Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/176703
irish in the pros It should be a good collision." Williams' senior campaign at Notre Dame in 2010 nearly ended in October of that year when he suffered a sprained medial collateral ligament. He did not receive much playing time in his first two seasons with the 49ers before Harbaugh named him the starter in August. The team had signed him to a two-year, $3.2 million extension during the spring. This isn't Williams' first rehabilitation process, but the injury seized a coveted starting role on one of the league's top units from the Notre Dame graduate. NFL Notes • After making the Lions' 53-man roster out of training camp, rookie running back Theo Riddick was expected to have an expanded role with starter Reggie Bush battling an injured knee heading into the team's game at Washington Sept. 22. Detroit's coaches have mentioned Riddick's versatility and ability to play a Bush-like role on offense. • Bengals rookie tight end Tyler Eifert caught three passes for 66 yards in a 20-10 victory over Pittsburgh Sept. 16, including a 61-yard reception. Through two games, Eifert has been targeted 10 times and has caught eight passes for 113 yards. • San Diego Chargers rookie linebacker Manti Te'o's availability for the Sept. 22 game at the Tennessee Titans was undecided when Blue & Gold Illustrated went to press. Te'o returned to practice Sept. 18, having been out since suffering a foot injury at practice Aug. 8. After seeing only nine preseason snaps because of the injury, Te'o spent the rest of the month in a walking boot. • Former Irish defensive end and current New York Giants standout Justin Tuck recorded four tackles in a 41-23 home loss to the Denver Broncos. Tuck notched 0.5 sacks in two games for the 0-2 Giants. • Current Minnesota Vikings tight end and for- mer Irish standouts Kyle Rudolph and John Carlson caught five passes for 69 yards and a touchdown and one pass for seven yards, respectively, through two games. • Kansas City Chiefs tight end Anthony Fasano has caught four passes for 34 yards in three games with his new squad. • Minnesota Vikings safety Harrison Smith recorded an interception in a 31-30 loss to the Chicago Bears Sept. 15, and he had 18 tackles in two games. • Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Golden Tate notched five catches for 70 yards in a pair of wins to begin the season. MLB Player Updates Through Sept. 19 • John Axford (Played at Notre Dame from 200205), RHP, St. Louis Cardinals: Stood 6-7 with no saves and a 4.19 ERA in 72 relief appearances split between the Milwaukee Brewers and St. Louis Cardinals … Had 63 strikeouts in 621⁄3 innings, but also permitted 96 base runners (70 hits and 26 walks) … Has allowed just two runs in 62⁄3 innings for the Cardinals in September. • Jeff Manship (2004-06), RHP, Colorado Rockies: Was 0-5 with a 6.75 ERA in four starts and five relief appearances for the Rockies … Opened the season with the Triple-A Colorado Springs Sky Sox and was 6-8 with a 4.85 ERA in 24 appearances (17 starts). • David Phelps (2005-08), RHP, New York Yankees: Was 6-5 with a 5.01 ERA in 18 appearances, 12 of which were starts, before getting placed on the disabled list since July 6 with a right forearm strain … Collected 75 strikeouts and walked 32 batters in 822⁄3 innings prior to being sidelined. • A.J. Pollock (2007-09), OF, Arizona Diamondbacks: Has played in 129 games … Was batting .261 with seven home runs and 34 RBI …Also stole 12 bases in 15 attempts … Has made just one error in 236 attempts in the field. • Jeff Samardzija (2004-06), RHP, Chicago Cubs: Sported an 8-12 record with a 4.42 ERA in 31 starts as the Cubs' No. 1 hurler … Has 203 strikeouts while allowing 197 hits in 2012⁄3 innings of work. ✦