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Irish in the NFL: Rudolph, Love make impact plays on Monday Night Football

The New York Giants fell to the Kansas City Chiefs 20-17 on Monday Night Football, but a pair of former Notre Dame stars made critical plays to keep the Giants in a close game throughout.

Kyle Rudolph caught a one-yard touchdown in the second quarter and Julian Love made a first-quarter interception in the end zone. Rudolph finished with two catches for 12 yards, while Love added a pair of tackles.

The 2-6 Giants led 17-14 in the fourth quarter, but Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker kicked a pair of field goals down the stretch to put the Chiefs (4-4) ahead for good.

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Ben Skowronek’s role is rising for the Rams

Ben Skowronek has been adding to his workload in recent weeks for the Los Angeles Rams. He has been on special teams coverage units, handled kick return duties last week and entered the receiving lineup for the Rams in Week 8.

Skowronek was targeted three times and caught all three for 30 yards, the first three receptions of his NFL career. (See two of his catches here)

Here is the NFL Week 8 rundown for each former Notre Dame player

Aaron Banks (Played at Notre Dame from 2017-20), OG, San Francisco 49ers: Was on the inactive list for San Francisco’s 33-22 win at Chicago … Has yet to log a snap in a regular-season game for the 3-4 49ers.

Alex Bars (2014-18), OL, Chicago Bears: The Bears lost at home to the 49ers 33-22 … Has appeared in all eight games, with one start, for 3-5 Chicago … Is currently listed as the second-string option at both guard spots.

• Ian Book (2016-20), QB, New Orleans Saints: Was on the inactive list for New Orleans’ 36-27 home win over Tampa Bay … Has yet to appear in a regular-season game for the 5-2 Saints.

• Miles Boykin (2015-2018), WR, Baltimore Ravens: The Ravens had a bye … 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: Caught four passes for 45 yards and had two rushes for 16 yards in Pittsburgh’s 15-10 victory at Cleveland … Has played in six of seven games for the 4-3 Steelers, and recorded 26 catches for 403 yards and one touchdown plus four rushes for 38 yards.

• Scott Daly (2012-15), LS, Detroit Lions: Served as the primary long snapper in the Lions’ 44-6 home loss to Philadelphia … Has played in all eight contests for the 0-8 Lions.

• Sheldon Day (2012-15), DL, Cleveland Browns: Not on the active roster for the Browns’ 15-10 home loss to Pittsburgh … Has appeared in one game and recorded five tackles for 4-3 Cleveland.

Liam Eichenberg (2016-20), OL, Miami Dolphins: Started at left guard in Miami’s 26-11 loss at Buffalo … Has played in all eight contests for the 1-7 Dolphins, starting in seven.

Matthias Farley (2011-15), S, Tennessee Titans: Did not log a snap in the Titans’ 34-31 overtime win at Indianapolis … Listed as the second-string safety, he has been active for all eight games and notched five tackles.

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: Recorded a pair of solo tackles in Los Angeles’ 27-24 home loss to New England … Has appeared in all seven games, with one start, for the 4-3 Chargers, and has compiled 24 tackles (16 solo) and one interception.

Robert Hainsey (2017-20), OL, Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Was active but did not play in Tampa Bay’s 36-27 loss at New Orleans … Has played in one game this season for the 6-2 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 19-13 win at Atlanta … Has held down that role in all eight contests for the 4-4 Panthers.

Jamir Jones (2016-19), DL, Los Angeles Rams: Did not record a stat in 15 snaps played during the Rams’ 38-22 win at Houston … Was waived by Pittsburgh Sept. 28 and picked up by Los Angeles the next day … Appeared in three games with one start for the Steelers, has seen action in four contests for 7-1 Los Angeles.

• Tony Jones Jr. (2016-19), RB, New Orleans Saints: Currently on injured reserve (ankle) for the 5-2 Saints, who registered a 36-27 win over Tampa Bay … 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: Made his first game appearance of the season in Cincinnati’s 34-31 win at the New York Jets, but didn’t record any stats … Spent the first seven weeks of the season on injured reserve for the 5-3 Bengals.

• Cole Kmet (2017-19), TE, Chicago Bears: Hauled in three receptions for 24 yards in Chicago’s 33-22 home loss to San Francisco … Has started all eight games for the 3-5 Bears and notched 22 catches for 197 yards.

• Tommy Kraemer (2016-20), OL, Detroit Lions: Was signed off the practice squad Oct. 27 and logged his first four snaps of the year as a backup right guard in the Lions’ 44-6 home loss to Philadelphia.

