Irish in the NFL: Matthias Farley emerges in Titans win
The Tennessee Titans (5-2) defense took care of business in a 27-3 win at home against the defending AFC champion Kansas City Chiefs (3-4), forcing three turnovers. Former Notre Dame player Matthias Farley was involved in two of those three turnovers, forcing a fumble and recovering a fumble.
(Fumble recovery at 0:48 in video below, forced fumble at 2:12)
Former Notre Dame Players Make An Impact On The Edge
Second-year outside linebacker Julian Okwara recorded a sack for the second straight game for the Detroit Lions (0-7).
Okwara was a third-round pick in the 2020 NFL Draft. He totaled 15.5 sacks in his four-year career at Notre Dame. He did not record a sack in six games as a rookie last season, but is becoming a rare bright spot in year two for the winless Lions.
For the second straight week, Atlanta Falcons rookie Adetokunbo Ogundeji recorded a career first.
This past week, Ogundeji blocked a kick in Atlanta’s 30-28 win over Miami. He recorded his first career sack last week in a 27-20 win over the New York Jets.
Here’s a rundown of how each former Notre Dame player fared in Week 7:
• Aaron Banks (Played at Notre Dame from 2017-20), OG, San Francisco 49ers: The 49ers suffered a 30-18 home loss to Indianapolis … On the active roster, but has yet to appear in a regular-season game for 2-4 San Francisco.
• Alex Bars (2014-18), OL, Chicago Bears: Chicago lost 38-3 at Tampa Bay … Has played in all seven games, with one start, for the 3-4 Bears.
• Ian Book (2016-20), QB, New Orleans Saints: New Orleans won 13-10 at Seattle on Monday night … On the active roster, but has yet to appear in a game for the 4-2 Saints.
• Miles Boykin (2015-18), WR, Baltimore Ravens: Did not record a reception in the Ravens’ 41-17 home loss to Cincinnati … Was activated from injured reserve Oct. 11, and has appeared in three games and made one catch for six yards.
• Chase Claypool (2016-19), WR, Pittsburgh Steelers: The 3-3 Steelers had a bye … Has played in five of six games, totaling 22 catches for 358 yards and one touchdown plus two rushes for 22 yards.
• Scott Daly (2012-15), LS, Detroit Lions: Served as the primary long snapper in Detroit’s 28-19 road loss to the Los Angeles Rams … Has played in all seven contests for the 0-7 Lions.
• Sheldon Day (2012-15), DL, Cleveland Browns: Was not on the active roster for the Browns’ 17-14 home win over Denver on Thursday night … Has appeared in one game and recorded five tackles for 4-3 Cleveland.
• Liam Eichenberg (2016-20), OL, Miami Dolphins: Started at left tackle in Miami’s 30-28 home loss to Atlanta … Has played in all seven contests, with six starts, for the 1-6 Dolphins.
• Matthias Farley (2011-15), S, Tennessee Titans: Came off the bench and made a season-high three tackles in a 27-3 home win over Kansas City … Was also involved in a pair of turnovers, forcing one fumble and recovering another … Has been active for all seven games and made five tackles for 5-2 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 1-6 Dolphins, and has four receptions for 26 yards.
• Alohi Gilman (2017-19), S, Los Angeles Chargers: The Chargers had a bye … Has appeared in all six games, with one start, and notched 20 tackles (12 solo) and one interception for the 4-2 Chargers.
• Robert Hainsey (2017-20), OL, Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Was active but did not play in Tampa Bay’s 38-3 home win versus Chicago … Has played in one game for the 6-1 Buccaneers.
• Daelin Hayes (2016-20), DE, Baltimore Ravens: Played in one game with no stats recorded for 5-2 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 Carolina’s 25-3 road loss to the New York Giants … Has held down that role in all seven contests for the 3-4 Panthers … Has played in 193 career games for Carolina, second most by any player in franchise history.
• Jamir Jones (2016-19), DL, Los Angeles Rams: Recorded one tackle in the Rams’ 28-19 home win over Detroit … Was waived by Pittsburgh Sept. 28 and picked up by Los Angeles the next day … Has appeared in three games for both the Steelers and Rams this season, starting one game for Pittsburgh prior to being waived.
• Tony Jones Jr. (2016-19), RB, New Orleans Saints: Currently on injured reserve (ankle) for the 4-2 Saints, who won at Seattle 13-10 on Monday night … Played in each of the first four games of the season and logged 19 carries for 77 yards.
• Cole Kmet (2017-19), TE, Chicago Bears: Caught five passes for 43 yards in the Bears’ 38-3 loss at Tampa Bay … Has started all seven games for 3-4 Chicago and notched 19 catches for 173 yards.
• Julian Love (2016-18), CB, New York Giants: Made a solo tackle in New York’s 25-3 home win over Carolina … Has appeared in all seven games, with one start, for the 2-5 Giants, and compiled 16 tackles with two passes defended.
• Nick Martin (2011-15), C, Las Vegas Raiders: Served as the second-string center in the Raiders’ 33-22 home win over Philadelphia … Has been active in all seven games this season for the 5-2 Raiders, but has yet to start.
• Zack Martin (2009-13), OG, Dallas Cowboys: The Cowboys had a bye … Started the last five games for the 5-1 Cowboys after missing the season opener due to COVID.
• Nick McCloud (2020), CB, Cincinnati Bengals: Did not see action in Cincinnati’s 41-17 win at Baltimore … Has not recorded any stats in two games played for the 5-2 Bengals.
• Mike McGlinchey (2013-17), OT, San Francisco 49ers: Started at right tackle in San Francisco’s 30-18 home defeat at the hands of Indianapolis … Has started all six contests for the 2-4 49ers.
• Sam Mustipher (2014-18), C, Chicago Bears: Started at center in the Bears’ 38-3 loss at Tampa Bay … Has started all seven games for 3-4 Chicago.
• Quenton Nelson (2014-17), OG, Indianapolis Colts: Activated off injured reserve and started at guard for the Colts, who rushed for 148 yards in their 30-18 road win at San Francisco … Has started each of the four games he has appeared in for the 3-4 Colts.
• Adetokunbo Ogundeji (2016-20), DE, Atlanta Falcons: Recorded two tackles (one solo) and a blocked field goal in Atlanta’s 30-28 road win over Miami … Has appeared in all six games and totaled seven tackles for the 3-3 Falcons.
• Julian Okwara (2016-19), LB, Detroit Lions: Recorded three tackles, one sack, one pass defended and a QB knockdown in the Lions’ 28-19 road loss to the Los Angeles Rams … Has appeared in all seven games for the 0-7 Lions, recording nine tackles and two sacks.
• 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, and record six tackles and one sack.
• Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah (2017-20), LB, Cleveland Browns: Placed on injured reserve Oct. 19 due to an ankle injury and did not play in the Browns’ 17-14 home win over Denver … Has started five of the six games he played in, and recorded 26 tackles, four passes defended and one forced fumble.
• Isaac Rochell (2013-16), DL, Indianapolis Colts: Made one solo tackle in the Colts’ 30-18 win at San Francisco … Has five tackles in three game appearances for 3-4 Indianapolis.
• Kyle Rudolph (2008-10), TE, New York Giants: Caught two passes for eight yards in New York’s 25-3 home win over Carolina … Has played in all seven contests and made five starts for the 2-5 Giants, and compiled 10 catches for 87 yards.
• Ben Skowronek (2020), WR, Los Angeles Rams: Had four kickoff returns for 70 yards (17.5 yards per attempt) and made one specials teams tackle in Los Angeles’ 28-19 home win over Detroit … Has yet to record an offensive stat in five game appearances for 6-1 Los Angeles, but has six tackles (five solo) on special teams.
• Harrison Smith (2007-11), S, Minnesota Vikings: The Vikings had a bye … Has started all six games for 3-3 Minnesota, and recorded 45 tackles (33 solo), one sack and two passes defended.
• Jaylon Smith (2013-15), LB, Green Bay Packers: Made one solo tackle in Green Bay’s 24-10 home win over Washington … Signed with 6-1 Green Bay Oct. 7 one day after being waived by Dallas … Started two games and recorded 17 tackles (12 solo) for the Cowboys prior to being waived.
• Durham Smythe (2013-17), TE, Miami Dolphins: Caught three passes for 37 yards in Miami’s 30-28 home loss to Atlanta … Has appeared in all seven games, with four starts, and notched 13 receptions for 134 yards for the 1-6 Dolphins.
• Equanimeous St. Brown ( 2015-17 ), WR, Green Bay Packers: Had one rushing attempt for 13 yards and was targeted once but did not record a catch in the Packers’ 24-10 win over Washington … Has appeared in five games, made one catch for no yards and posted 13 rushing yards on one carry for the 6-1 Packers.
• Ronnie Stanley (2012-15), OT, Baltimore Ravens: Was placed on injured reserve Oct. 19 due to an ankle injury he suffered in Week 1 … He played in one game before being sidelined will miss the rest of the season for the 5-2 Ravens.
• Jerry Tillery (2015-18), DT, Los Angeles Chargers: The Chargers had a bye … Has started all six games for 4-2 Los Angeles, and recorded 18 tackles and 1.5 sacks.
• Drue Tranquill (2014-18), LB, Los Angeles Chargers: Los Angeles had a bye … Has appeared in five contests for the 4-2 Chargers, and compiled 27 tackles (17 solo) and a half sack.
• Tommy Tremble (2018-20), TE, Carolina Panthers: Caught two passes for 12 yards in Carolina’s 25-3 road loss to the New York Giants … Has appeared in all seven games and made five starts for the 3-4 Panthers, and compiled five catches for 54 yards and one touchdown … Also has two rushing attempts for seven yards and one score.
• Brock Wright (2017-20), TE, Detroit Lions: Was elevated from the practice squad to the active roster and made his NFL debut in the Lions’ 28-19 road loss to the Los Angeles Rams … He played 17 snaps on offense and recorded a tackle on special teams … Returned to the practice squad after the game.
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