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Notre Dame in the NFL, Week 14: Ben Skowronek fourth-quarter catches help Rams beat Raiders

On3 imageby:Patrick Engel•12/13/22•

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Former Notre Dame and current Rams wide receiver Ben Skowronek (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)

Former Notre Dame wide receiver Ben Skowronek’s best game as a Los Angeles Ram came with a quarterback he met one day earlier. That quarterback, Baker Mayfield, didn’t start the Rams’ 17-16 Thursday Night Football win over the Raiders. He had zero full practices since the Rams claimed him off waivers that Tuesday.

He and Skowronek, though, had the look of an established tandem.

Skowronek had 7 catches for 89 yards Thursday – one more catch and 23 more yards than his single-game highs – and all of them came with Mayfield on the other end. Five of the receptions and 60 of the yards were on the Rams’ two fourth-quarter touchdown drives, which erased a 16-3 deficit.

No Skowronek catch was bigger than a 32-yarder that put the Rams at the Raiders’ 40-yard line with a little more than a minute to play. Mayfield lofted a pass for him along the sideline, with Raiders cornerback Nate Hobbs on his hip. Hobbs had his back to Mayfield, though. It was worth the shot in dire circumstances.

Skowronek leaped over Hobbs, caught the ball and held on as Hobbs tried to wrestle it free.

“Those are the moments in a two-minute drill, somebody’s gotta make a play,” Mayfield told NBC’s Peter King. “Catching it right on top of the DB’s head, with the safety bearing down on him? That’s a guy I’m gonna trust, a lot.”

The Rams scored the go-ahead touchdown four plays later. One of those was a Skowronek 8-yard catch on second-and-1. They’re not in position to win without his earlier heroics.

“It’s something I’ve done my whole life playing receiver, being able to win those contested catches, deep balls,” Skowronek told reporters. “I haven’t been able to do it so much in the NFL yet, so it feels great, but at the end of day, it was like, ‘make a play.’ There’s no other option but to make a play.”

Skowronek 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 14.

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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

This week: Started at left guard and allowed 0 pressures in the 49ers’ 35-7 win over the Bucs.

Season: 13 games (all starts), 1 sack and 20 pressures allowed, 62.7 Pro Football Focus overall grade.

Alex Bars (2014-18), OL, Las Vegas Raiders

This week: Started at right guard but left with a knee injury after 4 plays in the Raiders’ 17-16 loss to the Rams.

Season: 12 games (11 starts), 3 sacks and 26 pressures allowed, 49.1 PFF overall grade.

Ian Book (2016-20), QB, Philadelphia Eagles

This week: Inactive for Eagles’ 48-22 win over the Giants.

Season: Has not appeared in a game.

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

This week: 10 offensive snaps and 11 special teams snaps with 1 tackle in the Steelers’ 16-14 loss to the Ravens.

Season: 12 games, 8 tackles (158 special teams snaps), 1 catch for 11 yards.

Chase Claypool (2016-19), WR, Chicago Bears

This week: Off.

Season: 13 games (11 starts), 44 catches for 422 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’ 34-23 win over the Vikings.

Season: Has played in 13 games.

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, 44.9 PFF overall grade.

Matthias Farley (2011-15), S, Las Vegas Raiders

This week: 21 special teams snaps in the Raiders’ 17-16 loss to the Rams.

Season: 12 games, 10 tackles, 276 special teams snaps.

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

This week: Started and made 3 tackles with 1 forced fumble and 1 pass broken up in the Chargers’ 23-17 win over the Dolphins.

Season: 13 games (three starts), 36 tackles, 1 interception, 2 passes broken up.

• Where the Notre Dame quarterback situation stands prior to Gator Bowl

• How Jack Coan is a blueprint for Notre Dame as it explores transfer portal quarterbacks once again

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

This week: Started at center and allowed 1 pressure in the Bucs’ 35-7 loss to the 49ers.

Season: 13 games (all starts), 0 sacks and 16 pressures allowed, 69.1 PFF overall grade.

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

This week: 6 tackles in the Ravens’ 16-14 win over the Steelers.

Season: 11 games, 40 tackles, 1 sack, 2 passes broken up, 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: 27 snaps in the Texans’ 27-23 loss to the Cowboys.

Season: 12 games (three starts), 16 tackles, 8 pressures.

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

This week: Was the long snapper in the Panthers’ 30-24 win over the Seahawks.

Season: Has played in 13 games.

Jamir Jones (2016-19), DL, Pittsburgh Steelers

This week: 1 tackle (10 defensive snaps, 9 special teams snaps in the Steelers’ 16-14 loss to the Ravens.

Season: 13 games, 8 tackles, 1 pass broken up.