• Julian Love (2016-18), CB, New York Giants: Recorded two tackles (one solo) and an interception in New York’s 20-17 loss at Kansas City … Has started one game this season and appeared in all eight for the 2-6 Giants, compiling 19 tackles (seven solo), three passes defended and one interception.

Nick Martin (2011-15), C, Las Vegas Raiders: The 5-2 Raiders had a bye … Has been active in all seven games as the backup center this season for the Raiders, but has yet to start.

Zack Martin (2009-13), OG, Dallas Cowboys: Started and played every snap at right guard in Dallas’ 20-16 win at Minnesota … Has started the last six games for the 6-1 Cowboys after missing Week 1 due to COVID.

Nick McCloud (2020), CB, Cincinnati Bengals: Did not see action in Cincinnati’s 34-31 loss at the New York Jets … Has not recorded any stats in two games played for the 5-3 Bengals.

Mike McGlinchey (2013-17), OT, San Francisco 49ers: Started at right tackle in the 49ers’ 33-22 victory at Chicago … Has started at right tackle in all seven contests for 3-4 San Francisco.

Sam Mustipher (2014-18), C, Chicago Bears: Started at center in Chicago’s 33-22 loss to San Francisco … Has started all eight games at center for the 3-5 Bears.

Quenton Nelson (2014-17), OG, Indianapolis Colts: Started at left guard and played every offensive snap in the Colts’ 34-31 home overtime loss to Tennessee … Has started each of the five games he has appeared in for 3-5 Indianapolis.

Adetokunbo Ogundeji (2016-20), DE, Atlanta Falcons: Recorded a pass defended and a fumble recovery in the Falcons’ 19-13 home loss to Carolina … Has appeared in all eight games for 3-4 Atlanta and compiled seven tackles with one sack.

Julian Okwara (2016-19), LB, Detroit Lions: Made two tackles in Detroit’s 44-6 home loss to Philadelphia … Has appeared in all eight games for the 0-8 Lions, recording 11 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’ 15-10 home loss to Pittsburgh … 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: Did not log a stat in a 34-31 overtime home loss to Tennessee … Has five tackles in four game appearances for 3-5 Indianapolis.

Kyle Rudolph (2008-10), TE, New York Giants: Caught two passes for 12 yards and one touchdown in New York’s 20-17 loss at Kansas City on Monday night … Has played in all eight contests and made six starts for the 2-6 Giants, and compiled 12 catches for 99 yards and one score.

• Ben Skowronek (2020), WR, Los Angeles Rams: Caught all three targets for 30 yards — the first receiving stats of his career — in the Rams’ 38-22 win at Houston … Took on kick return duties in Week 7 and brought back four for 70 yards … Also has six total tackles (five solo) on special teams for 7-1 Los Angeles.

Harrison Smith (2007-11), S, Minnesota Vikings: Recorded seven tackles (five solo) in Minnesota’s 20-16 home loss to Dallas … Also added a pass defended and forced fumble … Has started all seven games for 3-4 Minnesota, and compiled 52 tackles (38 solo), one sack, one forced fumble and three passes defended.

Jaylon Smith (2013-15), LB, Free Agent: Was waived by 7-1 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: Did not record a stat in Miami’s 26-11 loss at Buffalo … Has been active in all eight games, starting four, for the 1-7 Dolphins while posting 13 receptions for 134 yards.

• Equanimeous St. Brown ( 2015-17 ) WR - Green Bay Packers: Caught two passes for 12 yards in the Packers’ 24-21 win at Arizona, including a critical fourth-and-three conversion on a touchdown drive (skip to 5:40 in the video here to see the catch) … Has appeared in six of eight games for 7-1 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 … He played in one game before being sidelined and will miss the rest of the season for the 5-2 Ravens.

• Jerry Tillery (2015-18), DT, Los Angeles Chargers: Recorded four tackles and one sack in Los Angeles’ 27-24 home loss to New England … Has started all seven games for the 4-3 Chargers and compiled 22 tackles with 2.5 sacks.

Drue Tranquill (2014-18), LB, Los Angeles Chargers: Recorded five tackles in the Chargers’ 27-24 home loss to New England … Has appeared in six games for 4-3 Los Angeles, starting two, and notched 32 tackles (20 solo) with a half sack.

• Tommy Tremble (2018-20), TE, Carolina Panthers: Caught three passes for 18 yards in Carolina’s 19-13 win at Atlanta … Has appeared in all eight games and made six starts for the 4-4 Panthers, and compiled eight catches for 72 yards and one touchdown … Also has two rushing attempts for seven yards and one score.

• Brock Wright (2017-20), TE, Detroit Lions: Saw action in the 0-8 Lions’ Week 7 game, but returned to the practice squad last week.

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