Notre Dame in the NFL: Drue Tranquill helps Chiefs stay perfect

Superstar quarterback Patrick Mahomes was the Kansas City Chiefs’ second-highest-graded player in their 27-20 road win over the Raiders on Sunday, according to Pro Football Focus. No. 1 was former Notre Dame linebacker Drue Tranquill.

Tranquill finished with a PFF defense grade of 85.1. He earned that by making 6 tackles, including a sack and 4 defensive stops, as well as recovering a fumble as Kansas City improved to 7-0.

Feeling right at home in Arrowhead West. pic.twitter.com/ulitQJMG7s

— Drue Tranquill (@DTranquill) October 28, 2024

Tranquill also allowed only 1 reception for 7 yards in the Chiefs’ victory.

A rotational player last year, Tranquill re-signed with Kansas City over the offseason and has started all 7 games. He’s third on the team with 38 tackles so far this season, and he’s also tied for second with 4 tackles for loss.

Here’s how every other former Notre Dame football player did in Week 8.

Joe Alt (played at Notre Dame from 2021-23), OL, Los Angeles Chargers

Result: 26-8 win over Saints

Alt allowed zero quarterback pressures, earning a PFF pass-blocking grade of 81.9.

Brandon Aubrey (2013-16), K, Dallas Cowboys

Result: 30-24 loss to 49ers

Aubrey made his lone field-goal attempt from 29 yards out.

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

Result: 30-24 win over Cowboys

Banks allowed 2 pressures and finished with a PFF offense grade of 56.9.

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

Result: 31-26 win over Buccaneers

Bertrand made 2 tackles, including a defensive stop (a tackle that results in a failure for the offense).

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

Result: 18-15 loss to Cowboys

Daly snapped 8 times successfully, 7 on punts and 1 on a field goal.

Sheldon Day (2012-15), DT, Washington Commanders

Result: 18-15 win over Bears

Day notched a QB pressure.

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

Result: 28-27 loss to Cardinals

Eichenberg allowed no pressures and earned a pass-blocking grade of 83.2.

Audric Estimé (2021-23), RB, Denver Broncos

Result: 28-14 win over Panthers

Estimé rushed once for 4 yards.

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

Result: 23-20 win over Colts

Fisher played 5 snaps on special teams.

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

Result: 26-8 loss to Chargers

Foskey played 30 snaps on special teams but only 1 on defense.

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

Result: 26-8 win over Saints

Gilman made 5 tackles.

Blake Grupe (2022), K, New Orleans Saints

Result: 26-8 loss to Chargers

Grupe went 2-of-3 on field goals, hitting from 40 and 43 yards but missing from 44.

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

Result: 31-26 loss to Falcons

Hainsey played 4 snaps on special teams.

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

Result: 29-24 loss to Browns

Thomas Harper (2023), DB, Las Vegas Raiders

Result: 27-20 loss to Chiefs

Harper played 9 snaps on defense.

Cam Hart (2019-2023), CB, Los Angeles Chargers

Result: 26-8 win over Saints

Hart made 5 tackles and allowed only 1 catch on 4 targets for 15 yards in coverage.

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

Result: 23-20 win over Colts

Hinish made 2 tackles.

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

Result: 28-14 loss to Broncos

Jansen snapped 7 times successfully, 5 on punts and 2 on field goals.

Brandon Joseph (2022), S, Detroit Lions

Result: 52-14 win over Titans

Joseph made 1 tackle.

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

Result: 18-15 loss to Commanders

Kmet caught his lone target for 14 yards.

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

Result: 30-24 loss to 49ers

Liufau made 2 tackles.

Julian Love (2016-18), DB, Seattle Seahawks

Result: 31-10 loss to Bills

Love made 4 tackles.

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

Result: 30-24 loss to 49ers

Martin allowed 1 pressure, and he posted a 74.1 PFF pass-blocking grade.

Nick McCloud (2020), CB, New York Giants

Result: 26-18 win over Giants

McCloud made a season-high 6 tackles, but he also gave up 3 receptions for 52 yards on 3 targets in coverage.

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

Result: 28-14 win over Panthers

McGlinchey allowed no pressures and earned a 79.1 PFF offense grade.

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

Result: 23-20 loss to Texans

Nelson allowed 1 pressure, and he earned a 78.4 run-blocking grade.

Julian Okwara (2016-19), EDGE, Arizona Cardinals

Result: 28-27 win over Dolphins

Okwara made 1 tackle.

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

Result: 29-24 win over Ravens

Owusu-Koramoah made 7 tackles (including 3 stops) and registered 2 quarterback hits, including a sack.

In much more serious news, the former Notre Dame rover was carted off the field and hospitalized after a frightening neck injury. Fortunately, is not believed to be a long-term absence — the Browns did not put him on injured reserve — but Owusu-Koramoah has been ruled out for Week 9.

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

Result: 23-20 win over Colts

Patterson played 10 snaps at left guard, earning an 81.2 offense grade and giving up zero pressures.

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

Result: 30-20 loss to Rams

Smith made 8 tackles, including a tackle for loss and 3 defensive stops.

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

Result: 28-27 loss to Cardinals

Smythe was not targeted.

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

Result: 29-24 loss to Browns

Stanley allowed 5 pressures, finishing with a 50.1 PFF offense grade.

Jerry Tillery (2015-18), DL, Minnesota Vikings

Result: 30-20 loss to Rams

Tillery tallied 1 quarterback pressure and made 1 tackle.

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

Result: 28-14 loss to Broncos

Making his return from a two-week concussion absence, Tremble caught 2 of his 3 targets for 13 yards.

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

Result: 30-20 win over Vikings

Williams carried 23 times for 97 yards (4.2 Y/A) and caught 5 of his 7 targets for 19 yards and a touchdown. He’s reached the end zone in 10-straight games.

Stafford finds Kyren Williams in the end zone! #RamsHouse#MINvsLAR on Prime Video
Also streaming on #NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/psUbkoyPrn

— NFL (@NFL) October 25, 2024

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

Result: 52-14 win over Titans

Wright scored his first touchdown of the season, catching his lone target for an 8-yard score.

Happy #NationalTightEndsDay to Brock Wright 🙌

📺: #TENvsDET on FOX
📱: https://t.co/waVpO909ge pic.twitter.com/rLFpTYNWVS

— NFL (@NFL) October 27, 2024

Former Notre Dame football players on injured reserve

• Javontae Jean-Baptiste (2023), DE, Washington Commanders
• Ben Skowronek (2020), WR, Pittsburgh Steelers

Former Notre Dame football players on the reserve/non-football illness list

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

Former Notre Dame players on NFL practice squads

• Kevin Austin Jr. (2018-21), WR, New Orleans Saints
• Miles Boykin (2015-18), WR, Seattle Seahawks
• Sam Hartman (2023), QB, Washington Commanders
• Khalid Kareem (2016-19), DE, Atlanta Falcons
• Sam Mustipher (2014-18), OL, Los Angeles Chargers
• Spencer Shrader (2023), K, New York Jets
• Chris Smith (2022), DT, Detroit Lions
• Equanimeous St. Brown (2015-17), WR, New Orleans Saints

The Colts released Shrader, but he signed to the Jets’ practice squad Wednesday along with fellow free-agent kicker Riley Patterson. The Jets will sign either Shrader or Patterson to the active roster ahead of their matchup with the Texans on Sunday, replacing the injured Greg Zuerlein.

Zuerlein had been struggling, so this is a big week for Shrader as he looks to establish himself in the NFL.