Skip to main content
Notre Dame

Notre Dame in the NFL: Mitchell Evans scores game-winner for Panthers

IMG_7504by: Jack Soble10/07/25jacksoble56
mitchell evans
Former Notre Dame and current Carolina Panthers tight end Mitchell Evans. (Cory Knowlton-Imagn Images)

Trailing 24-20 with just over 2 minutes to go and the ball at the 4-yard line, Carolina Panthers quarterback Bryce Young looked for former Notre Dame tight end Mitchell Evans.

Evans, running wide open over the middle, did the rest.

It was his only catch of the day, but it was enough. The Panthers would hold on and beat the Dolphins 27-24, and Evans scored the game-winning touchdown.

It was Evansā€™ fourth-straight game with a reception and second-straight game with a touchdown. The reserve tight end has 6 catches for 45 yards and 2 scores through five games as a rookie fifth-round pick out of Notre Dame.

Hereā€™s how every other former Notre Dame athlete performed in Week 5.

Joe Alt (2019-21), OT, Los Angeles Chargers

Result: L, 27-10 to Commanders

Alt (high ankle sprain) missed Week 5, but he was not placed on injured reserver, indicating he could be back sooner than anticipated.

Brandon Aubrey (2017-20), K, Dallas Cowboys)

Result: W, 37-22 over Jets

Aubrey made his lone field-goal attempt from 35 yards out ā€” although he did miss an extra point, his first such mishap since 2023.

Aaron Banks (2017-20), G, Green Bay Packers

Result:Ā BYE

JD Bertrand (2019-23), LB, Atlanta Falcons

Result:Ā BYE

Beaux Collins (2024), WR, New York Giants

Result:Ā L, 26-14 to Saints

Collins caught his first career reception, gaining 7 yards.

Howard Cross III (2019-24), DT, Cincinnati Bengals

Result:Ā L, 37-24 to Lions

Cross was active, but he did not play.

Scott Daly (2012-16), LS, Chicago Bears

Result:Ā BYE

Blake Fisher (2021-23), OT, Houston Texans

Result: W, 44-10 over Ravens

Fisher made his first start of the season as the Texansā€™ sixth offensive lineman in their ā€œjumbo packageā€ and played well, allowing zero pressures and finishing with a 77.3 PFF pass-blocking grade in 32 snaps.

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

Result:Ā L, 27-10 to Commanders

Gilman made 4 tackles.

UPDATE: This was Gilmanā€™s last game with the Chargers. He was traded to the BaltimoreRavens on Tuesday, where heā€™ll reunite with fellow former Notre Dame safety Kyle Hamilton.

Blake Grupe (2022), K, New Orleans Saints

Result:Ā W, 26-14 over Giants

Grupe made 4 of his 6 field-goal attempts, with a long of 53.

Robert Hainsey (2017-20), C, Jacksonville Jaguars

Result:Ā W, 31-28 over Chiefs

Hainsey allowed 2 pressures and finished with a 48.9 PFF offense grade.

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

Result:Ā L, 44-10 to Texans

Hamilton (groin) missed Week 5.

Thomas Harper (2023), S, Detroit Lions

Result:Ā W, 37-24 over Bengals

Harper played 13 snaps on special teams.

Cam Hart (2019-23), CB, Los Angeles Chargers

Result:Ā L, 27-10 to Commanders

Hart made 4 tackles and allowed 2 receptions, including a touchdown, in coverage.

JJ Jansen (2004-07), LS, Carolina Panthers

Result:Ā W, 27-24 over Dolphins

Jansen snapped 8 times successfully, 3 on punts and 5 on field goals.

Jack Kiser (2019-24), LB, Jacksonville Jaguars

Result:Ā W, 31-28 over Chiefs

Kiser played 16 snaps on special teams, making an assisted tackle.

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

Result:Ā BYE

Riley Leonard (2024), QB, Indianapolis Colts

Result:Ā W, 40-6 over Raiders

Leonard ā€” the only former Notre Dame quarterback on an active NFL roster ā€” was a healthy scratch with an ā€œemergency third quarterbackā€ designation (meaning he could have played if and only if the two active QBs got hurt).

