Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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IRISH IN THE PROS touched the ball eight times for 81 yards and the score in crucial divi- osonal victory. NFL NOTES Through Oct. 16 • Detroit Lions wide receiver TJ Jones (2010-13) is eligible to come off the physically unable to perform (PUP) list, on which he had been placed prior to the season with lingering shoulder issues. As of Oct. 16, the former Notre Dame receiver had yet to begin practicing. When he does so, the Lions have a three-week timeframe to activate him or place him on season-ending injured reserve. "It's still coming back," Jones told ESPN.com about the nerve issue in his shoulder. "I'm not going to have it completely back by the time I come back. Ideally I would, but I'm going to let them kind of decide that. "We're going to kind of make the move together and they are going to decide what they feel is best for me." Jones underwent a pair of offseason surgeries after originally injuring the shoulder in the 29-16 win over Rutgers in the Pinstripe Bowl. • San Diego Chargers rookie offensive lineman Chris Watt (2009-13) started his second consecutive game at right guard in the team's 31-28 win over the Oakland Raiders on Oct. 12. In a role reversal, he is helping former Irish offensive lineman Trevor Robinson (2008-11) acclimate to the organization after the team signed him prior to week six. Robin- son hosted Watt during the latter's official visit to campus in 2008. • Former Notre Dame offensive lineman Zack Mar- tin (2009-13) has helped the Dallas Cowboys record the NFL's top rushing average through six weeks (160.3 yards per game). The next best mark is held by the Seattle Seahawks at 149.8 yards per game. Cowboys running back DeMarco Murray is the only player in the league to rush for 100-plus yards in each game this season. Dallas' rushing game has propelled the Cowboys to a five-game winning streak after they lost their season opener. At 5-1, they stand out as one of the NFL's surprising stories of 2014. • Several former Notre Dame players that were expected to start or be major contributors this sea- son have missed a substantial amount of time due to injury: tight end Tyler Eifert, defensive end Kapron Lewis-Moore, safety Zeke Motta, nose guard Louis Nix, tight end Kyle Rudolph and linebacker Manti Te'o. Each except for Lewis-Moore and Nix (both of whom have been placed on season-ending injured reserve) are expected to return at some point this season. • Through week five, a total of 30 former Notre Dame players had been active for NFL teams at some point this season. Robinson became the 30th when the Chargers activated him in their week six win. He has yet to reach the field in 2014, however. ✦ Former Notre Dame offensive lineman Trevor Robinson (2008-11) was signed to the San Diego Chargers' active roster from the Cincinnati Bengals' practice squad prior to week six. PHOTO COURTESY CINCINNATI BENGALS