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Irish in the NFL: Career firsts for Julian Okwara and Brock Wright

At 0-8-1, the Detroit Lions may not be the most entertaining or excellent team in the NFL. But for Notre Dame fans who watch the NFL simply to keep up to date on former Fighting Irish players, the Lions are a good watch.

The Lions have four Golden Domers on their active roster: long snapper Scott Daly, safety Jalen Elliott, defensive end Julian Okwara and tight end Brock Wright. In addition, defensive end Romeo Okwara is on injured reserve after suffering a season-ending Achilles injury. Offensive lineman Tommy Kraemer is currently on the practice squad, but has played in four games this season.

The Lions and Steelers played to a 16-16 tie in Pittsburgh on Sunday. Wright recorded his first catch as a pro, while Julian Okwara made his first career interception.

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Former Notre Dame Fighting Irish football and current Detroit Lions defensive end Julian OKwara
Okwara recorded his first career NFL interception in the Lions’ 16-16 tie at Pittsburgh. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)

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Here is the NFL Week 10 rundown for each former Notre Dame player

Aaron Banks (Played at Notre Dame from 2017-20), OG, San Francisco 49ers: Was active but did not play in San Francisco’s 31-10 home win over the Los Angeles Rams on Monday night … Has yet to log a snap in a regular-season game for the 4-5 49ers.

Alex Bars (2014-18), OL, Chicago Bears: The Bears had a bye … Has appeared in all nine games, with one start, for 3-6 Chicago … Is currently listed as the second-string option at both guard spots.

• Ian Book (2016-20), QB, New Orleans Saints: Was on the active roster for New Orleans’ 23-21 loss at Tennessee, but he did not play a snap … Has yet to appear in a regular-season game for the 5-4 Saints.

• Miles Boykin (2015-18), WR, Baltimore Ravens: Played 11 snaps but did not record a stat in the Ravens’ 22-10 loss at Miami on Thursday night … Was activated from injured reserve Oct. 11, and has appeared in five games and made one catch for six yards for 6-3 Baltimore.

• Chase Claypool (2016-19), WR, Pittsburgh Steelers: Did not play in Pittsburgh’s 16-16 tie with Detroit due to a toe injury … Has played in seven of nine games for the 5-3-1 Steelers, and recorded 29 catches for 433 yards and one touchdown plus six rushes for 51 yards.

• Scott Daly (2012-15), LS, Detroit Lions: Has served as the primary long snapper in all nine contests for 0-8-1 Detroit.

• Sheldon Day (2012-15), DL, Cleveland Browns: Was inactive for the Browns’ 45-7 loss at New England … Has appeared in two games and recorded seven tackles for 5-5 Cleveland.

Liam Eichenberg (2016-20), OL, Miami Dolphins: Started at left tackle in Miami’s 22-10 home win over Baltimore and recovered a pair of fumbles … Has played in all 10 contests, starting in nine, for the 3-7 Dolphins.

Jalen Elliott (2016-19), S, Detroit Lions: Made four tackles (three solo) in Detroit’s 16-16 tie at Pittsburgh … Has played in three games and recorded six tackles (four solo) for the 0-8-1 Lions.

Matthias Farley (2011-15), S, Tennessee Titans: Had four tackles (three solo) in the Titans’ 23-21 home win over New Orleans … Has been active for all 10 games and notched nine tackles for 8-2 Tennessee.

Will Fuller V (2013-15), WR, Miami Dolphins: Was placed on injured reserve (chest/elbow) Oct. 6 … Has played in just two games for the 3-7 Dolphins and made four receptions for 26 yards.

Alohi Gilman (2017-19), S, Los Angeles Chargers: Started and notched six stops (two solo) in the Chargers’ 27-20 home loss to Minnesota … Has played in eight games, with two starts, for 5-4 Los Angeles, and compiled 30 tackles (18 solo) and one interception.

Robert Hainsey (2017-20), OL, Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Was active roster but did not play in Tampa Bay’s 29-19 loss at Washington … Has played in one game for the 6-3 Buccaneers.

Daelin Hayes (2016-20), DE, Baltimore Ravens: Played in one game with no stats recorded for 6-3 Baltimore before landing on injured reserve Sept. 27 due to an ankle injury.

J.J. Jansen (2004-07), LS, Carolina Panthers: Served as the primary long snapper in the Panthers’ 34-10 road win at Arizona … Has held down that role in all 10 contests for 5-5 Carolina.

Jamir Jones (2016-19), DL, Los Angeles Rams: Was active but did not log a snap or stat in Los Angeles’ 31-10 loss at San Francisco on Monday night … Was waived by Pittsburgh Sept. 28 and picked up by the Rams the next day … Appeared in three games with one start for the Steelers and has seen action in six contests for the 7-3 Rams.

• Tony Jones Jr. (2016-19), RB, New Orleans Saints: Currently on injured reserve (ankle) for the 5-4 Saints, who lost at Tennessee 23-21 … Played in each of the first four games of the season and logged 19 carries for 77 yards.

• Khalid Kareem (2016-19), DL, Cincinnati Bengals: The Bengals had a bye … Spent the first seven weeks of the season on injured reserve before playing in the last two games for 5-4 Cincinnati.

• Cole Kmet (2017-19), TE, Chicago Bears: The Bears had a bye … Has started all nine games for the 3-6 Bears and notched 28 catches for 284 yards.

• Tommy Kraemer (2016-20), OL, Detroit Lions: Currently on Detroit’s practice squad … Has played in one game for the 0-8-1 Lions.

• Julian Love (2016-18), CB, New York Giants: The Giants had a bye … Has started one game and appeared in all nine for the 3-6 Giants, compiling 23 tackles (10 solo), three passes defended and one interception.

