Notre Dame in the NFL, Week 12: Durham Smythe has first touchdown catch since 2020 in Dolphins win
Former Notre Dame and current Miami Dolphins tight end Durham Smythe wasn’t even in quarterback Tua Tagovailoa’s line of vision for the first three-plus seconds of the play. Smythe ran to the flat to Tagovailoa’s right — his blind side — while Tagovailoa looked left.
Nothing open. Time to improvise.
That’s when Smythe, who ran across the field from right to left when the play broke down, became a viable target.
Tagovailoa dodged one Houston Texans rusher as he was flushed to his right, then pivoted back left. Smythe was right in front of him, open in the end zone after outrunning a defender and side-stepping around a teammate running a crossing route. Tagovailoa felt pressure from an underneath defender and threw where he came from — right to Smythe.
The result was a 4-yard touchdown that gave the Dolphins a 10-0 first-quarter lead in their 30-15 win over the Texans. It was Smythe’s first receiving score since Nov. 15, 2020, though he had a touchdown earlier this year on a 1-yard rush. The 2018 fourth-round pick now has three career touchdowns catches.
Smythe is one of more than 40 former Notre Dame players who are on an NFL roster or practice squad. Here’s a look at how each fared in Week 12.
PROMOTION: Join for only $10 to unlock premium access until the start of the 2023 football season
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
This week: Started at left guard and allowed 6 pressures in the 49ers’ 13-0 win over the Saints.
Season: 11 games (all starts), 0 sacks and 20 pressures allowed, and 62.8 Pro Football Focus overall grade.
Alex Bars (2014-18), OL, Las Vegas Raiders
This week: Started at right guard and allowed 1 sack and 4 pressures in the Raiders’ 40-34 overtime win over the Seahawks.
Season: 10 games (nine starts), 3 sacks and 24 pressures allowed, and 48.1 PFF overall grade … Signed to the active roster from the practice squad Oct. 1.
Ian Book (2016-20), QB, Philadelphia Eagles
This week: Inactive for Eagles’ 40-33 win over the Packers.
Season: Has not appeared in a game.
Miles Boykin (2015-18), WR, Pittsburgh Steelers
This week: Missed the Steelers’ 24-17 win over the Colts due to an oblique injury.
Season: 10 games, 6 tackles (134 special teams snaps) and 1 catch for 11 yards.
Chase Claypool (2016-19), WR, Chicago Bears
This week: 2 catches for 51 yards in the Bears’ 31-10 loss to the Jets.
Season: 12 games (10 starts), 39 catches for 394 yards and 1 touchdown, and 9 carries for 59 yards between the Bears and Steelers … Traded to the Bears Nov. 1.
Scott Daly (2012-15), LS, Detroit Lions
This week: Was the long snapper in the Lions’ 28-25 loss to the Bills.
Season: Has played in 11 games.
More Notre Dame football:
• Notre Dame freshman redshirt tracker: Which players have burned it or preserved it?
• Lucky Charms: Notre Dame football recruiting tidbits
Liam Eichenberg (2016-20), OL, Miami Dolphins
This week: Did not play (placed on injured reserve Nov. 1 with an MCL sprain).
Season: Eight games (all starts), 2 sacks and 19 pressures allowed, and 44.9 PFF overall grade.
Matthias Farley (2011-15), S, Las Vegas Raiders
This week: 1 tackle in 28 special teams snaps in the Raiders’ 40-34 overtime win over the Seahawks.
Season: 10 games, 9 tackles and 232 special teams snaps.
Alohi Gilman (2017-19), S, Los Angeles Chargers
This week: 10 tackles with 1 pass broken up in the Chargers’ 25-24 win over the Cardinals.
Season: 11 games (two starts), 33 tackles, 1 interception and 1 pass broken up.
Robert Hainsey (2017-20), C, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
This week: Started at center and allowed 0 pressures in the Bucs’ 23-17 overtime loss to the Browns.
Season: 11 games (all starts), 0 sacks and 15 pressures allowed, and 66.1 PFF overall grade.
Kyle Hamilton (2019-21), S, Baltimore Ravens
This week: Missed the Ravens’ 28-27 loss to the Jaguars due to an ankle injury.
Season: 10 games, 29 tackles, 1 sack, 2 passes broken up and 1 forced fumble.
Daelin Hayes (2016-20), DE, Baltimore Ravens
Waived/injured by the Ravens at final cuts and placed on injured reserve.
