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Former Notre Dame quarterbacks Ian Book, Jack Coan throw NFL preseason touchdown passes

photos -jpgby: Ashton Pollard08/22/22ashtonpollard7
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Ian Book (left) and Jack Coan (right) are the only two former Notre Dame quarterbacks who are currently active in the NFL. Coan is searching for a practice squad. (Photos by Michael Hickey/Stacy Revere courtesy of Getty Images)

It was a big weekend for the only two former Notre Dame quarterbacks currently in the NFL, as Ian Book of the New Orleans Saints and Jack Coan of the Indianapolis Colts both tossed their first touchdown passes in their respective preseason games.

Book, who started one game for New Orleans last season due to injuries and a COVID-19 outbreak, is in his second season in the NFL, but found the end zone for the first time on Friday night against the Green Bay Packers in a 20-10 victory. Book threw a 20-yard, perfectly placed ball to Ohio State rookie Chris Olave just before halftime.

The former Notre Dame star went 16-28 with 113 yards, that touchdown pass, an interception and seven carries for 49 yards in the start. It was by no means a complete performance, but Book showed he is capable of providing a spark.

Coan, the Colts rookie who played one season at Notre Dame in 2021 after transferring from Wisconsin, had a much better showing than he did in his first preseason appearance. With less than a minute to go against the Detroit Lions, Coan threw a 26-yard dart to receiver Samson Nacua.

After completing just one of five passes in his other preseason showing, Coan went 7-11 with 83 yards and the score on Saturday. Indianapolis failed to convert for two points following the catch and lost 27-26.

(Additional) tweets of the weekend

Former Notre Dame and current Las Vegas Raiders defensive lineman Myron Tagovailoa-Amosa played against his cousinā€™s team this weekend; former Alabama and current Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa is the Dolphinsā€™ starter, so he did not see the field.

Former Notre Dame offensive lineman Zack Martin has had an absolutely mind-blowing NFL career.

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Quote of the weekend

ā€œItā€™s hard to say no to Notre Dame.ā€

ā€” Graduate punter and Harvard transfer Jon Sot on his decision to finish out his college football career in South Bend

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Countdown to kickoff: Notre Dame at Ohio State is 13 days away (Patrick Engel, Blue & Gold)

Notre Dame football fall camp: Five players who have stood out on defense (Tyler Horka, Blue & Gold)

Notre Dame football fall camp: Five players who have stood out on offense (Tyler Horka, Blue & Gold)

Why Fighting Irish punter Jon Sot is right where he belongs with Notre Dame football (Tyler Horka, Blue & Gold)

Why Notre Dame RB Audric Estime is one of a kind ā€” on and off the field: ā€˜Beautiful guy but violent, physical, toughā€™ (Ashton Pollard, Blue & Gold)

How Brian Mason plans to use Notre Dame personnel for ā€˜the most important play in footballā€™ (Ashton Pollard, Blue & Gold)

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Countdown to kickoff: Notre Dame vs. Ohio State only 14 days away (Ashton Pollard, Blue & Gold)

Marcus Freeman changing his prep approach for Ohio State (Todd Burlage, Blue & Gold)