Bruton Fake Punt Run One of Many Big Plays For Former Irish Players

BY: Elliott Carwile

The casual NFL fan may have caught a glimpse of Kyle Rudolph – TE – Minnesota Vikings – catching nine passes for 97 yards and a touchdown in the 35-10 loss to the Carolina Panthers. Or Michael Floyd’s – WR – Arizona Cardinals – five receptions for 44 yards and a touchdown in a 32-20 loss to San Francisco. Maybe even the stat line of the week, Joe Fauria – TE – Detroit Lions (Transferred to UCLA) –three grabs for 34 yards and three touchdowns in the 31-17 win over the Cleveland Browns. None of these were the most electrifying play for an ex Notre Dame player in week six however.

That honor goes to David Bruton – S – Denver Broncos –the special team’s captain took a direct snap on what appeared to be a punt attempt and raced down the left sideline gaining 34 yards and firing up the home crowd in the 35-19 win over the Jacksonville Jaguars.

The Minnesota Vikings are the NFL team with the most former Irish players on their roster. Besides Rudolph four more ex Golden Domers played for the Vikings on Sunday.  John Carlson – TE – caught two passes for 10 yards in the 35-10 loss to Carolina. Robert Blanton – DB –recorded one tackle. Harrison Smith – S –had four tackles before being injured and leaving the game. And John Sullivan – OL –started at the center position along the offensive line. J.J. Jansen – LS – Carolina Panthers – saw action in the game as well.

The New York Jets fell to the Pittsburgh Steelers 19-6. Darrin Walls – CB –started at defensive back and registered three tackles. Brady Quinn – QB –did not see any game action.

Tyler Eifert – TE – Cincinnati Bengals – caught two passes for 13 yards in the 27-24 overtime win over Buffalo. Trevor Robinson – OL – did not see game action. In the same contest Sam Young – OL – Buffalo Bills – saw game action.

The Houston Texans got destroyed Sunday by the St. Louis Rams 38-13, maybe they should have used Cierre Wood – RB – who did not see any game action. Teammate Ryan Harris – OL –started at tackle in the loss.

The Thursday night game saw Justin Tuck – DE – New York Giants – record three tackles and a pass deflection in a 27-21 loss to the Chicago Bears.

Theo Riddick – RB – Detroit Lions – saw action in the 31-17 win over Cleveland.

Golden Tate – WR – Seattle Seahawks – caught five passes for 33 yards in the 20-13 win over the Tennessee Titans.

Ronald Talley – DL – Arizona Cardinals (Transferred to Delaware) – saw game action in the 32-20 loss to San Francisco.

Former Irish players who were on active rosters this but did not see action were:

Will Yeatman – OL – Miami Dolphins (Transferred to Maryland) – BYE WEEK

Sergio Brown – S – Indianapolis Colts – MONDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL

Anthony Fasano – TE – Kansas City Chiefs – was inactive in 24-7 win over Oakland

Manti Te’o – LB – San Diego Chargers – MONDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL

Zeke Motta – S – Atlanta Falcons – BYE WEEK

Derek Landri – DL – Tampa Bay Buccaneers – did not see game action in 31-20 loss to Philadelphia

Ian Williams – DL – San Francisco 49ers – did not play (injured – broken ankle) in 32-20 win over Arizona.

Injured Reserve.:

Kapron Lewis-Moore – DL – Baltimore Ravens

Eric Olsen – OL – New Orleans Saints

Darius Fleming – LB – San Francisco 49ers

Practice Squad:

Jonas Gray – RB – Baltimore Ravens

Jamoris Slaughter – S – Cleveland Browns

Braxston Cave – OL – New England Patriots

The Irish had bye week Saturday and will welcome the Trojans of USC to South Bend this week.