Dallas Cowboys and former Notre Dame guard Zack Martin returned from a one-game absence in impressive fashion.
Martin, who missed the 2021 opener due to a positive COVID-19 test, started at his usual right guard spot for the Cowboys and provided a spark to a run game that needed it.
Dallas gave its running backs just 14 carries in a 31-29 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 1. In Sunday’s 20-17 win over the Los Angeles Chargers, though, that number jumped to 29. And Martin was right in the middle of it.
Martin opened the hole for running back Ezekiel Elliott to score a five-yard rushing touchdown. He set key blocks on a pair of long Tony Pollard runs. The Cowboys often ran in his direction, gaining 142 of their 198 rushing yards to the right side, per Pro Football Focus. His 95.5 PFF grade from the game is the highest mark given to any NFL player through two weeks this season.
The Cowboys-Chargers game had four other ex-Notre Dame players. Linebacker Jaylon Smith started for the Cowboys, while defensive tackle Jerry Tillery was in the Chargers’ starting lineup. Safety Alohi Gilman and linebacker Drue Tranquill were rotation players on Los Angeles’ defense. Most of them were college teammates, too.
Tillery, Smith and Tranquill were on the Irish’s 2015 team. The Chargers’ trio of Tillery, Tranquill and Gilman played together in South Bend from 2017-18. Smith and Martin were teammates in 2013.
The quintet in Los Angeles Sunday were among 38 former Notre Dame players on an NFL 53-man roster for Week 2 of the 2021 season. That’s not including four ex-Irish players on injured reserve: Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Miles Boykin (hamstring), Cincinnati Bengals defensive end Khalid Kareem (shoulder), Carolina Panthers cornerback Troy Pride Jr. (ACL) and Pittsburgh Steelers defensive end Stephon Tuitt (knee).
Additionally, the Detroit Lions elevated guard Tommy Kraemer to the 53-man roster for Week 1, but waived him and put him back on the practice squad for Week 2. The Green Bay Packers promoted receiver Equanimeous St. Brown from the practice squad to the active roster. The Miami Dolphins activated receiver Will Fuller V from suspension.
Here is a look at each of the 38 former Irish players and their Week 2 activity.
Updates On Former Notre Dame Football Players In The NFL: Week 2
• Josh Adams (Played at Notre Dame from 2015-17), RB, New York Jets: Was inactive for the Jets’ 25-6 loss to the Patriots.
• Aaron Banks (2017-20), OG, San Francisco 49ers: Was inactive for the 49ers’ 17-11 win over the Eagles.
• Alex Bars (2014-18), OL, Chicago Bears: Served as a reserve lineman in the Bears’ 20-17 win over the Bengals.
• Ian Book (2016-20), QB, New Orleans Saints: Was inactive for the Saints’ 26-7 loss to the Panthers.
• Chase Claypool (2016-19), WR, Pittsburgh Steelers: Had three catches for 70 yards — including a 52-yarder — on nine targets and one rush for minus-three yards in the Steelers’ 26-17 loss to the Raiders.
• Scott Daly (2012-15), LS, Detroit Lions: Served as the primary long snapper in the Lions’ 35-17 loss to the Packers on Monday night.
• Liam Eichenberg (2016-20), OL, Miami Dolphins: Played as a reserve lineman in the Dolphins’ 35-0 loss to the Bills.
• Matthias Farley (2011-15), S, Tennessee Titans: Was active but recorded no stats in the Titans’ 33-30 overtime win over the Seahawks.
• Will Fuller V (2013-15), WR, Miami Dolphins: Missed the loss to the Bills due to personal reasons, but has since returned to the team and is expected to play in Week 3.
• Alohi Gilman (2017-19), S, Los Angeles Chargers: Made six tackles as a backup safety and special teams player in the Chargers’ 20-17 loss to the Cowboys.
• Robert Hainsey (2017-20), OL, Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Was active but did not play in the Buccaneers’ 48-25 win over the Falcons.
• Daelin Hayes (2016-20), DE, Baltimore Ravens: Was inactive for the Ravens’ 36-35 win over the Chiefs.
• J.J. Jansen (2004-07), LS, Carolina Panthers: Served as the primary long snapper in the Panthers’ win over the Saints.
• Jamir Jones (2016-19), DL, Pittsburgh Steelers: Made two tackles as a reserve in the Steelers’ loss to the Raiders.
• Tony Jones Jr. (2016-19), RB, New Orleans Saints: Had three carries for seven yards in the Saints’ loss to the Panthers.
• Cole Kmet (2017-19), TE, Chicago Bears: Started and caught one pass for zero yards in the Bears’ win over the Bengals.
• Julian Love (2016-18), CB, New York Giants: Recorded no stats in the Giants’ 30-29 loss to the Washington Football Team Thursday.
• Nick Martin (2011-15), C, Las Vegas Raiders: Was a reserve lineman and special teams player in the Raiders’ win over the Steelers.
• Zack Martin (2009-13), OG, Dallas Cowboys: Started at right guard in the Cowboys’ win over the Chargers.
• Nick McCloud (2020), CB, Cincinnati Bengals: Was inactive for the Bengals’ loss to the Bears.
• Mike McGlinchey (2013-17), OT, San Francisco 49ers: Started at right tackle in the 49ers’ win over the Eagles.
• Sam Mustipher (2014-18), C, Chicago Bears: Started at center in the Bears’ win over the Bengals.
• Quenton Nelson (2014-17), OG, Indianapolis Colts: Started at left guard in the Colts’ 27-24 loss to the Rams.
• Ade Ogundeji (2016-20), DE, Atlanta Falcons: Recorded no stats in the Falcons’ loss to the Buccaneers.
• Romeo Okwara (2012-15), LB, Detroit Lions: Started and made one tackle in the Lions’ loss to the Packers.
• Julian Okwara (2016-19), LB, Detroit Lions: Was active but recorded no stats in the Lions’ loss to the Packers.
• Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah (2017-20), LB, Cleveland Browns: Made three tackles and broke up one pass as a rotation player in the Browns’ 31-21 win over the Texans.
• Isaac Rochell (2013-16), DL, Indianapolis Colts: Was inactive for the Colts’ loss to the Rams.
• Kyle Rudolph (2008-10), TE, New York Giants: Started and made two catches for 25 yards in the Giants’ loss to the Washington Football Team.
• Ben Skowronek (2020), WR, Los Angeles Rams: Was inactive for the Rams’ win over the Colts.
• Harrison Smith (2007-11), S, Minnesota Vikings: Started and made nine tackles in the Vikings’ 34-33 loss to the Cardinals.
• Jaylon Smith (2013-15), LB, Dallas Cowboys: Started and made a team-high nine tackles in the Cowboys’ win over the Chargers.
• Durham Smythe (2013-17), TE, Miami Dolphins: Started but recorded no catches in the Dolphins’ loss to the Bills.
• Equanimeous St. Brown (2015-17), WR, Green Bay Packers: Made one catch for zero yards in the Packers’ win over the Lions.
• Ronnie Stanley (2012-15), OT, Baltimore Ravens: Did not play in the Ravens’ win over the Chiefs due to ankle injury.
• Jerry Tillery (2015-18), DT, Los Angeles Chargers: Started and made seven tackles with 0.5 sacks in the Chargers’ loss to the Cowboys.
• Drue Tranquill (2014-18), LB, Los Angeles Chargers: Made three tackles (1.0 for loss) as a backup in the Chargers’ loss to the Cowboys.
• Tommy Tremble (2018-20), TE, Carolina Panthers: Was active but recorded no stats in the Panthers’ win over the Saints.
----
• Learn more about our print and digital publication, Blue & Gold Illustrated.
• Watch our videos and subscribe to our YouTube channel.
• Sign up for Blue & Gold's news alerts and daily newsletter.
• Subscribe to our podcast on Apple Podcasts.
• Follow us on Twitter: @BGINews, @Rivals_Singer, @PatrickEngel_, @tbhorka and @ToddBurlage.
• Like us on Facebook.
