While the Notre Dame football team is on a break this weekend, fans of the Blue and Gold can enjoy watching former players shine in the NFL. This is especially true for rookie linebacker JD Bertrand, who made his first start on Thursday night for the Atlanta Falcons.
Though Bertrand has had limited playing time this season, primarily contributing on special teams, he stepped into the starting linebacker role due to several injuries on the Falcons’ roster. He started against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in place of Troy Andersen, who is sidelined with a knee injury. Andersen had been filling in for Nate Landman, who is currently on injured reserve with leg issues. Bertrand, a former captain at Notre Dame, was selected by the Falcons in the fifth round of the 2024 NFL Draft, going 143rd overall. So far this season, he has tallied two tackles.
In his debut as a starter, Bertrand demonstrated he has the potential to compete at the NFL level, even though his performance wasn’t flawless.
Bertrand’s initial outing saw him register five tackles, but he lacked other notable statistics. Nevertheless, this was sufficient for the Falcons, who managed to fend off the Buccaneers for a 36-30 victory, bringing their record to 3-2.
However, it wasn’t all smooth sailing. According to Pro Football Focus, Bertrand received a low grade, likely due to his limited contributions beyond making tackles. He struggled significantly in pass coverage, although the team managed to minimize any resulting damage.
The former Notre Dame captain allowed seven receptions for 48 yards. The positive takeaway is that despite facing challenges in covering tight ends and running backs, his team still secured the win.