Kurt Hinish (2017-21), DT, Houston Texans
This week: Played 25 snaps and had 1 tackle in the Texans’ 30-15 loss to the Dolphins.
Season: 10 games (three starts), 13 tackles and 8 pressures.
J.J. Jansen (2004-07), LS, Carolina Panthers
This week: Was the long snapper in the Panthers’ 13-3 loss to the Ravens.
Season: Has played in 12 games.
Jamir Jones (2016-19), DL, Pittsburgh Steelers
This week: 8 defensive snaps and 21 special teams snaps in the Steelers’ 24-17 win over the Colts.
Season: 11 games, 6 tackles and 1 pass broken up.
Tony Jones Jr. (2016-19), RB, Seattle Seahawks
This week: Inactive for the Seahawks’ 40-34 overtime loss to the Raiders.
Season: Two games, 2 carries for 8 yards and 2 catches for 12 yards, all with the New Orleans Saints … Waived by the Saints Oct. 8 and claimed by the Seahawks Oct. 10.
Khalid Kareem (2016-19), DL, Indianapolis Colts
This week: Inactive for the Colts’ 24-17 loss to the Steelers.
Season: Has not appeared in a game … Signed by Indianapolis off the Cincinnati Bengals’ practice squad Nov. 22 … Signed to the Bengals’ practice squad Oct. 13 two days after the team placed him on waivers … Activated from injured reserve Oct. 10 after missing the Bengals’ first five games due to a hamstring injury.
Top 10
- 1Breaking
Dylan Raiola injury
Nebraska QB will play vs. USC
- 2
Elko pokes at Kiffin
A&M coach jokes over kick times
- 3New
SEC changes course
Alcohol sales at SEC Championship Game
- 4
Bryce Underwood
Michigan prepared to offer No. 1 recruit $10.5M over 4 years
- 5Trending
Dan Lanning
Oregon coach getting NFL buzz
Cole Kmet (2017-19), TE, Chicago Bears
This week: 3 receptions for 27 yards in the Bears’ 31-10 loss to the Jets.
Season: 12 games (all starts), 29 catches for 336 yards and 5 touchdowns.
Tommy Kraemer (2016-20), OL, Detroit Lions
Placed on injured reserve with a back injury Sept. 15 … Has not appeared in a game this season.
Julian Love (2016-18), S, New York Giants
This week: 10 tackles with 1 interception in the Giants’ 28-20 loss to the Cowboys.
Season: 11 games (all starts), 83 tackles, 1 sack, 1 forced fumble, 1 fumble recovery, 2 passes broken up and 2 interceptions.
Nick Martin (2011-15), C, Washington Commanders
This week: Active but did not play in the Commanders’ 19-13 win over the Falcons.
Season: Two games (two starts), 4 pressures allowed and 44.3 PFF overall grade.
Zack Martin (2009-13), OG, Dallas Cowboys
This week: Started at right guard and allowed 2 pressures in the Cowboys’ 28-20 win over the Giants.
Season: 11 games (all starts), 13 pressures allowed and 70.3 PFF overall grade.
Nick McCloud (2020), CB/S, New York Giants
This week: Started and made 8 tackles in the Giants’ 28-20 loss to the Cowboys.
Season: Eight games (two starts), 19 tackles and 1 pass broken up.
Mike McGlinchey (2013-17), OT, San Francisco 49ers
This week: Started at right tackle and allowed 1 pressure in the 49ers’ 13-0 win over the Saints.
Season: 11 games (all starts), 5 sacks and 18 pressures allowed, and 70.7 PFF overall grade.
Sam Mustipher (2014-18), C, Chicago Bears
This week: Started at center and allowed 1 sack in the Bears’ 31-10 loss to the Jets.
Season: 12 games (11 starts), 2 sacks and 14 pressures allowed, and 65.7 PFF overall grade.
RELATED: More Notre Dame football:
Analysis: What to make of Drew Pyne’s season and how it should impact Notre Dame QB decisions
Remembering Brian Kelly leaving Notre Dame for LSU exactly one year later
Quenton Nelson (2014-17), OG, Indianapolis Colts
This week: Started at left guard and allowed 3 pressures in the Colts’ 24-17 loss to the Steelers.
Season: 12 games (all starts), 2 sacks and 21 pressures allowed, and 69.4 PFF overall grade.
