Brandon Aubrey made every kick he attempted for the Dallas Cowboys on Thursday night, finishing 1-for-1 on field goals and extra points despite the team’s 24-16 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Aubrey’s reliability stood out as the Cowboys struggled to keep pace in the early NFL week five matchup.
Sunday’s slate of games saw a wave of players with Indiana ties step into the spotlight across several teams. Jessie Bates III, the Atlanta Falcons safety who attended Fort Wayne Snider High School, recorded six tackles in their 30-23 loss to the Baltimore Ravens. Alongside him, rookie quarterback Michael Penix Jr., a product of Indiana University, completed 19 of 32 passes for 240 yards and one touchdown, adding eight rushing yards on two carries in the same game.
Pete Werner, linebacker for the New Orleans Saints and Cathedral High School (Indianapolis) alumnus, logged 10 tackles during their 23-13 defeat to the Minnesota Vikings. Meanwhile, Derrick Barnes of the Detroit Lions, who played at Purdue University, notched five tackles, including one tackle for loss, one sack, and one quarterback hit in a 45-21 victory over the Arizona Cardinals.
The Falcons’ secondary also featured Xavier Watts, a Notre Dame graduate, who made 10 tackles and defended one pass in the loss to Baltimore. Kyle Hamilton, another Notre Dame safety, added six tackles and one pass defended for the Ravens. JuJu Brents, a Miami Dolphins defensive back from Warren Central High School in Indianapolis, contributed six tackles and a pass defended in their 31-24 loss to Cincinnati.
Indianapolis Colts kicker Spencer Shrader, who attended Notre Dame, was flawless on Sunday, converting all five field-goal attempts and an extra point, although the Colts fell 34-22 to the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Other notable defensive contributions came from Austin Booker of the Chicago Bears, a Center Grove High School alumnus, who registered five tackles with three for loss, two sacks, and two quarterback hits during their 31-7 loss to the Green Bay Packers. His Bears teammate Dillon Thieneman, from Purdue University, recorded seven tackles, one tackle for loss, and a pass defended.
Several players appeared without major box-score stats but maintained their presence on the field. Mike McGlinchey, a Notre Dame offensive tackle for the Denver Broncos, played in a 23-17 win over the Los Angeles Chargers. Jerry Tillery, another Notre Dame alumnus with the Colts, made one tackle in their loss to the Steelers. Nick Westbrook-Ikhine of Indiana University appeared for the Colts without recorded stats, while Khalid Kareem, a Notre Dame linebacker for the San Francisco 49ers, registered a quarterback hit in their narrow 32-29 win over the Seattle Seahawks.
Washington Commanders wide receiver Terry McLaurin, who attended Cathedral High School in Indianapolis, caught four passes for 62 yards in a 27-27 tie with the New York Giants. Other Giants players with Indiana ties included Tyrone Tracy Jr., who rushed for six yards on three carries and caught two passes for 25 yards, and Darius Alexander, who made two tackles.
In other performances, Cam Hart, a Notre Dame cornerback for the Chargers, recorded four tackles and a pass defended. Michael Mayer, a Las Vegas Raiders tight end also from Notre Dame, made one catch for two yards in a 45-17 loss. Minnesota Vikings receiver Myles Price, from Indiana University, caught three passes for 20 yards in their win over New Orleans.
Several other Indiana-affiliated players contributed in smaller ways. Gabriel Rubio of the Pittsburgh Steelers, a Notre Dame defensive end, made three tackles. Branson Combs, a linebacker for the Jacksonville Jaguars and Reitz Memorial High School (Evansville) graduate, recorded one tackle in a 19-17 victory over the Philadelphia Eagles. AJ Barner, a tight end for the Seattle Seahawks and Indiana University alumnus, caught three passes for 20 yards.
This week’s games underlined Indiana’s continuing presence across NFL rosters, from special teams to defensive stands and offensive drives. The latest confirmed stats show a wide range of contributions by players connected to the state, reflecting its ongoing role in producing NFL talent.
According to Yahoo Sports.
