Notre Dame in the NFL: Kyren Williams plays monster game but suffers injury

Former Notre Dame and current Los Angeles Rams running back Kyren Williams played the best game of his young NFL career Sunday against the Cardinals. Williams blew by his previous career high of 103, set Oct. 1, with a 158-yard, 1-touchdown day.

The 2022 5th-round pick (164th overall) picked up those yards on 20 carries, averaging 7.9 yards per attempt, in the Rams’ 26-9 win. He now has seven total touchdowns this season, 6 on the ground and 1 through the air.

Williams got the ball a ton and scored touchdown after touchdown early this season, but the one criticism of his 2023 campaign was his efficiency. He averaged just under 3.9 yards per carry through five games.

The second-year running back put those concerns to bed Sunday at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, Calif.

However, Williams will likely miss this coming Sunday’s game against the Steelers with a sprained ankle suffered against the Cardinals. Rams head coach Sean McVay said Williams will likely be out “for a little bit,” although ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported his ankle sprain is “not considered a long-term injury.”

When Williams returns, the Rams will almost certainly lean on him again. He averages 18.33 touches per game this season.

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

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

Result: 20-17 win over Chargers

Aubrey made both his field goals to move to a perfect 16/16 this season, including the eventual game-winner late in the fourth quarter.

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

Result: 19-17 loss to Browns

Banks allowed two pressures and posted a 49.0 overall Pro Football Focus grade.

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

Result: BYE

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

Result: 42-21 win over Panthers

Claypool was a healthy scratch after his first full week since being traded.

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

Result: 20-6 win over Buccaneers

Daly snapped successfully 9 times, 4 on punts and 5 on field goals.

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

Result: 42-21 win over Panthers

Eichenberg started and earned a 76.4 pass-blocking grade, allowing no pressures.

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

Result: 20-13 loss to Texans

Foskey played 4 snaps, his lowest total since Week 1 (inactive). Notre Dame’s all-time sack leader is taking on a limited role in Year 1.

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

Result: 20-17 loss to Cowboys

Gilman remains out with a heel injury.

Blake Grupe (2022), K, New Orleans Saints

Result: 20-13 loss to Texans

Grupe went 2/4 on field goals this week, including a miss on a 29-yarder. His season-long percentage is 81.3 percent.

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

Result: 20-6 loss to Lions

Hainsey allowed one pressure and earned a 73.0 pass-blocking grade. His overall grade was 60.8.

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

Result: 24-16 win over Titans

Hamilton made only one tackle but was not targeted.

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

Result: 20-13 win over Saints

Hinish made a tackle for loss on his lone tackle.

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

Result: 42-21 loss to Dolphins

Jansen snapped 8 times successfully, 4 each on punts and field goals.

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

Result: 26-9 loss to Rams

Jones was a healthy scratch in his first week with the Cardinals.

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

Result: 19-13 loss to Vikings

Kmet caught 2 of his 3 targets for 9 yards.

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

Result: 17-13 loss to Bengals

Love made 4 tackles.

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

Result: 20-17 win over Chargers

Martin allowed 4 pressures including 1 quarterback hit, and he posted a 61.6 overall grade.

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

Result: 21-17 win over Patriots

Mayer, a legendary Notre Dame tight end, broke out this week with a 5-catch, 75-yard performance. After catching only 1 pass for 2 yards in his first four games, he has 7 for 114 in his latest two.

Nick McCloud (2020), CB, New York Giants

Result: 14-9 loss to Bills

McCloud played 2 defensive snaps, assisting on 1 tackle.

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

Result: 19-8 loss to Chiefs

McGlinchey allowed 5 pressures, including 1 quarterback hit and 1 sack. His pass-blocking grade was 44.9.

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

Result: 24-16 win over Titans

Mustipher was active but did not play on offense.

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

Result: 37-20 loss to Jaguars

Nelson allowed only 1 pressure, earning an 80.8 pass-blocking grade.

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

Result: 20-6 win over Buccaneers

Okwara batted a pass and picked up a sack, his first of each this season. He made 1 additional tackle as well.

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

Result: 20-6 win over Buccaneers

Okwara assisted on 1 tackle.

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

Result: 19-17 win over 49ers

Owusu-Koramoah had a productive day with 5 tackles, 1 sack, 2 quarterback hits and 3 tackles for loss. He also earned an 86.1 coverage grade.

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

Result: 20-13 win over Saints

Patterson allowed two pressures and was given a 59.5 overall grade.

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

Result: 21-17 win over Patriots

Rochell made 1 tackle, which was a defensive stop.

Ben Skowronek (2020), WR, Los Angeles Rams

Result: 26-9 win over Cardinals

Skowronek was not targeted.

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

Result: 42-21 win over Panthers

Smythe did not catch his lone target.

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

Result: 19-13 win over Bears

Smith, the second-longest tenured former Notre Dame player in the NFL (Jansen), made 5 tackles and was not targeted in coverage.

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

Result: 19-13 loss to Vikings

The Bears placed St. Brown on injured reserve this week.

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

Result: 24-16 win over Titans

It was a big bounce-back for Stanley against the Titans. He graded well across the board at 78.9 overall, and he allowed only 3 pressures after 9 last week.

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

Result: 21-17 win over Patriots

Tillery picked up 2 quarterback hurries.

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

Result: 19-8 win over Broncos

Tranquill, in only 3 pass-rush snaps, picked up 2 pressures including a sack. He finished with 3 tackles.

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

Result: 42-21 loss to Dolphins

Tremble caught both his targets for 25 yards, a season-high.

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

Result: 20-6 win over Buccaneers

Wright caught his only target for 7 yards.