Notre Dame in the NFL: Michael Mayer catches first career touchdown

Former Notre Dame tight end Michael Mayer struggled to produce early in his rookie season, much like the rest of the Las Vegas Raiders’ offense. But Sunday night, he finally reached a big milestone.

Mayer caught his first career touchdown pass, a contested catch in the end zone from 7 yards out. His score was the difference in the game, in which the Raiders beat the Jets 16-12.

MICHAEL MAYER FOR THE LEAD!!!#NYJvsLV | 📺 NBC pic.twitter.com/N9J8WbwIBC

— Las Vegas Raiders (@Raiders) November 13, 2023

Mayer showcased the strong hands, physicality and body control that made him one of the most prolific Notre Dame players in recent memory. The rookie caught 2 more passes for 12 yards against the Jets, giving him 16 for 178 so far in his young career.

Here’s how every other former Notre Dame player in the NFL did in Week 10.

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

Result: 49-17 win over Giants

Aubrey did not attempt a field goal, but he kicked 7 extra points without fail.

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

Result: 34-3 win over Jaguars

Banks allowed two pressures, both of which resulted in quarterback hits. His overall Pro Football Focus grade was 49.2.

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

Result: 23-19 win over Packers

Boykin was not targeted.

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

Result: BYE

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

Result: 41-38 win over Chargers

Daly snapped successfully 8 times, 7 on kicks and 1 on punts.

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

Result: BYE

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

Result: 27-19 loss to Vikings

Foskey missed Week 10 with a quad strain. It is not considered serious, according to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, and he was not placed on injured reserve.

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

Result: 41-38 loss to Lions

Gilman made 7 tackles and defended a pass. He had a rough day in coverage, though, allowing 5 catches for 111 yards and 2 touchdowns on 6 targets.

Blake Grupe (2022), K, New Orleans Saints

Result: 27-19 loss to Vikings

Grupe made his only field goal attempt, from 48 yards.

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

Result: 20-6 win over Titans

Hainsey allowed a sack and was given a 44.3 overall PFF grade.

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

Result: 33-31 loss to Bengals

Hamilton didn’t wait long to make a big impact this week. The Ravens sent him on a blitz on the first snap, and he got his hands on Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson’s pass and batted it into the air. Hamilton located it and corralled it, and all he had to do was strut into the end zone for a touchdown.

ARE YOU KIDDING US @kyledhamilton_?!?!?!

PICK SIX!!!!

Tune in now on FOX! pic.twitter.com/ojlcFMT1lp

— Baltimore Ravens (@Ravens) November 12, 2023

Hamilton also made 8 tackles, defended 2 passes and picked up 2 pressures, including 1 QB hit. It was another monster game for the second-year safety out of Notre Dame.

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

Result: 30-27 win over Bengals

Hinish picked up 1 pressure and 2 tackles.

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

Result: 16-13 loss to Bears

Jansen snapped successfully 10 times, 6 on punts and 4 on kicks.

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

Result: 16-13 win over Panthers

Kmet caught 5 passes on 7 targets for 45 yards.

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

Result: 29-26 win over Commanders

Love made 7 tackles, and he only allowed 2 receptions for 7 yards. PFF gave him an 83.9 overall grade.

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

Result: 49-17 win over Giants

Martin earned an 82.0 pass-blocking grade, only allowing 1 pressure.

Nick McCloud (2020), CB, New York Giants

Result: 49-17 loss to Cowboys

McCloud made his first start, playing a season high 54 snaps. He made 3 tackles but was credited with 2 misses.

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

Result: 24-22 win over Bills

Played Monday night; details will come Tuesday morning.

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

Result: 33-31 loss to Browns

Mustipher played 6 snaps on the field goal unit, but he did not play on offense.

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

Result: 10-6 win over Patriots

Nelson did not allow a pressure, turning in his second-best pass-blocking grade of the season at 87.6.

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

Result: 41-38 win over Chargers

Okwara made 2 tackles, both of which were defensive stops.

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

Result: 41-38 win over Chargers

Okwara made 2 tackles, one of which was a defensive stop.

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

Result: 33-31 win over Ravens

Owusu-Koramoah made 7 tackles, 4 of which were run stops, including 2 for loss. He also picked up a half-sack and defended a pass.

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

Result: 30-27 win over Bengals

Patterson allowed 1 pressure and was given a 61.2 overall grade.

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

Result: 16-12 win over Jets

Rochell played 9 snaps and made a tackle for loss.

Ben Skowronek (2020), WR, Los Angeles Rams

Result: BYE

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

Result: BYE

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

Result: 27-19 win over Saints

Smith made 5 tackles and picked up a quarterback hurry. Two of his tackles were run stops.

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

Result: 33-31 loss to Browns

Stanley just can’t avoid the injury bug. He earned a PFF pass-blocking grade of 86.3, but he suffered a knee injury after 44 snaps. Stanley avoided major injury, Ravens head coach John Harbaugh said Monday, and could play in Thursday’s game against the Bengals.

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

Result: 16-12 win over Jets

Tillery was a menace as a pass rusher this week, totaling 5 pressures in 16 opportunities. He also made 4 tackles.

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

Result: BYE

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

Result: 16-13 loss to Bears

Tremble caught all 3 of his targets for 16 yards.

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

Result: 41-38 win over Chargers

Wright caught his first touchdown of the season, a 25-yard score. He snuck free off of play action and made the catch in stride for a walk-in touchdown and a late lead.

JG dropping an absolute dime to Brock Wright for the score!#DETvsLAC |📺 CBS pic.twitter.com/uu4wfVqliw

— Detroit Lions (@Lions) November 12, 2023