Notre Dame in the NFL: Kyren Williams goes off in return from injury

Former Notre Dame and current Los Angeles Rams running back Kyren Williams played Sunday for the first time in 42 days after missing more than a month with an ankle injury. He picked up right where he left off, and then some.

Williams, who had over 500 total yards and 7 touchdowns in six games pre-injury, put together the best performance of his young career in Week 12 against the Cardinals. He racked up 204 yards from scrimmage, 143 on the ground and 61 through the air, and scored twice — both on receptions — in a 37-14 Rams win.

Kyren Williams jumps into the end zone then jumps into stands to celebrate with the Rams fans

📺: #LARvsAZ on FOX
📱: Stream on #NFLPlus https://t.co/1dOevJjoZZ pic.twitter.com/UxxKvm5ByK

— NFL (@NFL) November 26, 2023

Williams was an all-purpose workhorse at Notre Dame, but he fell to the fifth round of the 2022 NFL Draft due to pedestrian testing (he ran a 4.65-second 40-yard dash at 5-foot-9, 194 pounds). But he’s proving quite a few people wrong in his second season with the Rams.

Throughout his 2023 campaign, Williams has 113 carries for 599 yards (5.3 yards per carry) and 6 touchdowns, along with 19 receptions for 166 yards and 3 more scores. His efficiency was down early in the season, but it picked right back up with 7.9 and 8.9 yards per rush, respectively, in his past two outings. 

Here’s how every other former Notre Dame player in the NFL did in Week 12.

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

Result: 45-10 win over Commanders

Aubrey missed his third extra point of the season, going 4-for-5, but he made his lone field-goal attempt from 52 yards to remain perfect in his first year.

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

Result: 31-13 win over Seahawks

Banks allowed 2 pressures and finished with a 52.7 overall Pro Football Focus grade.

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

Result: 16-10 win over Bengals

Boykin played 8 snaps and was not targeted.

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

Result: 34-13 win over Jets

Claypool missed his second-straight game with a knee injury.

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

Result: 34-13 win over Jets

Eichenberg allowed no pressures and earned a 74.9 pass-blocking grade.

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

Result: 24-15 loss to Falcons

Foskey missed Sunday’s game with a quad injury. He’s been out since Week 9.

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

Result: 20-10 loss to Ravens

Gilman made 9 tackles and was only targeted once. On that one target, he broke up the pass.

Blake Grupe (2022), K, New Orleans Saints

Result: 24-15 loss to Falcons

Grupe went 5-for-6, with his only miss coming from 54 yards.

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

Result: 27-20 loss to Colts

Hainsey was given a 66.8 PFF grade, allowing only 1 pressure.

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

Result: 20-10 win over Chargers

Hamilton made 6 tackles, 2 for loss, and was credited with a pass breakup for the fifth-straight game. He also tallied QB hurries on 2 of his 3 pass-rush snaps. The former Notre Dame safety is becoming a star for the Ravens.

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

Result: 24-21 loss to Jaguars

Hinish made 1 tackle, which was a defensive stop.

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

Result: 17-10 loss to Titans

Jansen snapped successfully 8 times, 6 on punts and 2 on kicks.

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

Result: 12-10 win over Vikings

Kmet caught all 7 of his targets for 43 yards.

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

Result: 31-13 loss to 49ers

Love made 10 tackles and did not allow a reception on 3 targets.

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

Result: 45-10 win over Commanders

Martin earned an 82.8 pass-blocking grade by allowing no pressures in 33 opportunities.

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

Result: 31-17 loss to Chiefs

Mayer caught 2 of his 4 targets for 27 yards.

Nick McCloud (2020), CB, New York Giants

Result: 10-7 win over Patriots

McCloud played only 2 defensive snaps. He recovered his own fumble on special teams after a Patriots punt accidentally deflected off him.

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

Result: 29-12 win over Browns

McGlinchey allowed 4 pressures but earned a 74.4 PFF grade.

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

Result: 20-10 win over Chargers

Mustipher was a healthy scratch this week.

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

Result: 27-20 win over Buccaneers

Nelson was a mauler in the run game, earning an 87.6 run-blocking grade and his highest overall grade of the season at 85.6.

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

Result: 29-22 loss to Packers

Okwara was a healthy scratch this week.

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

Result: 29-22 loss to Packers

Okwara played 8 snaps and tallied a quarterback pressure.

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

Result: 29-12 loss to Broncos

Owusu-Koramoah made 12 tackles, including 2 for loss and 6 defensive stops. He also picked up a sack and a forced fumble. It was a really good game for the former Notre Dame rover, who’s starting to stack these performances. PFF agreed, giving him a 93.6 overall grade.

#Browns LB Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah is playing like an absolute SUPERSTAR

Fast. Relentless. Physical.

Outside of Myles Garrett… the heartbeat of this defense #DawgPound pic.twitter.com/FWnuR2Sln0

— Max Loeb (@loebsleads) November 27, 2023

Ben Skowronek (2020), WR, Los Angeles Rams

Result: 37-14 win over Cardinals

Skowronek played 14 snaps, mostly as a run blocker. He received 1 target, which he caught for a loss of 1.

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

Result: 12-10 loss to Bears

Smith made 2 tackles, but he also picked up 2 pressures and allowed next to nothing (1 reception on 1 target for 1 yard) in coverage.

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

Result: 34-13 win over Jets

Smythe caught 1 of his 3 targets, gaining 10 yards.

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

Result: 20-10 win over Chargers

Stanley allowed 6 pressures, working mainly against Chargers star edge rusher Khalil Mack.

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

Result: 12-10 win over Vikings

St. Brown caught both his targets for 19 yards.

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

Result: 31-17 loss to Chiefs

Tillery made 2 tackles, one of which was a defensive stop. He also totaled 4 pressures.

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

Result: 31-17 win over Raiders

Tranquill made 8 tackles, including 2 for loss.

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

Result: 17-10 loss to Titans

Tremble caught his lone target for 7 yards.

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

Result: 29-22 loss to Packers

Wright caught 1 pass on 1 target for 9 yards.

Former Notre Dame players on injured reserve

• Falcons EDGE Ade Ogundeji (foot/ankle)
• Lions LS Scott Daly (knee)
• Texans C Jarrett Patterson (ankle)
• Commanders LB Drew White (knee)