Notre Dame in the NFL: Michael Mayer catches first career touchdown
Former Notre Dame tight end Michael Mayer struggled to produce early in his rookie season, much like the rest of the Las Vegas Raiders’ offense. But Sunday night, he finally reached a big milestone.
Mayer caught his first career touchdown pass, a contested catch in the end zone from 7 yards out. His score was the difference in the game, in which the Raiders beat the Jets 16-12.
Mayer showcased the strong hands, physicality and body control that made him one of the most prolific Notre Dame players in recent memory. The rookie caught 2 more passes for 12 yards against the Jets, giving him 16 for 178 so far in his young career.
Here’s how every other former Notre Dame player in the NFL did in Week 10.
Brandon Aubrey (played for Notre Dame from 2013-16), K, Dallas Cowboys
Result: 49-17 win over Giants
Aubrey did not attempt a field goal, but he kicked 7 extra points without fail.
Aaron Banks (2017-20), OL, San Francisco 49ers
Result: 34-3 win over Jaguars
Banks allowed two pressures, both of which resulted in quarterback hits. His overall Pro Football Focus grade was 49.2.
Miles Boykin (2015-18), WR, Pittsburgh Steelers
Result: 23-19 win over Packers
Boykin was not targeted.
Chase Claypool (2016-19), WR, Miami Dolphins
Result: BYE
Scott Daly (2012-16), LS, Detroit Lions
Result: 41-38 win over Chargers
Daly snapped successfully 8 times, 7 on kicks and 1 on punts.
Liam Eichenberg (2016-20), OL, Miami Dolphins
Result: BYE
Isaiah Foskey (2019-22), DE, New Orleans Saints
Result: 27-19 loss to Vikings
Foskey missed Week 10 with a quad strain. It is not considered serious, according to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, and he was not placed on injured reserve.
Alohi Gilman (2017-19), S, Los Angeles Chargers
Result: 41-38 loss to Lions
Gilman made 7 tackles and defended a pass. He had a rough day in coverage, though, allowing 5 catches for 111 yards and 2 touchdowns on 6 targets.
Blake Grupe (2022), K, New Orleans Saints
Result: 27-19 loss to Vikings
Grupe made his only field goal attempt, from 48 yards.
Robert Hainsey (2017-20), OL, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Result: 20-6 win over Titans
Hainsey allowed a sack and was given a 44.3 overall PFF grade.
Kyle Hamilton (2019-2021), S, Baltimore Ravens
Result: 33-31 loss to Bengals
Hamilton didn’t wait long to make a big impact this week. The Ravens sent him on a blitz on the first snap, and he got his hands on Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson’s pass and batted it into the air. Hamilton located it and corralled it, and all he had to do was strut into the end zone for a touchdown.
Hamilton also made 8 tackles, defended 2 passes and picked up 2 pressures, including 1 QB hit. It was another monster game for the second-year safety out of Notre Dame.
Kurt Hinish (2017-21), DT, Houston Texans
Result: 30-27 win over Bengals
Hinish picked up 1 pressure and 2 tackles.
J.J. Jansen (2004-07), LS, Carolina Panthers
Result: 16-13 loss to Bears
Jansen snapped successfully 10 times, 6 on punts and 4 on kicks.
Cole Kmet (2017-19), TE, Chicago Bears
Result: 16-13 win over Panthers
Kmet caught 5 passes on 7 targets for 45 yards.
Julian Love (2016-18), DB, Seattle Seahawks
Result: 29-26 win over Commanders
Love made 7 tackles, and he only allowed 2 receptions for 7 yards. PFF gave him an 83.9 overall grade.
Zack Martin (2009-13), OL, Dallas Cowboys
Result: 49-17 win over Giants
Martin earned an 82.0 pass-blocking grade, only allowing 1 pressure.
Nick McCloud (2020), CB, New York Giants
Result: 49-17 loss to Cowboys
McCloud made his first start, playing a season high 54 snaps. He made 3 tackles but was credited with 2 misses.
Mike McGlinchey (2013-17), OL, Denver Broncos
Result: 24-22 win over Bills
Played Monday night; details will come Tuesday morning.
Sam Mustipher (2014-18), OL, Baltimore Ravens
Result: 33-31 loss to Browns
Mustipher played 6 snaps on the field goal unit, but he did not play on offense.
Quenton Nelson (2014-17), OL, Indianapolis Colts
Result: 10-6 win over Patriots
Nelson did not allow a pressure, turning in his second-best pass-blocking grade of the season at 87.6.
Julian Okwara (2016-19), EDGE, Detroit Lions
Result: 41-38 win over Chargers
Okwara made 2 tackles, both of which were defensive stops.
Romeo Okwara (2012-15), DL, Detroit Lions
Result: 41-38 win over Chargers
Okwara made 2 tackles, one of which was a defensive stop.
Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah (2017-20), LB, Cleveland Browns
Result: 33-31 win over Ravens
Owusu-Koramoah made 7 tackles, 4 of which were run stops, including 2 for loss. He also picked up a half-sack and defended a pass.
Jarrett Patterson (2018-22), OL, Houston Texans
Result: 30-27 win over Bengals
Patterson allowed 1 pressure and was given a 61.2 overall grade.
Isaac Rochell (2013-16), DE, Las Vegas Raiders
Result: 16-12 win over Jets
Rochell played 9 snaps and made a tackle for loss.
Ben Skowronek (2020), WR, Los Angeles Rams
Result: BYE
Durham Smythe (2013-17), TE, Miami Dolphins
Result: BYE
Harrison Smith (2007-11), S, Minnesota Vikings
Result: 27-19 win over Saints
Smith made 5 tackles and picked up a quarterback hurry. Two of his tackles were run stops.
Ronnie Stanley (2012-15), OL, Baltimore Ravens
Result: 33-31 loss to Browns
Stanley just can’t avoid the injury bug. He earned a PFF pass-blocking grade of 86.3, but he suffered a knee injury after 44 snaps. Stanley avoided major injury, Ravens head coach John Harbaugh said Monday, and could play in Thursday’s game against the Bengals.
Jerry Tillery (2015-18), DL, Las Vegas Raiders
Result: 16-12 win over Jets
Tillery was a menace as a pass rusher this week, totaling 5 pressures in 16 opportunities. He also made 4 tackles.
Drue Tranquill (2014-18), LB, Kansas City Chiefs
Result: BYE
Tommy Tremble (2018-20), TE, Carolina Panthers
Result: 16-13 loss to Bears
Tremble caught all 3 of his targets for 16 yards.
Brock Wright (2017-20), TE, Detroit Lions
Result: 41-38 win over Chargers
Wright caught his first touchdown of the season, a 25-yard score. He snuck free off of play action and made the catch in stride for a walk-in touchdown and a late lead.