Tony Jones Jr. (2016-19), RB, Seattle Seahawks

This week: 1 carry for 2 yards and 1 reception for 0 yards in the Seahawks’ 30-24 loss to the Panthers.

Season: Six games, 10 carries for 24 yards and 5 catches for 30 yards between the Saints and the Seahawks … Waived by the Saints Oct. 8 and claimed by the Seahawks Oct. 10.

Khalid Kareem (2016-19), DL, Indianapolis Colts

This week: Off.

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.

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

This week: Off.

Season: 13 games (all starts), 35 catches for 408 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 in the Giants’ 48-22 loss to the Eagles.

Season: 13 games (all starts), 107 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: Off.

Season: Three games (two starts), 4 pressures allowed, 42.6 PFF overall grade.

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

This week: Started at right guard and allowed 0 pressures in the Cowboys’ 27-23 win over the Texans.

Season: 13 games (all starts), 15 pressures allowed, 71.6 PFF overall grade.

Nick McCloud (2020), CB/S, New York Giants

This week: Started and made 4 tackles in the Giants’ 48-22 loss to the Eagles.

Season: 10 games (four starts), 31 tackles, 3 passes broken up.

Mike McGlinchey (2013-17), OT, San Francisco 49ers

This week: Started at right tackle and allowed 1 pressure in the 49ers’ 35-7 win over the Bucs.

Season: 13 games (all starts), 5 sacks and 21 pressures allowed, 69.7 PFF overall grade.

Sam Mustipher (2014-18), C, Chicago Bears

This week: Off.

Season: 13 games (12 starts), 2 sacks and 16 pressures allowed, 64.7 PFF overall grade.

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

This week: Off.

Season: 13 games (all starts), 3 sacks and 24 pressures allowed, 68.4 PFF overall grade.

Adetokunbo Ogundeji (2016-20), DE, Atlanta Falcons

This week: Off.

Season: 12 games (all starts), 35 tackles, 1 sack.

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

This week: Placed on injured reserve with an elbow injury Dec. 3.

Season: 10 games (two starts), 17 tackles, 12 pressures, 2 sacks.

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

This week: Made his 2022 debut, playing 25 snaps with 1 pressure in the Lions’ 34-23 win over the Vikings.

Season: Activated from the physically unable to perform list Dec. 4 … Had not played since Week 4 of 2021 due to an Achilles injury.

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

This week: 6 tackles in the Browns’ 23-10 loss to the Bengals.

Season: 12 games (11 starts), 70 tackles, 4 passes broken up, 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: Active but did not play in the Bucs’ 35-7 loss to the 49ers.

Season: Six games, 46 offensive snaps, 2 catches for 20 yards.

Ben Skowronek (2020), WR, Los Angeles Rams

This week: 7 catches for 89 yards in the Rams’ 17-16 win over the Raiders.

Season: 13 games (10 starts), 38 catches for 373 yards, 1 carry for 17 yards and a touchdown.

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

This week: Missed the Vikings’ 34-23 loss to the Lions with a neck injury.

Season: 11 games (all starts), 72 tackles, 5 interceptions, 5 passes broken up.

Jaylon Smith (2013-15), LB, New York Giants

This week: 9 tackles in the Giants’ 48-22 loss to the Eagles.

Season: 10 games (eight starts), 60 tackles, 1 fumble recovery.

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

This week: Started but did not catch a pass in the Dolphins’ 23-17 loss to the Chargers.

Season: 12 games (11 starts), 9 catches for 75 yards and 1 touchdown, 2 rushing attempts for 1 yard and 1 touchdown.

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

This week: Off.

Season: 13 games (all starts), 17 catches for 280 yards and 1 touchdown, 6 carries for 54 yards.

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

This week: Started at left tackle and allowed 4 pressures in the Ravens’ 16-14 win over the Steelers.

Season: Seven games (all starts), 7 pressures allowed, 72.2 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: Started and had 2 tackles and 1 pressure in the Raiders’ 17-16 loss to the Rams.

Season: 11 games (two starts), 13 tackles, 17 pressures, 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: 5 tackles and 2 passes broken up in the Chargers’ 23-17 win over the Dolphins.

Season: 13 games (12 starts), 108 tackles, 3 sacks, 3 passes broken up, 1 interception.

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

This week: Played 29 snaps but did not catch a pass in the Panthers’ 30-24 win over the Seahawks.

Season: 13 games (three starts), 11 catches for 101 yards and 2 touchdowns.

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

This week: 3 carries for 19 yards and 1 catch for 10 yards in the Rams’ 17-16 win over the Raiders.

Season: Six games, 25 carries for 108 yards, 8 catches for 73 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: Started and played 40 snaps but did not catch a pass in the Lions’ 34-23 win over the Vikings.

Season: 13 games (seven starts), 13 catches, 141 yards 1 touchdown.

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