Notre Dame in the NFL, Week 1: Equanimeous St. Brown catches go-ahead touchdown for Bears
Former Notre Dame wide receiver Equanimeous St. Brown saved his first Bears reception for a critical moment. St. Brown’s lone catch of Week 1 was an 18-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter that gave his new team the lead over the San Francisco 49ers in a 19-10 win.
St. Brown scored with 12:45 left in the game, turning a 10-7 deficit into a 13-7 lead. A play initially designed for someone else turned into his first Bears highlight. St. Brown began his route by bluffing two blocks from the slot, trying to make defenders pause and give fullback Khari Blasingame room to run after the catch.
Blasingame in the flat was quarterback Justin Fields’ first read. But the 49ers defense surrounded him. They left St. Brown running toward the end zone uncovered, though. He caught Fields’ pass right after he crossed the goal line.
“I was probably like the second or third option,” St. Brown told reporters afterward. “I was supposed to like pick for the fullback. But, yeah, I just came open, wide open.”
St. Brown also supplied the key block on teammate Dante Pettis’ 51-yard touchdown reception.
The Bears signed St. Brown to a one-year $965,000 contract in March. He spent his first four seasons with the Green Bay Packers, who drafted him in the sixth round in 2018 following a three-year Notre Dame career. He had 37 catches for 543 yards and one touchdown for the Packers in that span. He missed all of 2019 due to injury.
St. Brown is one of more than 40 former Notre Dame players on an NFL roster or practice squad this season. Here’s a recap of how each fared in Week 1 of the 2022 season.
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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 … Jacksonville initially signed him as an undrafted free agent this spring.
Aaron Banks (2017-20), OG, San Francisco 49ers
Started at left guard in the 49ers’ 19-10 loss to Bears … Won a starting job this offseason for 0-1 San Francisco.
Alex Bars (2014-18), OL, Las Vegas Raiders
Signed to the Raiders practice squad Sept. 10 after team waived him during final cuts … Las Vegas initially signed him to a one-year deal in March.
Ian Book (2016-20), QB, Philadelphia Eagles
Inactive for the Eagles’ 38-35 win over Lions … Claimed off waivers Aug. 31 after Saints moved on from him on cut-down day.
Miles Boykin (2015-18), WR, Pittsburgh Steelers
Active but recorded no stats in the Steelers 23-20 overtime win over the Bengals.
Chase Claypool (2016-19), WR, Pittsburgh Steelers
Started, caught 4 passes for 18 yards and rushed 6 times for 36 yards in the Steelers’ 23-20 win over the Bengals.
Scott Daly (2012-15), LS, Detroit Lions
Served as the primary long snapper in the Lions’ 38-35 loss to the Eagles.
Liam Eichenberg (2016-20), OL, Miami Dolphins
Started at left guard in the Dolphins’ 20-7 win over the Patriots.
Matthias Farley (2011-15), S, Las Vegas Raiders
Active but recorded no stats in the Raiders’ 24-19 loss to the Chargers.
Alohi Gilman (2017-19), S, Los Angeles Chargers
Recorded 1 tackle in the Chargers’ 24-19 win over the Raiders.
Robert Hainsey (2017-20), OL, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Started at center in the Bucs’ 19-3 win over the Cowboys … Moved into starting lineup when starting center Ryan Jensen went down with a knee injury early in training camp.
Kyle Hamilton (2019-21), S, Baltimore Ravens
Made 3 tackles in the Ravens’ 24-9 win over the Jets.
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
Active but recorded no stats in the Texans’ 20-20 tie with Colts … Made the 53-man roster out of training camp as an undrafted free agent.
J.J. Jansen (2004-07), LS, Carolina Panthers
Served as the long snapper in the Panthers’ 26-24 loss to the Browns.
Jamir Jones (2016-19), DL, Pittsburgh Steelers
Made 2 tackles in the Steelers’ 23-20 win over the Bengals … Claimed off waivers during final cuts when the Jaguars moved on from him.
Tony Jones Jr. (2016-19), RB, New Orleans Saints
Active but recorded no stats in the Saints’ 27-26 win over the Falcons.
