Irish in the NFL, Week 15: Brock Wright’s fourth-quarter touchdown sends Lions past Jets
Former Notre Dame and current Detroit Lions tight end Brock Wright was a passing game non-factor until the final series of Sunday’s game vs. the Jets. And when he finally had an opportunity, he initially squandered it. Wright dropped the first pass thrown his way Sunday, which came on the first play of a do-or-die drive. The Lions trailed 17-13 with 4:37 left.
“Didn’t have my best game,” Wright told reporters afterward. “A lot of plays I want back. [I] was just telling myself, ‘finish.’”
Wright got one more chance. He not only finished strong himself, but helped his team do the same.
Wright’s 51-yard touchdown with 1:49 left was the winner in a 20-17 Lions victory, their sixth in the last seven games. It came on a fourth-and-inches play that, if unsuccessful, would have clinched a loss. It was his only reception of the game and just his 14th of the season.
The Lions were waiting to unfurl the play for a while, quarterback Jared Goff said. Wright – Goff’s No. 2 read – began the play as an in-line blocker and initially sold a block while Goff faked a handoff. He leaked across the formation on a drag route, not 2 yards past the line of scrimmage.
Goff saw his first read in the opposite flat was covered and moved on to Wright, who had no defender within at least 15 yards of him. Wright caught it, turned upfield and ran untouched to the 3-yard line, picking up a block along the way. He reached the end zone standing up.
“He’s a lot faster than people know,” Goff said. “I think he ran like a 4.6 40 or something.”
That was Wright’s exact 40-yard dash time at Notre Dame’s 2021 pro day. The Lions signed him as an undrafted free agent in 2021. He became Detroit’s No. 1 tight end after the Nov. 1 trade of TJ Hockenson.
Wright is one of more than 40 former Notre Dame players who are on an NFL roster or practice squad. Here’s a look at how each fared in Week 15.
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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: Started at left guard and allowed 1 pressure in the 49ers’ 21-13 win over the Seahawks.
Season: 14 games (all starts), 1 sack and 25 pressures allowed, 61.4 Pro Football Focus overall grade.
Alex Bars (2014-18), OL, Las Vegas Raiders
This week: Missed the Raiders’ 30-24 win over the Patriots with a knee injury.
Season: 12 games (11 starts), 3 sacks and 26 pressures allowed, 49.1 PFF overall grade.
Ian Book (2016-20), QB, Philadelphia Eagles
This week: Inactive for the Eagles’ 25-20 win over the Bears.
Season: Has not appeared in a game.
Miles Boykin (2015-18), WR, Pittsburgh Steelers
This week: 13 special teams snaps and 25 offensive snaps with 1 catch for 0 yards in the Steelers’ 24-16 win over the Panthers.
Season: 14 games, 8 tackles (171 special teams snaps), 2 catches for 11 yards.
Chase Claypool (2016-19), WR, Chicago Bears
This week: Missed the Bears’ 25-20 loss to the Eagles with a knee injury.
Season: 13 games (11 starts), 44 catches for 422 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’ 20-17 win over the Jets.
Season: Has played in 14 games.
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Liam Eichenberg (2016-20), OL, Miami Dolphins
This week: Did not play (placed on injured reserve Nov. 1 with an MCL sprain).
Season: Eight games (all starts), 2 sacks and 19 pressures allowed, 44.9 PFF overall grade.
Matthias Farley (2011-15), S, Las Vegas Raiders
This week: 28 special teams snaps and 1 tackle in the Raiders’ 30-24 win over the Patriots.
Season: 14 games, 11 tackles, 304 special teams snaps.
Alohi Gilman (2017-19), S, Los Angeles Chargers
This week: Started and made 8 tackles in the Chargers’ 17-14 win over the Titans.
Season: 14 games (four starts), 44 tackles, 1 interception, 2 passes broken up.
Robert Hainsey (2017-20), C, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
This week: Started at center and allowed 2 pressures in the Bucs’ 34-23 loss to the Bengals.
Season: 14 games (all starts), 0 sacks and 18 pressures allowed, 69.2 PFF overall grade.
Kyle Hamilton (2019-21), S, Baltimore Ravens
This week: Started and made 7 tackles, adding 1 sack and 1 pass broken up, in the Ravens’ 13-3 loss to the Browns.
Season: 13 games (1 start), 47 tackles, 2 sacks, 3 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: 27 snaps in the Texans’ 30-24 loss to the Chiefs.
Season: 13 games (three starts), 16 tackles, 8 pressures.
J.J. Jansen (2004-07), LS, Carolina Panthers
This week: Was the long snapper in the Panthers’ 24-16 loss to the Steelers.
Season: Has played in 14 games.
Jamir Jones (2016-19), DL, Pittsburgh Steelers
This week: 11 special teams snaps in the Steelers’ 24-16 win over the Panthers.
Season: 14 games, 8 tackles, 1 pass broken up.
Tony Jones Jr. (2016-19), RB, Seattle Seahawks
This week: Inactive for the Seahawks’ 21-13 loss to the 49ers.
