren Williams (2019-21), RB, Los Angeles Rams

This week: 16 special teams snaps in the Rams’ 19-16 overtime loss to the Seahawks.

Season: 10 games, 35 carries for 139 yards, 9 catches for 76 yards.

Brock Wright (2017-20), TE, Detroit Lions

This week: Started but did not catch a pass in the Lions’ 20-16 win over the Packers.

Season: 17 games (10 starts), 18 catches, 216 yards, 4 touchdowns.

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