Notre Dame in the NFL: Week One Standouts
William Liang-Imagn Images
When a collegiate football program is as legendary and historic as Notre Dame, players making the National Football League (NFL) and succeeding is expected, not surprising; it's what the Irish have long produced. This season is no different, as the Irish have 47 players on an active 53-man roster.
Each week this season, the Irish Tribune will showcase the top NFL performers who once excelled on Saturdays.
Offensive Standouts
Cole Kmet, Tight End, Chicago Bears: Kmet appears to be in a time share with Tight End Colston Loveland in Chicago. He only had two catches for 35 yards, but one of them went for a touchdown as the Bears unleashed an offensive onslaught on the Carolina Panthers 59-37.
Jeremiyah Love, Running Back, Arizona Cardinals: The fourth overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, Love showed flashes of what Irish fans have seen from him in the past. He rushed for 41 yards and scored his first professional touchdown off a five-yard sweep to the right side. In this game, he was second in carries to Tyler Allgeier, who had 16 carries en route to stunning the Los Angeles Chargers 26-14.
Michael Mayer, Tight End, Las Vegas Raiders: Mayer was elevated to the starting role following the breaking announcement that Brock Bowers would be out following meniscus surgery. Mayer took advantage by catching six passes on seven targets for 32 yards. He was tied for the team lead in receptions for the game as the Raiders upended the Miami Dolphins 27-13.
Jadarian Price, Running Back, Seattle Seahawks: Price has become the de facto “bell cow” in Seattle following the offseason departure of Super Bowl MVP Kenneth Walker III. The rookie back showed he is worthy by toting the rock 10 times for 52 yards as the defending world champions kicked off their season by beating the New England Patriots in a Super Bowl rematch 13-10.
Eli Raridon, Tight End, New England Patriots: Raridon only had one catch for two yards, but the rookie made it count as it was the only touchdown the Patriots would score in the aforementioned Super Bowl rematch.
Kyren Williams, Running Back, Los Angeles Rams: Williams began his fourth season in Melbourne, Australia, versus their division rival, the San Francisco 49ers. Williams had 11 carries for 41 yards and the only touchdown the offensively inept Rams would score in a 27-7 loss.
Defensive Standouts
Kyle Hamilton, Safety, Baltimore Ravens: Hamilton began his fourth season for the revamped Ravens with five tackles. The former All-Pro was third on the team in tackles for the game.
Cam Hart, Cornerback, Los Angeles Chargers: Hart had six tackles with one pass defended for the Chargers.
Benjamin Morrison, Cornerback, Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Morrison kicked off his second season in the league with five tackles and one pass defensed in a 33-27 defeat to the Cincinnati Bengals. He came in due to an injury to Jacob Parrish and could see more time depending on how long Parrish’s back sprain takes to heal.
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