Khalid Kareem (2016-19), DL, Cincinnati Bengals
Placed on injured reserve Sept. 1 with hamstring injury.
Cole Kmet (2017-19), TE, Chicago Bears
Started but did not catch a pass in the Bears’ 19-10 win over the 49ers.
Tommy Kraemer (2016-20), OL, Detroit Lions
Inactive for the Lions’ 38-35 loss to the Eagles.
Julian Love (2016-18), S, New York Giants
Started and made 5 tackles in the Giants’ 21-20 win over the Titans … Named a team captain for 1-0 New York.
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Zack Martin (2009-13), OG, Dallas Cowboys
Started at right guard in Dallas’ 19-3 loss to the Buccaneers.
Nick McCloud (2020), CB, New York Giants
Made 2 tackles in the Giants’ 21-20 win over the Titans … Claimed off waivers from the Bills Aug. 31 during final cuts.
Mike McGlinchey (2013-17), OT, San Francisco 49ers
Started at right tackle in the 49ers’ 19-10 loss to the Bears.
Sam Mustipher (2014-18), C, Chicago Bears
Started at center in the Bears’ 19-10 win over the 49ers.
Quenton Nelson (2014-17), OG, Indianapolis Colts
Started at left guard in the Colts’ 20-20 tie with Texans … Became the NFL’s highest-paid guard Sept. 10 when he signed a four-year, $80 million contract extension.
Adetokunbo Ogundeji (2016-20), DE, Atlanta Falcons
Started and made 3 tackles in the Falcons’ 27-26 loss to the Saints.
Julian Okwara (2016-19), LB, Detroit Lions
Inactive for the Lions’ 38-35 loss to the Eagles.
Romeo Okwara (2012-15), LB, Detroit Lions
Placed on reserve/physically unable to perform list Aug. 23 and will miss at least the first four games of the season … Still rehabbing from torn Achilles suffered early last season.
Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah (2017-20), LB, Cleveland Browns
Started and made 5 tackles in the Browns’ 26-24 victory over the Panthers.
Isaac Rochell (2013-16), DL, Cleveland Browns
Active but recorded no stats in Browns’ 26-24 win over the Panthers.
Kyle Rudolph (2008-10), TE, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Inactive for the the Buccaneers’ 19-3 win over the Cowboys.
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Ben Skowronek (2020), WR, Los Angeles Rams
Started and made 4 catches for 25 yards in the Rams’ 31-10 loss to the Bills.
Harrison Smith (2007-11), S, Minnesota Vikings
Started and made 7 tackles with 1 pass broken up and intercepted Aaron Rodgers in the Vikings’ 23-7 win over the Packers.
Durham Smythe (2013-17), TE, Miami Dolphins
Started and caught 1 pass for 14 yards in the Dolphins’ 20-7 win over the Patriots.
Equanimeous St. Brown (2015-17), WR, Chicago Bears
Started and caught 1 pass for an 18-yard touchdown in the Bears’ 19-10 win over the 49ers.
Ronnie Stanley (2012-15), OT, Baltimore Ravens
Missed the Ravens’ 24-9 win over the Jets due to an ankle injury … Has played in seven games since the start of 2020 due to multiple ankle surgeries.
Myron Tagovailoa-Amosa (2017-21), DL, Las Vegas Raiders
Signed to the Raiders’ practice squad Aug. 13 after team waived him during final cuts … Initially signed by Las Vegas as an undrafted free agent in April.
Jerry Tillery (2015-18), DT, Los Angeles Chargers
Active but recorded no stats in the Chargers’ 24-19 win over Raiders.
Drue Tranquill (2014-18), LB, Los Angeles Chargers
Started and made 6 tackles with an interception in the Chargers’ 24-19 win over the Raiders.
Tommy Tremble (2018-20), TE, Carolina Panthers
Had 1 catch for 1 yard in the Panthers’ 26-24 loss to the Browns.
Kyren Williams (2019-21), RB, Los Angeles Rams
Suffered an ankle sprain in the Rams’ 31-10 loss to the Bills that will sideline him for six to eight weeks … Did not record any stats prior to injury.
Brock Wright (2017-20), TE, Detroit Lions
Active but recorded no stats in the Lions’ 38-35 loss to the Eagles.
