Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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IRISH IN THE PROS Even though he has now returned to practice, it will be difficult for him to crack the lineup for a receiving corps that boasts All-Pro Calvin Johnson and former Notre Dame wide receiver Golden Tate. "I'm real excited just to get back out and practice," he said. "Even if I don't play this year, [it is] good just to get back on the field and just be out there — just running routes, getting back to football, getting back to why I came here in the first place." NFL NOTES Through Nov. 24 • Arizona Cardinals tight end Troy Niklas (2011‑13) was placed on injured reserve Nov. 18 due to an ankle injury, ending his rookie season for the 9‑2 squad. The second‑round draft pick finished with three receptions for 38 yards. • The San Francisco 49ers placed defensive line‑ man Ian Williams (2007‑10) on injured reserve Nov. 17 due to a fractured fibula. It marks the second straight season Williams has been put on injured reserve. He finished the season with 22 tackles (18 solo), one sack and one pass defended in nine starts. • Tight end Tyler Eifert (2009‑12) has not returned to practice for the Cincinnati Bengals since suffering a dislocated elbow Sept. 7. Head coach Marvin Lewis will only tell reporters that the Notre Dame graduate is "progressing" and that he could still return this season. He caught three passes for 37 yards in his lone appear‑ ance of the season. • Following a 201‑yard, four‑touchdown performance on Sunday Night Football against the Indianapolis Colts Nov. 16, New England Patriots running back Jonas Gray (2008‑11) did not register a carry in the team's 34‑9 win over the Detroit Lions Nov. 23. Gray showed up late to the team facility on the Friday prior to the game be‑ cause of what he explained as his phone alarm not go‑ ing off. Patriots head coach Bill Belichick responded by not playing the running back the entire game, though Gray did dress in uniform. • San Diego Chargers linebacker Manti Te'o missed six games earlier this season due to a foot injury, but he has returned with five tackles and a pass deflection in two games — both of which were San Diego wins, 13‑6 over Oakland Nov. 16 and 27‑24 over St. Louis Nov. 23. • Minnesota Vikings tight end Kyle Rudolph (2008‑10) returned to action after undergoing sports hernia surgery in September. In his first game back Nov. 16, he played but did not record a catch. On Nov. 23, he caught three passes for 50 yards in a 24‑21 loss to the Green Bay Packers. He told reporters after the game that he is not close to 100 percent. • Through Week 12, a total of 31 former Notre Dame players had been active for NFL teams at some point this season. ✦ Defensive lineman Ian Williams compiled 22 tack- les and one sack in nine starts for the 49ers before a fractured fibula ended his season. PHOTO COURTESY SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS