Notre Dame in the NFL: Kyren Williams scores three more touchdowns

IMG_7504by:Jack Soble•01/02/24•

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Former Notre Dame running back Kyren Williams just keeps scoring touchdowns, and the Los Angeles Rams just keep winning as a result.

Williams, who is second in the NFL to Christian McCaffrey in rushing yards with 1,144, added 3 touchdowns to his breakout 2023 season to give him 12 total. The Rams needed all of them in a 26-25 win over the New York Giants, clinching a playoff berth for Los Angeles.

That includes this 28-yard score, in which Williams navigated traffic, trusted his blocks and scampered to the house.

In his second season out of Notre Dame, Williams has been a revelation for a Rams team that outperformed expectations in 2023. He totaled 101 yards from scrimmage against the Giants, giving him 7-straight games with at least 100.

Here’s how every other former Notre Dame player in the NFL did in Week 17.

Brandon Aubrey (played for Notre Dame from 2013-16), K, Dallas Cowboys

Result: 20-19 win over Lions

Aubrey made both his field-goal attempts, including a 51-yarder. He has one more game to go for a perfect first season on field goals.

Aaron Banks (2017-20), OL, San Francisco 49ers

Result: 27-10 win over Commanders

The 49ers activated Banks (toe) but did not play him. With the No. 1 seed clinched, one would think Banks would rest in Week 18 as well and take three weeks off to get healthy for the playoffs.

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

Result: 30-23 win over Seahawks

Boykin played 6 snaps but was not targeted.

Chase Claypool (2016-19), WR, Miami Dolphins

Result: 56-19 loss to Ravens

Claypool was targeted once in 10 snaps but did not catch it.

Sheldon Day (2012-15), DT, Minnesota Vikings

Result: 33-10 loss to Packers

Day made 1 tackle, which was a defensive stop (a tackle that results in a “failure” for the offense).

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

Result: 56-19 loss to Ravens

Eichenberg gave up a sack, but that was his only allowed pressure. He finished with a 69.6 PFF offense grade.

Isaiah Foskey (2019-22), DE, New Orleans Saints

Result: 23-13 win over Buccaneers

Foskey (quad) did not play again this week, although he did start practicing in a limited capacity. He last suited up Dec. 3.

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

Result: 16-9 loss to Broncos

Gilman broke up 2 passes and made 2 tackles

Blake Grupe (2022), K, New Orleans Saints

Result: 23-13 win over Buccaneers

Grupe went 3-for-3 on field goals, with the longest coming in at 45 yards.

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

Result: 23-13 loss to Saints

Hainsey did not allow a pressure and earned a season-high 75.8 pass-blocking grade.

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

Result: 56-19 win over Dolphins

Hamilton (knee) missed Week 17, but Baltimore did not place him on injured reserve. If the Ravens practiced Tuesday (they did not), he would have been a limited participant.

His situation is similar to Banks’, because the Ravens have clinched the AFC’s No. 1 seed. Sitting Hamilton in Week 18 would give him a total of 3 weeks to heal.

Kurt Hinish (2017-21), DT, Houston Texans

Result: 26-3 win over Titans

Hinish made 3 tackles, including 2 defensive stops and a tackle for loss, and he picked up a half-sack.

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

Result: 26-0 loss to Jaguars

Jansen snapped 6 times successfully, all on punts.

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

Result: 37-13 win over Falcons

Kmet (knee) played 13 snaps, obviously hampered by the injury suffered last week.

Julian Love (2016-18), DB, Seattle Seahawks

Result: 30-23 loss to Steelers

Love made 14 tackles — yes, 14 — and forced a fumble. He struggled in coverage, though, giving up 4 catches on 4 targets for 89 yards.

Zack Martin (2009-13), OL, Dallas Cowboys

Result: 20-19 win over Lions

Martin allowed no pressures and earned a season-high 88.7 pass-blocking grade, but he was given a season-low 45.0 run-blocking grade.

Michael Mayer (2020-22), TE, Las Vegas Raiders

Result: 23-20 loss to Colts

Mayer (toe) missed his second-straight game.

Nick McCloud (2020), CB, New York Giants

Result: 26-25 loss to Rams

McCloud started in place of the injured Deonte Banks, making 8 tackles and forcing a fumble.

Mike McGlinchey (2013-17), OL, Denver Broncos

Result: 16-9 win over Chargers

McGlinchey dominated in the run game, earning an 87.4 run-blocking grade from PFF. His 79.3 offense grade was his best of the season.

Sam Mustipher (2014-18), OL, Baltimore Ravens

Result: 56-19 win over Dolphins

Mustipher played 4 snaps in his first action since Week 10.

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

Result: 23-20 win over Raiders

Nelson posted an 81.7 PFF grade with solid marks in the run game (78.8) and pass game (71.4).

Julian Okwara (2016-19), EDGE, Detroit Lions

Result: 20-19 loss to Cowboys

Okwara was a healthy scratch.

Romeo Okwara (2012-15), DL, Detroit Lions 

Result: 20-19 loss to Cowboys

Okwara played 9 snaps and did not make the stat sheet.

Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah (2017-20), LB, Cleveland Browns

Result: 37-20 win over Jets

Owusu-Koramoah made 11 tackles, including 2 for loss. He also totaled 2 pressures.

Ben Skowronek (2020), WR, Los Angeles Rams

Result: 26-25 win over Giants

Skowronek played 1 snap and was not targeted.

Harrison Smith (2007-11), S, Minnesota Vikings

Result: 33-10 loss to Packers

Smith made 5 tackles.

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

Result: 56-19 loss to Ravens

Smythe caught 3 passes for 54 yards.

Ronnie Stanley (2012-15), OL, Baltimore Ravens

Result: 56-19 win over Dolphins

Stanley allowed 1 pressure but earned a 75.2 pass-blocking grade.

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

Result: 37-13 win over Falcons

St. Brown returned from the pectoral injury that kept him out Weeks 13-16, but he was not targeted in 29 snaps.

Jerry Tillery (2015-18), DL, Las Vegas Raiders 

Result: 23-20 loss to Colts

Tillery made 2 tackles and picked up 1 pressure.

Drue Tranquill (2014-18), LB, Kansas City Chiefs 

Result: 25-17 win over Bengals

Tranquill made 1 tackle, which was a defensive stop, and added up a quarterback hit.

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

Result: 26-0 loss to Jaguars

Tremble caught 1 pass on 2 targets for 6 yards.

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

Result: 20-19 loss to Cowboys

Wright (hip) missed his second-straight game.

Former Notre Dame players on injured reserve

Former Notre Dame players on NFL practice squads

News: The Steelers signed former Notre Dame linebacker Jaylon Smith to their practice squad (Dec. 26)

News: The Texans signed former Notre Dame cornerback Troy Pride Jr. to their practice squad. (Dec. 28)

News: Former Notre Dame defensive tackle Chris Smith was released from the Lions’ practice squad. (Dec. 30)

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