Newsstand: Former Notre Dame LB JD Bertrand shines in first NFL start on Thursday Night Football

Five games into his NFL career, former Notre Dame football linebacker JD Bertrand has made his mark. On Thursday night, the former anchor of the Fighting Irish defense started his first career game for the Atlanta Falcons.

The 6-foot-1, 233-pound Bertrand finished third on the team with 5 tackles in a 36-30 overtime victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, featuring former Irish offensive lineman Robert Hainsey .

Enter Week 5 of the NFL season, Bertrand had 2 tackles, primarily playing on special teams. Now, he has made his case to claim the starting spot for the remainder of the 2024 campaign.

The Falcons selected Bertrand with the No. 143 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft.

Notre Dame Posts of the Day

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Irish coach Marcus Freeman and defensive line coach Al Washington were in Chicago on Thursday night to see Simeon four-star EDGE and Notre Dame commit Christopher Burgess Jr.

On3 vice president of recruiting and transfer portal Steve Wiltfong talked about Irish 2025 class quarterback recruiting on Thursday’s Wiltfong Whiparound. Four-star quarterback Deuce Knight from Lucedale (Miss.) George County decommitted from the Irish in favor of a flip to Auburn on Wednesday.

The Irish men’s basketball program has an exclusive YouTube series.

Notre Dame Quote of the Day

“We’re a Jesuit Catholic school, so the Catholic connection is big. It’s big in the Cincinnati area because of the Catholic population and all the parochial schools. I’m excited to see Notre Dame get back in here and have a presence.”

— Cincinnati St. Xavier head coach Steve Specht on Notre Dame recruiting his school and the Southwest Ohio area.

The Irish have secured a verbal commitment from 2025 three-star defensive lineman Gordy Sulfsted and are targeting 2026 four-star linebacker Kobe Clapper .

Notre Dame Headlines of the Day

• Arkansas RB Daniel Anderson decommits from ND football
• Lucky Charms: Big 2026 ND OL target schedules visit
• ND recruits take to social media after Deuce Knight flips to Auburn
• Hey Horka! How dire is the situation for ND at Vyper defensive end?
• Golden Grahams: Where does ND men’s basketball go from here?
• Call-in show: Taking questions from ND fans on Deuce Knight, Irish football recruiting
• ND football at bye week No. 1: Two truths and a lie about the Irish
• How ND has capitalized on recruiting Southwest Ohio and Cincinnati St. Xavier
• ND coaches on the road: Marcus Freeman checking in on elite Chicagoland DL Thursday
• Newsstand: Notable ND player ratings boosts in EA Sports College Football 25

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