Notre Dame in the NFL: Kyren Williams scores three more touchdowns
Former Notre Dame running back Kyren Williams just keeps scoring touchdowns, and the Los Angeles Rams just keep winning as a result.
Williams, who is second in the NFL to Christian McCaffrey in rushing yards with 1,144, added 3 touchdowns to his breakout 2023 season to give him 12 total. The Rams needed all of them in a 26-25 win over the New York Giants, clinching a playoff berth for Los Angeles.
That includes this 28-yard score, in which Williams navigated traffic, trusted his blocks and scampered to the house.
In his second season out of Notre Dame, Williams has been a revelation for a Rams team that outperformed expectations in 2023. He totaled 101 yards from scrimmage against the Giants, giving him 7-straight games with at least 100.
Here’s how every other former Notre Dame player in the NFL did in Week 17.
Brandon Aubrey (played for Notre Dame from 2013-16), K, Dallas Cowboys
Result: 20-19 win over Lions
Aubrey made both his field-goal attempts, including a 51-yarder. He has one more game to go for a perfect first season on field goals.
Aaron Banks (2017-20), OL, San Francisco 49ers
Result: 27-10 win over Commanders
The 49ers activated Banks (toe) but did not play him. With the No. 1 seed clinched, one would think Banks would rest in Week 18 as well and take three weeks off to get healthy for the playoffs.
Miles Boykin (2015-18), WR, Pittsburgh Steelers
Result: 30-23 win over Seahawks
Boykin played 6 snaps but was not targeted.
Chase Claypool (2016-19), WR, Miami Dolphins
Result: 56-19 loss to Ravens
Claypool was targeted once in 10 snaps but did not catch it.
Sheldon Day (2012-15), DT, Minnesota Vikings
Result: 33-10 loss to Packers
Day made 1 tackle, which was a defensive stop (a tackle that results in a “failure” for the offense).
Liam Eichenberg, (2016-20), OL, Miami Dolphins
Result: 56-19 loss to Ravens
Eichenberg gave up a sack, but that was his only allowed pressure. He finished with a 69.6 PFF offense grade.
Isaiah Foskey (2019-22), DE, New Orleans Saints
Result: 23-13 win over Buccaneers
Foskey (quad) did not play again this week, although he did start practicing in a limited capacity. He last suited up Dec. 3.
Alohi Gilman (2017-19), S, Los Angeles Chargers
Result: 16-9 loss to Broncos
Gilman broke up 2 passes and made 2 tackles
Blake Grupe (2022), K, New Orleans Saints
Result: 23-13 win over Buccaneers
Grupe went 3-for-3 on field goals, with the longest coming in at 45 yards.
Robert Hainsey (2017-20), OL, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Result: 23-13 loss to Saints
Hainsey did not allow a pressure and earned a season-high 75.8 pass-blocking grade.
Kyle Hamilton (2019-21), S, Baltimore Ravens
Result: 56-19 win over Dolphins
Hamilton (knee) missed Week 17, but Baltimore did not place him on injured reserve. If the Ravens practiced Tuesday (they did not), he would have been a limited participant.
His situation is similar to Banks’, because the Ravens have clinched the AFC’s No. 1 seed. Sitting Hamilton in Week 18 would give him a total of 3 weeks to heal.
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Kurt Hinish (2017-21), DT, Houston Texans
Result: 26-3 win over Titans
Hinish made 3 tackles, including 2 defensive stops and a tackle for loss, and he picked up a half-sack.
J.J. Jansen (2004-07), LS, Carolina Panthers
Result: 26-0 loss to Jaguars
Jansen snapped 6 times successfully, all on punts.
Cole Kmet (2017-19), TE, Chicago Bears
Result: 37-13 win over Falcons
Kmet (knee) played 13 snaps, obviously hampered by the injury suffered last week.
Julian Love (2016-18), DB, Seattle Seahawks
Result: 30-23 loss to Steelers
Love made 14 tackles — yes, 14 — and forced a fumble. He struggled in coverage, though, giving up 4 catches on 4 targets for 89 yards.