Nick Martin (2011-15), C, Las Vegas Raiders: Served as backup center but did not play in Las Vegas’ 41-14 home loss to Kansas City … Has been active in all nine games for the 5-4 Raiders, but has yet to start.

Zack Martin (2009-13), OG, Dallas Cowboys: Started at right guard in Dallas’ 43-3 home win over Atlanta … Has started the last eight games for the 7-2 Cowboys after missing Week 1 due to COVID.

Nick McCloud (2020), CB, Buffalo Bills: Signed to the 6-3 Bills’ practice squad Nov. 8 … Was waived by Cincinnati Nov. 2 after seeing action in two games.

Mike McGlinchey (2013-17), OT, San Francisco 49ers: Suffered a season-ending torn quad injury during the 49ers’ 31-17 home loss to Arizona in Week 9 … Had started at right tackle in each of the first eight games for 4-5 San Francisco.

Sam Mustipher (2014-18), C, Chicago Bears: Chicago had a bye … Has started all nine games at center for the 3-6 Bears.

Quenton Nelson (2014-17), OG, Indianapolis Colts: Started at left guard in Indianapolis’ 23-17 home win over Jacksonville … Has started each of the seven games he has appeared in for the 5-5 Colts.

Adetokunbo Ogundeji (2016-20), DE, Atlanta Falcons: Made three tackles (two solo) in the Falcons’ 43-3 loss at Dallas … Has appeared in all nine games, with four starts, for 4-5 Atlanta and compiled 12 tackles with 1.0 sack.

Julian Okwara (2016-19), LB, Detroit Lions: Made two solo tackles and notched his first career NFL interception in the Lions’ 16-16 tie at Pittsburgh … Has appeared in all nine games for 0-8-1 Detroit, recording 13 tackles, 2.0 sacks, and one interception.

Romeo Okwara (2012-15), LB, Detroit Lions: Currently on injured reserve after suffering a season-ending Achilles injury in Week 4 … Started the first four games of the season for the 0-8-1 Lions and recorded six tackles with 1.0 sack.

Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah (2017-20), LB, Cleveland Browns: Returned from injured reserve to make four tackles (three solo) in Cleveland’s 45-7 loss at New England … Started five of the seven games he has played in for the 5-5 Browns, and has recorded 30 tackles, four passes defended and one forced fumble.

Isaac Rochell (2013-16), DL, Indianapolis Colts: Recorded one tackle and a quarterback hit in Indianapolis’ 23-17 home win over Jacksonville … Has seven tackles in five game appearances for the 5-5 Colts.

Kyle Rudolph (2008-10), TE, New York Giants: The Giants had a bye … Has played in all nine contests and made six starts for 3-6 New York, and compiled 16 catches for 119 yards and one score.

• Ben Skowronek (2020), WR, Los Angeles Rams: Saw increased playing time and made one catch for eight yards in the Rams’ 31-10 loss at San Francisco on Monday night … Has four catches for 38 yards, plus four kick returns for 70 yards (17.5 per attempt) and six tackles (five solo) on special teams for 7-3 Los Angeles.

Harrison Smith (2007-11), S, Minnesota Vikings: Remained on the injured reserve/COVID list and has now missed the last two games … Started the first seven games for 4-5 Minnesota, and compiled 52 tackles (38 solo), one sack, one forced fumble and three passes defended.

Jaylon Smith (2013-15), LB, Free Agent: Has not hooked on with another team since being waived by 8-2 Green Bay Nov. 1 … Signed with the Packers Oct. 7, one day after being waived by Dallas … Played in two games and made one tackle for Green Bay, plus started two games and recorded 17 tackles (12 solo) for the Cowboys, prior to being waived.

• Durham Smythe (2013-17), TE, Miami Dolphins: Caught one pass for 23 yards in Miami’s 22-10 home win over Baltimore … Has been active in all 10 games, starting six, for the 3-7 Dolphins while posting 16 receptions for 184 yards.

• Equanimeous St. Brown ( 2015-17 ) WR - Green Bay Packers: Was active but did not record a stat in the Packers’ 17-0 home win over Seattle … Has appeared in seven games for 8-2 Green Bay, and notched three receptions for 12 yards and 13 rushing yards on one carry.

• Ronnie Stanley (2012-15), OT, Baltimore Ravens: Was placed on injured reserve Oct. 19 due to an ankle injury he suffered in Week 1 … Played in one game before being sidelined and will miss the rest of the season for the 6-3 Ravens.

• Jerry Tillery (2015-18), DT, Los Angeles Chargers: Recorded three tackles (two solo) in Los Angeles’ 27-20 home loss to Minnesota … Has started eight of nine games for the 5-4 Chargers and compiled 29 tackles with 2.5 sacks.

Drue Tranquill (2014-18), LB, Los Angeles Chargers: Was placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list Nov. 11 and was inactive for Los Angeles’ 27-20 home loss to Minnesota … Has appeared in seven games, starting three, for the 5-4 Chargers and notched 41 tackles (24 solo) with a half sack.

• Tommy Tremble (2018-20), TE, Carolina Panthers: Made one reception for three yards in Carolina’s 34-10 win at Arizona … Has appeared in all 10 games and made eight starts for the 5-5 Panthers, and compiled 10 catches for 81 yards and one touchdown … Also has two rushing attempts for seven yards and one score.

• Brock Wright (2017-20), TE, Detroit Lions: Made the first catch of his NFL career, for two yards, in the Lions’ 16-16 tie at Pittsburgh … Spent the first nine weeks of the season on the practice squad before being elevated to 0-8-1 Detroit’s active roster Nov. 8.

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