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: Made his season debut, playing 7 defensive snaps and 5 special teams snaps in the Colts’ 39-36 overtime loss to the Vikings.
Season: Played 1 game … Signed by Indianapolis off the Cincinnati Bengals’ practice squad Nov. 22 … Signed to the Bengals’ practice squad Oct. 13 two days after the team placed him on waivers … Activated from injured reserve Oct. 10 after missing the Bengals’ first five games due to a hamstring injury.
Cole Kmet (2017-19), TE, Chicago Bears
This week: 4 catches for 25 yards in the Bears’ 25-20 loss to the Eagles.
Season: 14 games (all starts), 39 catches for 433 yards and 5 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: 7 tackles in the Giants’ 20-12 win over the Commanders.
Season: 14 games (all starts), 114 tackles, 1 sack, 1 forced fumble, 1 fumble recovery, 2 passes broken up and 2 interceptions.
Nick Martin (2011-15), C, Washington Commanders
This week: Active but did not see action in the Commanders’ 20-12 loss to the Giants.
Season: Three 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’ 40-34 loss to the Jaguars.
Season: 14 games (all starts), 15 pressures allowed, 72.0 PFF overall grade.
Nick McCloud (2020), CB/S, New York Giants
This week: Started and made 3 tackles and broke up 2 passes in the Giants’ 20-12 win over the Commanders.
Season: 11 games (five starts), 34 tackles, 5 passes broken up.
Mike McGlinchey (2013-17), OT, San Francisco 49ers
This week: Started at right tackle and allowed 0 pressures in the 49ers’ 21-13 win over the Seahawks.
Season: 14 games (all starts), 5 sacks and 21 pressures allowed, 71.4 PFF overall grade.
Sam Mustipher (2014-18), C, Chicago Bears
This week: Started at center and allowed 1 pressure in the Bears’ 25-20 loss to the Eagles.
Season: 14 games (13 starts), 2 sacks and 17 pressures allowed, 65.2 PFF overall grade.
Quenton Nelson (2014-17), OG, Indianapolis Colts
This week: Started at left guard and allowed 0 pressures in the Colts’ 39-36 loss to the Vikings.
Season: 14 games (all starts), 3 sacks and 24 pressures allowed, 68.6 PFF overall grade.
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Adetokunbo Ogundeji (2016-20), DE, Atlanta Falcons
This week: 35 snaps in the Falcons’ 21-18 loss to the Saints.
Season: 13 games (all starts), 35 tackles, 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: 4 tackles, 3 pressures and 2 sacks in the Lions’ 20-17 win over the Jets.
Season: Two games, 4 tackles, 4 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, Cleveland Browns
This week: Signed to Browns practice squad Nov. 15 after clearing waivers.
Season: Six games (one start) and 12 tackles … Began the season on the practice squad and was signed to the 53-man roster Sept. 21, but was waived Nov. 12.
Kyle Rudolph (2008-10), TE, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
This week: Active but did not play in the Bucs’ 34-23 loss to the Bengals.
Season: Six games, 46 offensive snaps, 2 catches for 20 yards.
Ben Skowronek (2020), WR, Los Angeles Rams
This week: 1 catch for 3 yards in the Rams’ 24-12 loss to the Packers.
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: 4 tackles in the Vikings’ 39-36 win over the Colts.
Season: 12 games (all starts), 77 tackles, 5 interceptions, 5 passes broken up.
Jaylon Smith (2013-15), LB, New York Giants
This week: 9 tackles in the Giants’ 20-12 win over the Commanders.
Season: 11 games (nine starts), 69 tackles, 1 fumble recovery.
Durham Smythe (2013-17), TE, Miami Dolphins
This week: Started and had 1 catch for minus-2 yards in the Dolphins 32-29 loss to the Bills.
Season: 13 games (12 starts), 10 catches for 73 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 20 yards in the Bears’ 25-20 loss to the Eagles.
Season: 14 games (all starts), 18 catches for 300 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 pressure in the Ravens’ 13-3 loss to the Browns.
Season: Eight games (all starts), 8 pressures allowed, 74.8 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: Started and had 2 tackles in the Raiders’ 30-24 win over the Patriots.
Season: 12 games (three starts), 15 tackles, 17 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: 10 tackles and 1 sack in the Chargers’ 17-14 win over the Titans.
Season: 14 games (13 starts), 118 tackles, 4 sacks, 4 passes broken up, 1 interception, 1 forced fumble.
Tommy Tremble (2018-20), TE, Carolina Panthers
This week: Started and had 2 catches for 20 yards in the Panthers’ 24-16 loss to the Steelers.
Season: 14 games (four starts), 13 catches for 121 yards and 2 touchdowns.
Kyren Williams (2019-21), RB, Los Angeles Rams
This week: 2 carries for 7 yards in the Rams’ 24-12 loss to the Packers.
Season: Seven games, 27 carries for 115 yards, 8 catches for 73 yards.
Brock Wright (2017-20), TE, Detroit Lions
This week: 1 catch for 51 yards and a touchdown in the Lions’ 20-17 win over the Jets.
Season: 14 games (seven starts), 14 catches, 192 yards, 2 touchdowns.