Zack Martin (2009-13), OL, Dallas Cowboys
Result: 20-19 win over Lions
Martin allowed no pressures and earned a season-high 88.7 pass-blocking grade, but he was given a season-low 45.0 run-blocking grade.
Michael Mayer (2020-22), TE, Las Vegas Raiders
Result: 23-20 loss to Colts
Mayer (toe) missed his second-straight game.
Nick McCloud (2020), CB, New York Giants
Result: 26-25 loss to Rams
McCloud started in place of the injured Deonte Banks, making 8 tackles and forcing a fumble.
Mike McGlinchey (2013-17), OL, Denver Broncos
Result: 16-9 win over Chargers
McGlinchey dominated in the run game, earning an 87.4 run-blocking grade from PFF. His 79.3 offense grade was his best of the season.
Sam Mustipher (2014-18), OL, Baltimore Ravens
Result: 56-19 win over Dolphins
Mustipher played 4 snaps in his first action since Week 10.
Quenton Nelson (2014-17), OL, Indianapolis Colts
Result: 23-20 win over Raiders
Nelson posted an 81.7 PFF grade with solid marks in the run game (78.8) and pass game (71.4).
Julian Okwara (2016-19), EDGE, Detroit Lions
Result: 20-19 loss to Cowboys
Okwara was a healthy scratch.
Romeo Okwara (2012-15), DL, Detroit Lions
Result: 20-19 loss to Cowboys
Okwara played 9 snaps and did not make the stat sheet.
Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah (2017-20), LB, Cleveland Browns
Result: 37-20 win over Jets
Owusu-Koramoah made 11 tackles, including 2 for loss. He also totaled 2 pressures.
Ben Skowronek (2020), WR, Los Angeles Rams
Result: 26-25 win over Giants
Skowronek played 1 snap and was not targeted.
Harrison Smith (2007-11), S, Minnesota Vikings
Result: 33-10 loss to Packers
Smith made 5 tackles.
Durham Smythe (2013-17), TE, Miami Dolphins
Result: 56-19 loss to Ravens
Smythe caught 3 passes for 54 yards.
Ronnie Stanley (2012-15), OL, Baltimore Ravens
Result: 56-19 win over Dolphins
Stanley allowed 1 pressure but earned a 75.2 pass-blocking grade.
Equanimeous St. Brown (2015-17), WR, Chicago Bears
Result: 37-13 win over Falcons
St. Brown returned from the pectoral injury that kept him out Weeks 13-16, but he was not targeted in 29 snaps.
Jerry Tillery (2015-18), DL, Las Vegas Raiders
Result: 23-20 loss to Colts
Tillery made 2 tackles and picked up 1 pressure.
Drue Tranquill (2014-18), LB, Kansas City Chiefs
Result: 25-17 win over Bengals
Tranquill made 1 tackle, which was a defensive stop, and added up a quarterback hit.
Tommy Tremble (2018-20), TE, Carolina Panthers
Result: 26-0 loss to Jaguars
Tremble caught 1 pass on 2 targets for 6 yards.
Brock Wright (2017-20), TE, Detroit Lions
Result: 20-19 loss to Cowboys
Wright (hip) missed his second-straight game.
Former Notre Dame players on injured reserve
- Falcons EDGE Ade Ogundeji (foot/ankle)
- Lions LS Scott Daly (knee)
- Texans C Jarrett Patterson (ankle)
Former Notre Dame players on NFL practice squads
- Cardinals RB Tony Jones Jr.
- Panthers S Matthias Farley
- Bears DE Khalid Kareem
- Lions S Brandon Joseph
- Texans CB Troy Pride Jr.
- Saints OL Tommy Kraemer
- Steelers S Jalen Elliott
- Steelers LB Jaylon Smith
News: The Steelers signed former Notre Dame linebacker Jaylon Smith to their practice squad (Dec. 26)
News: The Texans signed former Notre Dame cornerback Troy Pride Jr. to their practice squad. (Dec. 28)
News: Former Notre Dame defensive tackle Chris Smith was released from the Lions’ practice squad. (Dec. 30)