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Notre Dame in the NFL: Michael Mayer rejoins Raiders after personal absence

IMG_7504by:Jack Soble•about 14 hours•

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michael mayer
Former Notre Dame and current Las Vegas Raiders tight end Michael Mayer (Sam Navarro-Imagn Images)

Former Notre Dame and current Las Vegas Raiders tight end Michael Mayer caught 1 pass on 3 targets in a 34-19 loss to the Miami Dolphins in Week 11, but some things are bigger than football.

Mayer had been out since Week 4 as he dealt with a personal matter, but he rejoined the team last week, practiced three times and played 34 snaps in the game.

“The No. 1 important rule is that football’s not bigger than life,” Mayer said, according to Raiders.com. “It isn’t, and it never has been. I just needed to figure some things out. That’s what I did, and I’m on my feet again. I feel great. I’m sleeping well. I’m doing all the things that I need to be doing to set myself up for success and help the team.”

The Notre Dame record-holder for receptions by a tight end was placed on the non-football illness list during his absence, but the Raiders activated him for Week 11.

“Just getting him back to par with our team, obviously a new offensive coordinator there with Scott Turner and just getting back in the fold – we want to be smart with it,” Raiders head coach Antonio Pierce said. “But obviously, Mike is a big part of our plans this year, this week and the future so the more we can get him the ball, the better.”

Here’s how every other former Notre Dame player in the NFL did this week, featuring some excellent defensive back performances from Kyle Hamilton, Cam Hart, Julian Love and Harrison Smith.

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

Result: 34-27 win over Bengals

Alt turned in one of his best games of his rookie season, allowing 1 pressure in 42 pass-blocking opportunities and posting an 84.4 PFF grade in the run game.

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

Result: 34-10 loss to Texans

Aubrey made 1 of his 2 field-goal attempts, although the make was a 53-yarder. He also made a 64-yard try that was nullified by a Texans penalty.

Kevin Austin Jr. (2018-21), WR, New Orleans Saints

Result: 35-14 win over Browns

Austin caught 1 of his 2 targets for 18 yards.

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

Result: 20-17 loss to Seahawks

Banks allowed 1 pressure and finished with a 66.9 pass-blocking grade.

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

Result: 38-6 loss to Broncos

Bertrand remains out with a concussion.

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

Result: 20-19 loss to Packers

Daly snapped 6 times successfully but was illegally bull-rushed on the last one, leading to a block.

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

Result: 26-18 loss to Eagles

Day made 1 tackle.

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

Result: 34-19 win over Raiders

Eichenberg did not allow a pressure but finished with a 54.0 PFF offense grade.

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

Result: 38-6 win over Falcons

Estimé rushed 6 times for 16 yards and caught 3 passes for another 9.

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

Result: 34-10 win over Cowboys

Fisher missed Week 11 with a concussion.

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

Result: 35-14 win over Browns

Foskey played 3 snaps on defense and 20 on special teams.

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

Result: 34-27 win over Bengals

Gilman made 6 tackles, including a tackle for loss, and was not targeted in coverage. He earned a 78.7 PFF coverage grade.

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Blake Grupe (2022), K, New Orleans Saints

Result: 35-14 win over Browns

Grupe made all 5 of his extra-point attempts.

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

Result: BYE

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

Result: 18-16 loss to Steelers

Evergreen Kyle Hamilton performance: 10 tackles (9 solo), including 3 defensive stops (tackles that result in a failure for the offense) and 1 reception for 8 yards allowed in coverage.

Thomas Harper (2023), DB, Las Vegas Raiders

Result: 34-19 loss to Dolphins

Harper made 1 tackle.

Cam Hart (2019-23), CB, Los Angeles Chargers

Result: 34-27 win over Bengals

Hart was targeted 8 times and allowed 5 receptions for 25 yards (3.1 yards per attempt). He broke up 2 passes and made 5 tackles.

However, he left with a head injury during the second half.

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

Result: 34-10 win over Cowboys

Hinish made 1 tackle.

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

Result: BYE

Brandon Joseph (2022), S, Detroit Lions

Result: 52-6 win over Jaguars

Joseph played only 3 defensive snaps, but he defended a pass.

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

Result: 20-19 loss to Packers

Kmet caught 3 passes for 42 yards.

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

Result: 34-10 loss to Texans

Liufau made 3 tackles.

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

Result: 20-17 win over 49ers

Love made 9 tackles, including this tackle for loss.

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

Result: 34-10 loss to Texans

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

Result: 34-19 loss to Dolphins

Mayer caught a pass for 5 yards. More importantly, Mayer — who had been away from the team for personal reasons since Week 4 — is back with the Raiders.

Nick McCloud (2020), CB, San Francisco 49ers

Result: 20-17 loss to Seahawks

McCloud played 9 snaps on special teams.

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

Result: 38-6 win over Falcons

McGlinchey allowed a sack but earned a 77.4 PFF offense grade.

Sam Mustipher (2014-18), OL, Los Angeles Chargers

Result: 34-27 win over Bengals

Mustipher played 3 offensive snaps.

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

Result: 28-27 win over Jets

Nelson allowed 1 pressure but earned a 73.4 PFF pass-blocking grade.

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

Result: BYE

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

Result: 34-10 win over Cowboys

Patterson did not allow a pressure and posted a 71.3 pass-blocking grade.

Spencer Shrader (2023), K, Kansas City Chiefs

Result: 30-21 loss to Bills

Kicking for his third team this season, Shrader made all 3 of his extra-point attempts in his Chiefs debut.

Ben Skowronek (2020), WR, Pittsburgh Steelers

Result: 18-16 win over Ravens

Skowronek caught a pass for 4 yards.

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

Result: 23-13 win over Titans

Smith picked off his second pass of the season and 36th of his career.

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

Result: 34-19 win over Raiders

Smythe caught his lone target for 3 yards.

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

Result: 18-16 loss to Steelers

Stanley allowed 2 pressures but earned a 71.0 pass-blocking grade.

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

Result: 23-13 win over Titans

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

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

Result: 30-21 loss to Bills

Tranquill made 8 tackles and was not targeted in coverage.

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

Result: BYE

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

Result: 22-18 win over Patriots

Williams rushed 15 times for 86 yards, good for a season-high 5.7 yards per attempt.

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

Result: 52-6 win over Jaguars

Wright caught a 5-yard touchdown pass.

Former Notre Dame football players on injured reserve

Owusu-Koramoah remains on injured reserve with a neck injury, and news out of Cleveland does not look good. According to Cleveland.com’s Mary Kay Cabot, Owusu-Koramoah is “likely” done for the season and his career might even be in jeopardy.

Blue & Gold‘s prayers are with Owusu-Koamoah, who is a terrific football player and by all accounts a better person.

Former Notre Dame players on NFL practice squads

Kareem went back down to the Falcons’ practice squad after being elevated to the active roster for Week 10.

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