Week 6 gave former Indiana players another scattered look across the NFL, and the headliner was Omar Cooper Jr. finally reaching the end zone for the first time in his pro career.
Cooper, now with the New York Jets, played 51 offensive snaps and turned that work into 6 receptions for 103 yards and 1 touchdown. Through two games, he has 7 catches for 133 yards and that lone score. The first NFL touchdown was enough to draw attention on social media, with Big Ten Football posting: “Omar Cooper Jr. has had some big catches in his career 💥
The @IndianaFootball champ added another one today on his first career @NFL TD.”
Elsewhere on the Jets’ roster, D’Angelo Ponds logged 11 defensive snaps and 2 special teams snaps, bringing his season totals to 33 defensive snaps, 13 special teams snaps and 3 total tackles. Marcelino McCrary-Ball was inactive and is on injured reserve.
In Kansas City, Kahlil Benson had a heavy workload at left tackle, starting and playing 61 offensive snaps. Cam Jones also saw the field for the first time this season, contributing 15 special teams snaps. On the season, Benson has played 322 offensive snaps and 22 special teams snaps across five games, while Jones has appeared in one game.
Kaelon Black handled 14 offensive snaps for the San Francisco 49ers and produced 8 carries for 34 yards plus 1 reception for 3 yards. His season line now sits at 95 offensive snaps, 45 carries for 170 yards and 2 catches for 8 yards. CJ West remained inactive and is on injured reserve, while Kurtis Rourke did not play.
The Raiders had two former Hoosiers on the report, though Fernando Mendoza did not play as the backup quarterback. Ian Thomas saw 14 offensive snaps and 8 special teams snaps. Mendoza has played one game this season, while Thomas has 4 catches for 52 yards and 1 touchdown over six games.
Micah McFadden worked mostly on special teams for the Giants, playing 25 snaps there and finishing with 1 tackle. Riley Nowakowski did the same for Pittsburgh, getting 1 offensive snap and 23 special teams snaps while adding 1 tackle. For the season, McFadden has 4 total tackles, and Nowakowski has 4 tackles, including 1 solo.
Aiden Fisher was active for Houston but did not play. Pat Coogan played 6 special teams snaps for Tennessee.
The rest of the former IU group saw quieter weekends. Myles Price had a bye with Minnesota.
Luke Haggard was inactive for Tampa Bay, while Dan Feeney remained a reserve lineman and did not play. Elijah Sarratt was inactive for Baltimore.
Nick Westbrook-Ikhine remains on the Colts’ practice squad after appearing in three games. Ke’Shawn Williams is also on a practice squad in Cincinnati and has played in one game.
In Other News...
Former Irish Star Cole Kmet Now Faces A Frightening Bears Concern
Cole Kmets afternoon against the Patriots turned into a sobering scene for Bears fans and anyone who followed his career at Notre Dame. After an 8-yard reception, the tight end went down with a non-contact knee injury and had to be carted off the field, an especially alarming development for a player whose durability has long been part of his value in Chicago.
The Bears ruled Kmet out for the rest of the game, and head coach Ben Johnsons early read on the situation was not encouraging. Quarterback Caleb Williams also showed immediate concern for his teammate, underscoring how quickly the tone around the injury shifted from routine to potentially serious. For Notre Dame supporters keeping tabs on one of the programs most prominent alumni, it was the kind of update nobody wanted to see. [Read more 🡒]
Notre Dame's Biggest Offensive Debate Is Back After The BYU Loss
Notre Dame left Provo with the same familiar problem hanging over its offense: moving the ball has not been the issue nearly as much as finishing drives. The loss to BYU put the red zone debate right back at the center of the conversation, with the Irish again looking too limited once the field shrinks and every call matters a little more.
Mike Denbrock has options to work with, but the current approach has not made enough use of the tight ends or the back of the end zone, two areas that should help an offense built to create matchup problems. With conference play and bigger moments ahead, the pressure now is on Notre Dame to show schematic answers instead of more of the same. [Read more 🡒]
Notre Dame Faces A Playoff Problem Fans Can't Ignore
The playoff picture is already starting to sort itself out, and Notre Dame is right in the middle of the discussion whether the Irish like it or not. With conference champions, at-large contenders and a string of pivotal games still to come, every result around the sport carries extra weight this time of year, especially for a team whose margin for error can disappear quickly when the selection committee starts comparing rsums.
Notre Dames path is tied to more than just its own record, because the broader race includes teams such as Miami and Georgia, plus injuries and head-to-head outcomes that can reshape the board in a hurry. The Irish can control only so much of the equation, and the real pressure now is making sure the games ahead do not leave them relying on help from somewhere else. [Read more 🡒]