Notre Dame in the NFL, Week 5: Alohi Gilman interception helps seal Chargers win
Former Notre Dame and current Los Angeles Chargers safety Alohi Gilman made a compelling case for his first start of the season not to be his last.
Gilman intercepted a Jacoby Brissett pass in the end zone with 2:49 remaining and the Chargers leading the Browns 30-28. It likely took a go-ahead field goal opportunity away and allowed the Chargers’ offense to bleed clock rather than attempt a late comeback.
A third-and-7 from the Chargers’ 9-yard line turned into a scramble situation when the initial play was covered. Brissett dodged one rusher and bailed the pocket to his right, staying parallel to the line of scrimmage. Gilman mirrored him from just inside the end zone, eyes on him the entire time. Brissett fired a pass to the back of the end zone while on the run. It never got there and found Gilman instead.
“It was one of those late downs, sprint out runs, [quarterback] got out of the pocket,” Gilman told reporters afterward. “[I] kind of baited him into throwing it, because there in that field zone, quarterbacks like to stretch it out and dump it out or run the ball. [Patrick] Mahomes is one of the masters of those. He kind of just did that, [I] baited him into doing it.
“He took a couple of steps forward, and me and him are looking eye-to-eye. I fell back in the window, and he threw the ball [right to me].”
All told, Gilman made 7 tackles in a season-high 67 defensive snaps. The 2020 sixth-round pick and 2017-19 Notre Dame safety had logged 50 snaps in his first four games. His reward was a game ball from Chargers head coach Brandon Staley. He’d surely like the ultimate prize to be another start.
“I think that it’s going to be week to week,” Staley said. “We’re going to let [Gilman and four-game starter Nasir Adderley] continue to compete and try to put our best combination out there.”
Here’s how Gilman and the other 40-plus former Notre Dame players with an NFL team fared in Week 5.
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Kevin Austin Jr. (Played at Notre Dame from 2018-21), WR, Jacksonville Jaguars
Signed to the Jaguars’ practice squad after being released during final preseason roster cuts and has not appeared in a game.
Aaron Banks (2017-20), OG, San Francisco 49ers
Started at left guard and allowed 2 pressures in the 49ers’ 37-15 win over the Panthers … Has started five games for 3-2 San Francisco, allowing 8 quarterback pressures with 0 sacks and posting a 62.1 Pro Football Focus overall grade.
Alex Bars (2014-18), OL, Las Vegas Raiders
Started at right guard and allowed 1 pressure in the Raiders’ 30-29 loss to the Chiefs … Has appeared in four games with three starts for 1-4 Raiders, allowing 6 pressures and posting a PFF grade of 40.1 … Signed to active roster from practice squad Oct. 1.
Ian Book (2016-20), QB, Philadelphia Eagles
Inactive for the Eagles’ 20-17 win over the Cardinals … Has not appeared in a game this season for 5-0 Philadelphia.
Miles Boykin (2015-18), WR, Pittsburgh Steelers
Caught 1 pass for 11 yards and played 15 snaps on special teams in the Steelers’ 38-3 loss to the Bills … Has 5 tackles on special teams (77 special teams snaps) and 2 targets (1 catch) in five games for 1-4 Pittsburgh.
Chase Claypool (2016-19), WR, Pittsburgh Steelers
Started and caught 5 passes for 50 yards in the Steelers’ 38-3 loss to the Bills … Has 16 catches for 129 yards and 7 carries for 47 yards in five games for 1-4 Pittsburgh.
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Scott Daly (2012-15), LS, Detroit Lions
Was the primary long snapper in the Lions’ 29-0 loss to the Patriots … Has played five games for 1-4 Detroit.
Liam Eichenberg (2016-20), OL, Miami Dolphins
Started at left guard in the Dolphins’ 40-17 loss to the Jets, and allowed 1 sack and 4 pressures … Has started five games for 3-2 Miami, allowing 1 sack and 15 quarterback pressures with a PFF grade of 34.7.
Matthias Farley (2011-15), S, Las Vegas Raiders
Played 2 defensive snaps and 23 special teams snaps with 1 tackle in the Raiders’ 30-29 loss to the Chiefs … Has 3 tackles in five games for 1-4 Las Vegas and has played 100 special teams snaps.
Alohi Gilman (2017-19), S, Los Angeles Chargers
Started and made 7 tackles with 1 interception in the Chargers’ 30-28 win over the Browns … Has 10 tackles and 1 interception in five games for 3-2 Chargers.
