Week 7 gave Notre Dame’s NFL alumni plenty to brag about, with impact plays turning up on both sides of the ball. The headline moment belonged to Harrison Smith, whose interception helped close out the Colts, but there was no shortage of Irish flavor elsewhere - from Kyren Williams grinding out another big day to Eli Raridon finding the end zone again.
The weekend got going on Thursday night, when Raridon turned in a strong showing in the road matchup with the Chicago Bears. The tight end caught three passes for 56 yards and scored his second career touchdown in the 30-24 loss. Bears tight end Cole Kmet also had three catches for 28 yards before leaving with an injury, and he has since been placed on IR.
On Sunday, Baltimore safety Kyle Hamilton kept stacking productive snaps despite the Ravens’ 35-13 loss at home to the Bengals. He finished with four tackles and 1.0 tackle for loss, and his season line remains impressive: 46 tackles, one forced fumble, one interception and four passes defensed.
Smith delivered the kind of veteran playmaking that changes games. He posted four total tackles, 0.5 tackles for loss and sealed the win with an interception on Indianapolis’ final drive. That pick moved him into rare company - Smith is just the 3rd player in NFL history with 40 interceptions and 20 or more sacks in his career.
Atlanta’s Xavier Watts added another active performance to his second NFL season, collecting seven tackles in the Falcons’ upset win over the 49ers. The former Bronko Nagurski Award winner continues to build on his strong rookie year from 2025. Meanwhile, Drue Tranquil was all over the field for Kansas City in its road game against Seattle, leading the Chiefs with 13 tackles in a 20-3 loss.
The offensive side of the Notre Dame reunion had its own share of production. Malachi Fields, the rookie wideout, logged four catches for 83 yards in the Giants’ overtime road win over the Texans, both career highs for the 6-4, 222-pound receiver. Tight ends Mitchell Evans and Michael Mayer each contributed as well, with Evans finishing at two receptions for 39 yards and Mayer at three catches for 32 yards.
Up front, Mike McGlinchey helped Denver in a 30-16 road win over the Cardinals. The Broncos piled up a season-high 159 rushing yards, boosted by a 62-yard touchdown run from quarterback Bo Nix.
Williams capped the week with another strong outing in Las Vegas. The former Notre Dame running back rushed for 99 yards and a touchdown on 16 carries and added two catches for 22 receiving yards in the Rams’ road victory. Through seven games, he now has 393 rushing yards, four rushing touchdowns, 217 receiving yards and one receiving touchdown.
In Other News...
Notre Dame Injury Concerns Just Got More Serious With Miami Looming
Notre Dames defensive depth chart is getting thinner at the wrong time, and Marcus Freeman confirmed Thursday that cornerback DJ McKinney will miss the Navy game because of an ankle injury. Safety Brauntae Johnson is still out as well, while several other names remain in question, including tight end Cooper Flanagan, linebacker Kyngstonn Viliamu-Asa, defensive lineman Loghan Thomas and cornerback Mark Zackery IV.
The immediate concern is Navy, but the bigger worry around the program is what this looks like with Miami approaching. Notre Dame believes this cluster of injuries will matter even more in that matchup, where available bodies and rotational flexibility tend to be tested far more aggressively, especially on defense. [Read more 🡒]
Notre Dame Still Has An Opening With Elite LB Kaden Henderson
Even with Kaden Henderson already committed to Texas A&M, Notre Dame has not backed off in its pursuit of the five-star linebacker. Henderson confirmed the Irish are still working on him, which keeps a live thread in play for a program that continues to chase top defensive talent late in the cycle.
Henderson, for his part, has not given any indication that he is ready to move off his pledge, saying he still believes Texas A&M is the best fit. Notre Dame is still hoping to make a push before December signing day, but for now the Irish are simply trying to stay in the conversation and see whether the effort can turn into something more. [Read more 🡒]
Notre Dame Fans Finally Get A First Look At Hidalgos New Support
Before Notre Dame tips off the season in earnest, fans will get an exhibition look at a roster that feels a little different around Hannah Hidalgo. The Irish are set to face Truman State with Hidalgo leading the way and two new transfers, Anaya Hardy and Madison St. Rose, giving the front line and the rotation some early-season intrigue.
For a team that already knows what it has in Hidalgo, the bigger question is how quickly those new pieces can settle in and change the way Notre Dame plays. Exhibition games do not answer everything, but they can offer a first glimpse at chemistry, roles and the kind of support the Irish hope will make this group deeper when the games start to count. [Read more 🡒]