Adetokunbo Ogundeji (2016-20), DE, Atlanta Falcons
This week: 6 tackles in the Falcons’ 19-13 loss to the Commanders.
Season: 11 games (all starts), 28 tackles and 1 sack.
Julian Okwara (2016-19), LB, Detroit Lions
This week: 21 defensive snaps and had 2 pressures in the Lions’ 28-25 loss to the Bills.
Season: 10 games (two starts), 17 tackles and 2 sacks.
Romeo Okwara (2012-15), DE, 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
This week: 8 tackles in the Browns’ 23-17 overtime win over the Bucs.
Season: 10 games (nine starts), 59 tackles, 3 passes broken up and 2 forced fumbles.
Isaac Rochell (2013-16), DL, Cleveland Browns
This week: Signed to Browns practice squad Nov. 15 after clearing waivers.
Season: Six games (one start) and 12 tackles … Began the season on the practice squad and was signed to the 53-man roster Sept. 21, but was waived Nov. 12.
Kyle Rudolph (2008-10), TE, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
This week: Inactive for the Bucs’ 23-17 overtime loss to the Browns.
Season: Five games and 2 catches for 20 yards
Ben Skowronek (2020), WR, Los Angeles Rams
This week: 2 catches for 5 yards in the Rams’ 26-10 loss to the Chiefs.
Season: 11 games (eight starts), 29 catches for 254 yards, and 1 carry for 17 yards and a touchdown.
Harrison Smith (2007-11), S, Minnesota Vikings
This week: 7 tackles in the Vikings’ 33-26 win over the Patriots.
Season: 10 games (all starts), 65 tackles, 4 interceptions and 3 passes broken up.
Jaylon Smith (2013-15), LB, New York Giants
This week: 10 tackles in the Giants’ 28-20 loss to the Cowboys.
Season: Eight games (six starts), 47 tackles and 1 fumble recovery … Signed to the Giants’ practice squad Sept. 19 and elevated to the active roster Oct. 1.
Durham Smythe (2013-17), TE, Miami Dolphins
This week: 1 catch for a 4-yard touchdown in the Dolphins’ 30-15 win over the Texans.
Season: 10 games (all starts), 7 catches for 54 yards and 1 touchdown, and 2 rushing attempts for 1 yard and a touchdown.
Equanimeous St. Brown (2015-17), WR, Chicago Bears
This week: 1 catch for 7 yards in the Bears’ 31-10 loss to the Jets.
Season: 12 games (all starts), 14 catches for 195 yards and 1 touchdown.
Ronnie Stanley (2012-15), OT, Baltimore Ravens
This week: Missed the Ravens’ 28-27 loss to the Jaguars due to an ankle injury.
Season: Six games (all starts), 3 pressures allowed and 73.9 PFF overall grade.
Myron Tagovailoa-Amosa (2017-21), DL, Las Vegas Raiders
Placed on the Raiders’ practice squad reserve/injured list Nov. 3 … Signed to the Raiders’ practice squad Aug. 31 after team waived him during final cuts.
Jerry Tillery (2015-18), DT, Las Vegas Raiders
This week: Played 30 defensive snaps in the Raiders’ 40-34 overtime win over the Seahawks.
Season: Nine games, 9 tackles and 1 sack between the Raiders and Chargers … Waived by the Chargers Nov. 10 and claimed by the Raiders Nov. 14.
Drue Tranquill (2014-18), LB, Los Angeles Chargers
This week: 9 tackles in the Chargers’ 25-24 win over the Cardinals.
Season: 11 games (10 starts), 98 tackles, 3 sacks, 1 pass broken up and 1 interception.
Tommy Tremble (2018-20), TE, Carolina Panthers
This week: 1 catch for 3 yards in the Panthers’ 23-10 win over the Broncos.
Season: 12 games (three starts), 11 catches for 101 yards and 2 touchdowns.
Kyren Williams (2019-21), RB, Los Angeles Rams
This week: 11 carries for 35 yards and 3 catches for 25 yards in the Rams’ 26-10 loss to the Chiefs.
Season: Four games, 19 carries for 80 yards and 7 catches for 63 yards … Activated from injured reserve Nov. 12 after missing seven games due to a high ankle sprain.
Brock Wright (2017-20), TE, Detroit Lions
This week: 2 receptions for 6 yards in the Lions’ 28-25 loss to the Bills.
Season: 11 games (five starts), 11 catches for 116 yards and 1 touchdown.
