Notre Dame in the NFL: Quenton Nelson ends Pro Bowl season on high note

If former Notre Dame guard Quenton Nelson had it his way, he would be preparing for a Wild Card matchup between his Colts and the Cleveland Browns. But the Colts couldn’t get it done in a win-or-go-home game against the Houston Texans this past Saturday, losing 23-19.

However, Nelson had one of his best games of the season to cap off his sixth-straight Pro Bowl campaign.

Nelson showed out in pass protection (1 pressure in 26 opportunities), but his work in the run game might have been the main reason the Colts almost won. Running back Jonathan Taylor carried the ball 30 times for 188 yards and a touchdown, but when he ran behind Nelson’s left guard position, he totaled 96 yards on just 11 carries.

151 of Jonathan Taylor's 188 rushing yards came behind Quenton Nelson and Bernhard Raimann. pic.twitter.com/Mobz8aPIqD

— Cody Manning (@CodyTalksNFL) January 7, 2024

That included a 49-yard touchdown in which Nelson made a key block at the line of scrimmage.

Jonathan Taylor is FEASTING. #ForTheShoe

Via NFLpic.twitter.com/qjfpMiaYeD

— Sunday Night Football on NBC (@SNFonNBC) January 7, 2024

Here’s how every other former Notre Dame player in the NFL did in Week 18.

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

Result: 38-10 win over Commanders

Aubrey missed a field goal. It finally happened. In fact, he missed two, although the first one was blocked. He also made a 50-yarder.

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

Result: 21-20 loss to Rams

Banks turned in his best pass-blocking game of the season, according to Pro Football Focus. He allowed no pressures and earned an 86.9 pass-blocking grade.

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

Result: 17-10 win over Ravens

Boykin played 5 snaps and was not targeted.

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

Result: 21-14 loss to Bills

Claypool was targeted twice. He caught 1 pass for 3 yards, but his other target was intercepted to seal the Dolphins’ loss.

Sheldon Day (2012-15), DT, Minnesota Vikings

Result: 30-20 loss to Lions

Day played 12 snaps but was held off the stat sheet.

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

Result: 21-14 loss to Bills

Eichenberg allowed 3 pressures and was given a 57.7 offense grade.

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

Result: 48-17 win over Falcons

Foskey played for the first time since Dec. 3 but did not record a statistic.

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

Result: 13-12 loss to Chiefs

Gilman intercepted his second pass of the season and broke up another one. He also made 3 tackles while allowing 0 receptions on 2 targets in coverage.

Blake Grupe (2022), K, New Orleans Saints

Result: 48-17 win over Falcons

Grupe made 2 field goals, both within 29 yards, and hit all 6 of his extra-point attempts.

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

Result: 9-0 win over Panthers

Hainsey allowed 3 pressures, including 1 sack, but he was given a respectable 63.0 PFF grade.

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

Result: 17-10 loss to Steelers

The Ravens sat Hamilton for Week 18, because they had already clinched the No. 1 seed and the star former Notre Dame safety banged up his knee two weeks prior. He has one more week to rest before the divisional round.

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

Result: 23-19 win over Colts

Hinish made 3 tackles and tallied a quarterback hit.

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

Result: 9-0 loss to Buccaneers

Jansen snapped 7 times successfully, 6 on punts and 1 on a field-goal attempt.

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

Result: 17-9 loss to Packers

Kmet caught 3 passes for 41 yards.

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

Result: 21-20 win over Cardinals

Love made 7 tackles, 2 of which were defensive stops.

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

Result: 38-10 win over Commanders

Martin earned an 88.7 pass-blocking grade, his highest mark of the season. He did not allow a pressure.

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

Result: 27-14 win over Broncos

Mayer missed his third consecutive game with a toe injury, ending his rookie season.

Nick McCloud (2020), CB, New York Giants

Result: 27-10 win over Eagles

McCloud earned a 90.9 PFF grade in coverage and a 90.5 defense grade, allowing 3 receptions for 29 yards on 5 targets. He also made 3 tackles and forced a fumble.

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

Result: 27-14 loss to Raiders

McGlinchey was placed on injured reserve with a rib injury shortly before the Broncos’ season finale.

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

Result: 17-10 loss to Steelers

Mustipher allowed 2 pressures in 32 snaps, his most since Week 3.

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

Result: 30-20 win over Vikings

Okwara picked up 1 tackle and 1 pressure.

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

Result: 30-20 win over Vikings

Okwara totaled 4 pressures, including 2 quarterback hits. He also batted down a pass.

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

Result: 31-14 loss to Bengals

The Browns were locked into the No. 5 seed entering Week 18, so Owusu-Koramoah rested.

Ben Skowronek (2020), WR, Los Angeles Rams

Result: 21-20 win over 49ers

With the Rams resting their starters, Skowronek played 40 snaps. He caught 2 passes for 22 yards.

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

Result: 30-20 loss to Lions

Smith made 3 tackles and defended a pass. He implied that he’s considering retirement after 12 NFL seasons, all with the Vikings.

Vikings S Harrison Smith on his future: "Whenever I retire, I'm not going to tell you. You'll figure it out. … I'll say this, it's hard to have the ability to play and not have the desire to play. I'm not trying to be ominous or anything. Right now, my shoulder hurts."

— Alec Lewis (@alec_lewis) January 7, 2024

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

Result: 21-14 loss to Bills

Smythe caught 3 passes on 3 targets for 30 yards.

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

Result: 17-10 loss to Steelers

Stanley played 21 snaps, resting for much of Week 18. He allowed 1 pressure.

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

Result: 17-9 loss to Packers

St. Brown caught his lone target for 18 yards.

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

Result: 27-14 win over Broncos

Tillery made 1 tackle and picked up 2 pressures.

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

Result: 13-12 win over Chargers

Tranquill totaled a quarterback hit on one of his 3 pass-rush snaps, and he was not targeted in coverage.

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

Result: 9-0 loss to Buccaneers

Tremble caught 2 passes for 11 yards.

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

Result: 30-20 win over Vikings

Wright missed his third-straight game with a hip injury, but he was not moved to injured reserve.

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