Marist Liufau (2019-23), LB, Dallas Cowboys

Result:Ā W, 37-22 over Jets

Liufau made 4 tackles and forced a fumble, peanut-punching the ball out of Jets running back Breece Hallā€™s hands.

Julian Love (2015-18), S, Seattle Seahawks

Result:Ā L, 38-35 to Buccaneers

Love made 6 tackles, defended a pass and notched 2 quarterback hurries.

Michael Mayer (2021-23), TE, Las Vegas Raiders

Result:Ā L, 40-6 to Colts

Mayer (concussion) missed Week 5.

Nick McCloud (2020), CB, Chicago Bears

Result:Ā BYE

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

Result:Ā W, 21-17 over Eagles

McGlinchey allowed 3 pressures and finished with a 60.0 PFF offense grade (60 is precisely average, according to PFFā€™s scoring system).

Benjamin Morrison (2022-24), CB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Result:Ā W, 38-35 over Seahawks

Morrison (hamstring) missed Week 5.

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

Result:Ā W, 40-6 over Raiders

Nelson finished third among all guards in both PFF offense grade (84.9) and PFF run blocking grade (89.6) this week.

Jarrett Patterson (2018-22), C, Houston Texans

Result: W, 44-10 over Ravens

Patterson played 8 snaps on special teams.

Ben Skowronek (2020), WR, Pittsburgh Steelers

Result:Ā BYE

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

Result:Ā W, 21-17 over Browns

Smith made 5 tackles, including 2 defensive stops (tackles that result in a failure for the offense).

Chris Smith (2022), DT, Detroit Lions

Result:Ā W, 37-24 over Bengals

Smith was a healthy scratch.

Durham Smythe (2013-17), TE, Chicago Bears

Result:Ā BYE

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

Result:Ā L, 44-10 to Texans

Stanley (ankle) missed Week 5.

Jerry Tillery (2015-18), DT, Kansas City Chiefs

Result:Ā L, 31-28 to Jaguars

Tillery made 3 tackles and picked up 2 quarterback hurries.

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

Result:Ā L, 31-28 to Jaguars

Tranquill made 3 tackles, including a tackle for loss, and defended a pass.

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

Result: W, 27-24 over Dolphins

Tremble caught 1 pass for 7 yards.

Xavier Watts (2020-24), S, Atlanta Falcons

Result: BYE

Kyren Williams (2019-21), RB, Atlanta Falcons

Result: L, 26-23 (OT) to 49ers

Williams ran 14 times for 65 yards (4.6 yards per carry) and caught 8 of his 10 targets for 2 touchdowns. However, he fumbled at the goal line with a minute left in the fourth quarter, preventing the Rams from scoring a game-winning touchdown.

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

Result:Ā W, 37-24 over Bengals

Wright caught a 3-yard touchdown pass, thrown by Lions running back David Montgomery.

Former Notre Dame players on NFL practice squads

Mustipher signed to the Chargersā€™ practice squad last week.

Former Notre Dame players on injured reserve

Unfortunately, there are two additions to the injured reserve list this week.

Jean-Baptiste suffered a torn pectoral muscle in Week 4 against the Atlanta Falcons, and the Commanders placed him on IR last week. Washington head coach Dan Quinn did not rule Jean-Baptiste out for the season, but he did say he would be out ā€œa while.ā€

Shrader, however, is out for the season after tearing his ACL and MCL during an extra point on Sunday. Raiders safety Tristin McCollum roughed Shrader on the play, taking out his kicking leg and prematurely ending his breakout campaign.

Shrader had made 13 of his 14 field-goal attempts in his first season as a full-time starter, winning AFC Special Teams Player of the Month for September.

ā€œIā€™m just disappointed for him,ā€ Colts head coach Shane Steichen said, according to ESPN. ā€œHe was having a hell of a season, so weā€™ll be with him to support him through this time.ā€