Notre Dame in the NFL: Cole Kmet helps Bears snap losing streak

Former Notre Dame tight end Cole Kmet was one of three Bears to catch a pass in Chicago’s 40-20 win over Washington on Thursday night in Landover, Md. He finished with 5 receptions for 42 yards and a touchdown.

The Chicago native and Arlington Heights (Ill.) St. Viator graduate beat his defender on an in route from the slot, and Bears quarterback Justin Fields found him for a 4-yard score. The touchdown gave the Bears breathing room, up 27-3, that proved necessary as the Commanders tried to come back in the second half.

Justin Fields finds Cole Kmet in the endzone 🙌

Bears leading 27-3.pic.twitter.com/pq4O9TMgqC

— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) October 6, 2023

Fields’ favorite target is wide receiver DJ Moore, who caught 8 passes for 230 yards and 3 touchdowns. But Kmet is proving to be a reliable target in Year 4, and he helped the Bears win their first game in 346 days.

Pro Football Focus salary cap analyst and NFL writer Brad Spielberger explained Kmet’s game best.

Is Cole Kmet a dynamic athlete that's going to win 1-on-1 matchups and separate against man coverage? No

Is he nonetheless top 6 among TEs in receptions, receiving yards, yards per route run, first down receptions, and TDs with zero drops? Yes

— Brad Spielberger, Esq. (@PFF_Brad) October 9, 2023

Here’s how every other former Notre Dame player in the NFL fared in Week 5.

Brandon Aubrey (played for Notre Dame from 2013-16), K, Dallas Cowboys

Result: 42-10 loss to 49ers

Aubrey made his lone field goal, a 50-yarder, staying perfect in his first NFL season.

Aaron Banks (2017-20), OL, San Francisco 49ers

Result: 42-10 win over Cowboys

Banks somehow registered a PFF pass-blocking grade of 1.5, only one week after earning an 85.5 grade in pass protection. He blocked well in the ground game, though, and he remains a starter on the league’s second-best scoring offense (Miami).

Miles Boykin (2015-18), WR, Pittsburgh Steelers

Result: 17-10 win over Ravens

Boykin played a season-high 12 snaps. He did not catch his lone target.

Chase Claypool (2016-19), WR, Miami Dolphins

Result: 31-16 win over Giants

Claypool was told to stay home again this week, and one day after the Bears’ 40-20 win over the Commanders, he was traded to Miami for a swap of 2025 late-round picks. 

Scott Daly (2012-16), LS, Detroit Lions

Result: 42-24 win over Panthers

In the Notre Dame Long Snapper Bowl, Daly snapped successfully 8 times (2 punts, 6 kicks).

Liam Eichenberg (2016-20), OL, Miami Dolphins

Result: 31-16 win over Giants

Eichenberg played one offensive snap.

Isaiah Foskey (2019-22), DE, New Orleans Saints

Result: 34-0 win over Patriots

Foskey played a career-high 20 snaps, making 1 tackle. 

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

Result: BYE

Blake Grupe (2022), K, New Orleans Saints

Result: 34-0 win over Patriots

Grupe made two field goals, both from 50-plus yards out. He set a new career long with a 54-yarder.

Robert Hainsey (2017-20), OL, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Result: BYE

Kyle Hamilton (2019-2021), S, Baltimore Ravens

Result: 17-10 loss to Steelers

Hamilton made 3 tackles, two of which were defensive stops (a tackle that results in a failure for the offense). He broke up 1 pass and finished with an 82.4 PFF coverage grade.

Kurt Hinish (2017-21), DT, Houston Texans

Result: 21-19 loss to Falcons

Hinish made 1 tackle.

J.J. Jansen (2004-07), LS, Carolina Panthers

Result: 42-24 loss to Lions

Jansen snapped successfully 7 times, with 4 kicks and 3 punts.

Tony Jones Jr. (2016-19), RB, Arizona Cardinals (practice squad)

Result: N/A (spent Sunday on waivers)

The Saints released Jones on Saturday to make room for an extra offensive lineman. He was claimed by the Cardinals on Monday.

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

Result: BYE

Zack Martin (2009-13), OL, Dallas Cowboys

Result: 42-10 loss to 49ers

Martin allowed a sack and an additional hit, finishing with a 50.2 PFF pass-blocking grade. 

Michael Mayer (2020-22), TE, Las Vegas Raiders

Result: 17-13 win over Packers

Mayer was involved in the Raiders’ offense for the first time this season. He caught 2 passes on 3 targets for 39 yards, all highs in his young career.

Nick McCloud (2020), CB, New York Giants

Result: 31-16 loss to Dolphins

McCloud played a defensive snap for the first time since Week 1.

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

Result: 31-21 loss to Jets

McGlinchey allowed 2 sacks and 3 more pressures, finishing with a pass-blocking efficiency rating of 91.2 (that might seem high, but it is not). He earned a 76.3 PFF run-blocking grade, though.

Sam Mustipher (2014-18), OL, Baltimore Ravens

Result: 17-10 loss to Steelers

Mustipher was active as the Ravens’ backup center, but he did not play.

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

Result: 23-16 win over Titans

Nelson allowed a season-high 3 pressures, including 1 quarterback hit.

Julian Okwara (2016-19), EDGE, Detroit Lions

Result: 42-24 win over Panthers

The younger Okwara made his season debut after being activated off injured reserve, playing 3 snaps.

Romeo Okwara (2012-15), DL, Detroit Lions 

Result: 42-24 win over Panthers

The elder Okwara played 40 snaps, 1 quarterback hit and 2 hurries.

Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah (2017-20), LB, Cleveland Browns 

Result: BYE

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

Result: 21-19 loss to Falcons

Patterson was given a season-low 53.7 Pro Football Focus grade, allowing 1 pressure. Notre Dame’s 2022 starting guard has started every game for the Texans at center as a rookie.

Isaac Rochell (2013-16), DE, Las Vegas Raiders

Result: 17-13 win over Packers

Rochell played 12 snaps. He did not make the scoresheet.

Ben Skowronek (2020), WR, Los Angeles Rams

Result: 23-14 loss to Eagles

Skowronek did not catch his lone target.

Durham Smythe (2013-17), TE, Miami Dolphins

Result: 31-16 win over Giants

Smythe was not targeted.

Equanimeous St. Brown (2015-17), WR, Chicago Bears

Result: 40-20 win over Commanders

St. Brown received 1 target, but he did not catch it.

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

Result: 17-10 loss to Steelers

Stanley returned from a three-week absence, but he allowed 9 pressures in his first game back. That included 1 sack and an additional QB hit.

Jerry Tillery (2015-18), DL, Las Vegas Raiders 

Result: 17-13 win over Packers

Tillery was fined just over $10 thousand for his late hit on Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert. He made 1 tackle.

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

Result: 27-20 win over Vikings

Tranquill made a season-high 9 tackles, including 4 defensive stops.

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

Result: 42-24 loss to Lions

Tremble caught 1 pass on 1 target for 1 yard and 1 touchdown.

Kyren Williams (2019-21), RB, Los Angeles Rams

Result: 23-14 loss to Eagles

Williams carried 13 times for 53 yards. He also caught both his targets for 4 yards. The former Notre Dame leading rusher has 6 touchdowns this season, but he did not score this week.

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

Result: 42-24 win over Panthers

Wright made the statsheet for the first time since Week 1, catching all 3 of his targets for 16 yards.