Notre Dame in the NFL: Ronnie Stanley putting together vintage season

Former Notre Dame offensive tackle Ronnie Stanley was a first-team All Pro in 2019, but since a series of injuries began in 2020, he hasn’t been the same player.

Until now.

Stanley allowed zero quarterback pressures in the Ravens’ 35-10 Week 4 win over the Bills, and he also helped Baltimore rush 34 times for 271 yards (8.0 yards per carry). His Pro Football Focus pass-blocking grade of 88.3 ranks second among all NFL tackles this season, behind only Philadelphia’s Jordan Mailata.

Stanley also leads the NFL in pass-block win rate this season, according to ESPN.

Lost in the sauce is that Ronnie Stanley is all the way back.

Finally healthy and that man is playing some good football.

Might need a video this week

— Cole Jackson (@ColeJacksonFB) September 30, 2024

Here’s how every other former Notre Dame athlete in the NFL did this week.

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

Result: 17-10 loss to Chiefs

Alt missed Week 4 with a knee injury, but he’s expected to return soon.

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

Result: 20-15 win over Giants

Aubrey missed one field goal (gasp!) but also made his second 60-plus-yarder of the season. He’s 6-of-7 from 50 yards or more this year and 16-of-17 for his career.

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

Result: 30-13 win over Patriots

Banks allowed 4 pressures but posted his best PFF run-blocking grade of the season at 76.4.

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

Result: 26-24 win over Saints

Bertrand played a career-high 8 defensive snaps, picking up a pressure and a defensive stop. He finished with a 91.1 PFF defense grade, albeit in a small sample size.

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

Result: 24-18 win over Rams

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

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

Result: 31-12 loss to Titans

Eichenberg allowed 2 pressures, finishing with a 65.1 PFF offense grade.

Jalen Elliott (2016-19), S, Pittsburgh Steelers

Result: 27-24 loss to Colts

Elliott played 16 snaps on special teams.

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

Result: 24-20 win over Jaguars

Fisher made his offensive debut, allowing 2 pressures in 22 snaps.

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

Result: 26-24 loss to Falcons

Foskey played 17 snaps on special teams.

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

Result: 17-10 loss to Chiefs

Gilman made 3 tackles.

Blake Grupe (2022), K, New Orleans Saints

Result: 26-24 win over Falcons

Grupe remains perfect on field goals this season, hitting his lone attempt from 43 yards.

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

Result: 33-16 win over Eagles

Hainsey played 6 snaps on special teams.

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

Result: 35-10 win over Bills

Hamilton made 7 tackles, including 2 defensive stops. He also recovered a fumble, returning it for 8 yards.

Thomas Harper (2023), DB, Las Vegas Raiders

Result: 20-16 win over Browns

Harper played 18 snaps on special teams.

Cam Hart (2019-2023), CB, Los Angeles Chargers

Result: 17-10 loss to Chiefs

Hart played 16 snaps on special teams, making a solo tackle.

Sam Hartman (2023), QB, Washington Commanders

Result: 42-14 win over Cardinals

Hartman was a healthy scratch (emergency third QB designation).

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

Result: 34-24 loss to Panthers

Jansen snapped 6 times successfully, 2 on punts and 4 on field goals.

Javontae Jean-Baptiste (2023), DE, Washington Commanders

Result: 42-14 win over Cardinals

Jean-Baptiste played 17 defensive snaps but was held off the stat sheet.

Brandon Joseph (2022), S, Detroit Lions

Result: 42-29 win over Seahawks

Joseph made his first career start, finishing with 6 tackles. PFF data from Monday Night Football is not available yet, but a scan of social media indicates he held his own against a talented Seahawks offense.

Can we talk about how well Brandon Joseph played? His development in a year has been insane! Definitely someone to watch as a safety 3 for us soon

— J (@Lion4lifedet) October 1, 2024

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

Result: 24-18 win over Rams

Kmet caught 3 passes for 33 yards, including this 22-yard leaping grab over the middle that set up Chicago’s game-winning touchdown.

This throw by Caleb Williams and catch by Cole Kmet >>>>>>>>>>>> pic.twitter.com/h8K9WKe01t

— Khari D. Thompson (@kdthompson5) September 30, 2024

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

Result: 20-15 win over Giants

Liufau made 4 tackles, including a tackle for loss.

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

Result: 42-29 loss to Lions

Love made 4 tackles.

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

Result: 20-15 win over Giants

Martin allowed zero pressures, earning a season-high PFF pass-blocking grade of 86.6. His season-long pass-blocking grade of 81.3 ranks fifth among qualified NFL guards so far this season.

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

Result: 20-16 win over Browns

Mayer missed Week 4 with a personal issue.

Nick McCloud (2020), CB, New York Giants

Result: 20-15 loss to Cowboys

McCloud made 3 tackles — including a TFL — but he was also credited with two missed tackles.

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

Result: 27-24 win over Steelers

Nelson allowed 4 pressures, including a sack. He did finish with a 70.6 run-blocking grade, though.

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

Result: 42-14 loss to Commanders

Okwara made 1 tackle and posted a QB pressure.

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

Result: 20-16 loss to Raiders

Owusu-Koramoah made 9 tackles, including a tackle for loss and 4 defensive stops.

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

Result: 24-20 win over Texans

Patterson played 4 snaps on special teams.

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

Result: 31-29 win over Packers

Smith made 4 tackles.

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

Result: 31-12 loss to Titans

Smythe was not targeted.

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

Result: 31-29 win over Packers

Tillery picked up a quarterback pressure and a defensive stop.

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

Result: 17-10 win over Chargers

Tranquill made 10 tackles, including 1 for loss and 4 defensive stops. He also posted a QB hit.

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

Result: 34-24 loss to Bengals

Tremble was not targeted.

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

Result: 24-18 loss to Bears

Williams carried 19 times for 94 yards, and he caught 4 passes for an additional 10. The third-year back out of Notre Dame also scored yet another short-yardage touchdown, bringing his total to 6 this season.

This was also Williams’ seventh-straight game with a touchdown.

7th straight game with a TD for @Kyrenwilliams23!

📺: #LARvsCHI on FOX
📱: https://t.co/waVpO909ge pic.twitter.com/sO5y0jmtGR

— NFL (@NFL) September 29, 2024

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

Result: 42-29 win over Seahawks

Wright caught 2 passes for 13 yards.

Former Notre Dame football players on injured reserve

• Audric Estimé (2021-23), RB, Denver Broncos
• Kurt Hinish (2017-21), DT, Houston Texans
• Mike McGlinchey (2013-17), OL, Denver Broncos
• Ben Skowronek (2020), WR, Pittsburgh Steelers

Former Notre Dame players on NFL practice squads

• Kevin Austin Jr. (2018-21), WR, New Orleans Saints
• Miles Boykin (2015-18), WR, Seattle Seahawks
• Sheldon Day (2012-15), DT, Washington Commanders
• Khalid Kareem (2016-19), DE, Atlanta Falcons
• Sam Mustipher (2014-18), OL, Los Angeles Chargers
• Adekunbo Ogundeji (2016-20), EDGE, Pittsburgh Steelers
• Troy Pride Jr. (2016-19), CB, Houston Texans
• Spencer Shrader (2023), K, Indianapolis Colts
• Chris Smith (2022), DT, Detroit Lions
• Equanimeous St. Brown (2015-17), WR, New Orleans Saints