Robert Hainsey (2017-20), OL, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Started at center and allowed 1 pressure in the Bucs’ 21-15 win over the Falcons … Has started five games for 3-2 Tampa Bay, allowing 0 sacks and 6 quarterback pressures with a PFF grade of 68.0.
Kyle Hamilton (2019-21), S, Baltimore Ravens
Played 14 defensive snaps and 18 special teams snaps with 0 tackles and was not officially targeted in coverage (but flagged for pass interference) in the Ravens’ 19-17 win over the Bengals … Has 10 tackles, 1 pass broken up and 1 forced fumble in four games for 3-2 Baltimore.
Daelin Hayes (2016-20), DE, Baltimore Ravens
Waived/injured by the 3-2 Ravens at final cuts and placed on injured reserve.
Kurt Hinish (2017-21), DT, Houston Texans
Played 27 snaps with 0 tackles and 1 pressure in the Texans’ 13-6 win over the Jaguars … Has appeared in four games (118 total snaps) with no tackles for 1-3-1 Houston.
J.J. Jansen (2004-07), LS, Carolina Panthers
Was the long snapper in the Panthers’ 37-15 loss to the 49ers … Has played five games for 1-4 Carolina.
Jamir Jones (2016-19), DL, Pittsburgh Steelers
Played 8 defensive snaps in the Steelers’ 38-3 loss to the Bills … Has appeared in five games with 6 tackles and 1 pass broken up for 1-4 Pittsburgh.
Tony Jones Jr. (2016-19), RB, Seattle Seahawks
Waived by the Saints Oct. 8 and claimed by the Seahawks Monday … Played two games for New Orleans, with 2 carries for 8 yards and 2 catches for 12 yards.
Khalid Kareem (2016-19), DL, Free Agent
Placed on waivers Tuesday, one day after he was activated from injured reserve after missing the 2-3 Bengals’ first five games due to a hamstring injury … Had been on IR since Sept. 1.
Cole Kmet (2017-19), TE, Chicago Bears
Started and caught 4 passes for 45 yards in the Bears’ 29-22 loss to the Vikings … Has started five games for 2-3 Chicago and compiled 9 catches for 101 yards.
Tommy Kraemer (2016-20), OL, Detroit Lions
Placed on injured reserve with a back injury Sept. 15 and cannot return until Week 7 … Has not appeared in a game for 1-4 Detroit this season.
Julian Love (2016-18), S, New York Giants
Started and made 7 tackles with a forced fumble in the Giants’ 27-22 win over the Packers … Has recorded 36 tackles with 1 sack and 1 forced fumble in five games for 4-1 New York.
Nick Martin (2011-15), C, Washington Commanders
Started at center allowed 2 pressures in the Commanders’ 21-17 loss to the Titans … Has played two games (two starts) for 1-4 Washington, allowing 4 pressures with a PFF grade of 44.3 … Signed with the Commanders Sept. 20 … Released from New Orleans Saints practice squad Sept. 10.
Zack Martin (2009-13), OG, Dallas Cowboys
Started at right guard and allowed 3 pressures in the Cowboys’ 22-10 win over the Rams … Has started five games for 4-1 Dallas, allowing 0 sacks, 7 pressures and earning a PFF grade of 67.5.
Nick McCloud (2020), CB, New York Giants
Notched 3 tackles and 1 pass broken up in the Giants’ 27-22 win over the Packers … Has played in two games with 5 tackles and 1 pass broken up for 4-1 New York.
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Mike McGlinchey (2013-17), OT, San Francisco 49ers
Started at right tackle and allowed 3 pressures in the 49ers’ 37-15 win over the Panthers … Has started five games for 3-2 San Francisco, with 1 sack and 8 pressures allowed and a PFF grade of 70.4.
Sam Mustipher (2014-18), C, Chicago Bears
Started at center and allowed 2 pressures in the Bears’ 29-22 loss to the Vikings … Has played in five games (five starts) for 2-3 Chicago, with 10 pressures allowed and a PFF grade of 51.0.
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Quenton Nelson (2014-17), OG, Indianapolis Colts
Started at left guard and allowed 3 pressures in the Colts’ 12-9 win over the Broncos … Has started five games for 2-2-1 Indianapolis, allowing 2 sacks and 8 pressures with a PFF grade of 65.0.
Adetokunbo Ogundeji (2016-20), DE, Atlanta Falcons
Started and made 1 tackle in the Falcons’ 21-15 loss to the Buccaneers … Has played in five games (five starts) with 11 tackles and 1 sack for 2-3 Atlanta.
Julian Okwara (2016-19), LB, Detroit Lions
Made 1 tackle in 4 defensive snaps in the Lions’ 29-0 loss to the Patriots … Has played four games with 4 tackles for 1-4 Detroit.
Romeo Okwara (2012-15), LB, Detroit Lions
Placed on reserve/physically unable to perform list Aug. 23 and has not played this season … Still rehabbing from torn Achilles suffered in Week 4 of the 2021 season.
Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah (2017-20), LB, Cleveland Browns
Started and made 6 tackles in the Browns’ 30-28 loss to the Chargers … Has totaled 27 tackles, 1 pass broken up and 1 forced fumble in five games (five starts) for 2-3 Cleveland.
Isaac Rochell (2013-16), DL, Cleveland Browns
Played 19 defensive snaps with 0 tackles in the Browns’ 30-28 loss to the Chargers … Has played in four games (one start) for 2-3 Cleveland, with 8 tackles … Began the season on the practice squad and was signed to the 53-man roster Sept. 21.
Kyle Rudolph (2008-10), TE, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Played 9 snaps with 0 catches in the Buccaneers’ 21-15 win over the Falcons … Has been active for two games for 3-2 Tampa Bay, making 1 catch for 12 yards.
Ben Skowronek (2020), WR, Los Angeles Rams
Started and made 6 catches for 41 yards in the Rams’ 22-10 loss to the Cowboys … Has 18 catches for 181 yards in five games (five starts) for 2-3 Los Angeles.
Harrison Smith (2007-11), S, Minnesota Vikings
Started and made 2 tackles with 1 pass broken up in the Vikings’ 29-22 win over the Bears … Has made 28 tackles with 1 interception and 1 pass broken up in four games (four starts) for 4-1 Minnesota.
Jaylon Smith (2013-15), LB, New York Giants
Started and made 6 tackles in the Giants’ 27-22 win over the Packers … Has appeared in two games (1 start) and made 12 tackles for 4-1 New York … Signed to New York’s practice squad Sept. 19 and was signed to the active roster Oct. 1.
Durham Smythe (2013-17), TE, Miami Dolphins
Started and made 1 catch for 1 yard and had a 1-yard touchdown run in the Dolphins 40-17 loss to the Jets … Has started five games for 3-2 Miami and made 6 catches for 50 yards, to go with a 1-yard rushing touchdown.
Equanimeous St. Brown (2015-17), WR, Chicago Bears
Started and had 2 catches for 24 yards in the Bears’ 29-22 loss to the Vikings … Has 6 catches for 110 yards and a touchdown in five games (all starts) for 2-3 Chicago.
Ronnie Stanley (2012-15), OT, Baltimore Ravens
Started at left tackle in season debut but played only 22 snaps in the Ravens’ 19-17 win over the Bengals … Played in only seven games from 2020-21 due to multiple ankle surgeries.
Myron Tagovailoa-Amosa (2017-21), DL, Las Vegas Raiders
Signed to the Raiders’ practice squad Aug. 13 after team waived him during final cuts.
Jerry Tillery (2015-18), DT, Los Angeles Chargers
Had 1 tackle in the Chargers’ 30-28 win over the Browns … Has 6 tackles and 1 sack and 1 forced fumble in five games for 3-2 Los Angeles.
Drue Tranquill (2014-18), LB, Los Angeles Chargers
Started and made 6 tackles in the Chargers’ 30-28 win over the Browns … Has 41 tackles, 1 pass broken up and 1 interception in five games (four starts) for 3-2 Los Angeles.
Tommy Tremble (2018-20), TE, Carolina Panthers
Started and played 40 snaps with 0 catches in the Panthers’ 37-15 loss to the 49ers … Has 5 catches for 42 yards in five games (one start) for 1-4 Carolina.
Kyren Williams (2019-21), RB, Los Angeles Rams
Expected to be sidelined for six to eight weeks due an ankle sprain he suffered in Week 1 … Did not record any stats for the 2-3 Rams prior to his injury.
Brock Wright (2017-20), TE, Detroit Lions
Played 28 snaps on offense and 7 on special teams, recording no catches, in the Lions’ 29-0 loss to the Patriots … Has played in five games for 1-4 Detroit, making 1 catch for 25 yards.
