When Cincinnati quarterback Jake Browning left the field because of a thumb cramp in the fourth quarter of Sunday’s 34-14 victory over the Indianapolis Colts, A.J. McCarron came in to run the Bengals’ offense.

When McCarron took his first snap, he recorded his first appearance in an NFL regular-season game since Jan. 3, 2021, but the play also lifted Alabama to an NFL record.

McCarron became the 71st man who played at Alabama to appear in an NFL regular-season game in 2023 – the most from one college program in one season in the league’s history.

Alabama became the first program to put 70 former players on the field in a single NFL season in 2022 and had hit 70 again this season when linebacker Ronnie Harrison played for the Indianapolis Colts on Nov. 26.

With 60 former players seeing action in the NFL this season, Ohio State ranks second in 2023 for alumni in the league, with Georgia at 56.

McCarron’s appearance extended the streak of more Alabama alumni playing in the NFL than in the previous season to seven years.

In 2016, 38 former Alabama players appeared in at least one NFL regular-season game – one fewer than had played in 2015.

In 2017, the number rose to 44, breaking the school’s single-season NFL record of 40 in 1987. The 1987 season featured a player strike and three weeks of football with replacement players.

In 2018, the Alabama alumni who played in the NFL reached 52. It jumped to 62 in 2019 and increased to 64 in 2020, 68 in 2021 and 70 in 2022.

Week 15 in the NFL starts on Thursday night with the Los Angeles Chargers and Las Vegas Raiders squaring off, leaving four more weeks of regular-season play for Alabama to add to its record total.

Players who have appeared in NFL regular-season games in 2023 who played at Alabama include:

· Washington Commanders defensive tackle Jonathan Allen

· Houston Texans defensive end Will Anderson Jr.

· Baltimore Ravens cornerback Jalyn Armour-Davis

· New England Patriots defensive lineman Christian Barmore

· Cincinnati Bengals safety Jordan Battle

· Carolina Panthers center Bradley Bozeman

· Detroit Lions defensive back Brian Branch

· Indianapolis Colts cornerback Tony Brown

· Detroit Lions defensive tackle Isaiah Buggs

· Tennessee Titans defensive back Shyheim Carter

· Cleveland Browns wide receiver Amari Cooper

· Miami Dolphins guard Lester Cotton

· Miami Dolphins nose tackle Raekwon Davis

· Philadelphia Eagles guard Landon Dickerson

· Dallas Cowboys cornerback Trevon Diggs

· Baltimore Ravens running back Kenyan Drake

· Dallas Cowboys linebacker Rashaan Evans

· Pittsburgh Steelers safety Minkah Fitzpatrick

· Cleveland Browns running back Jerome Ford

· Detroit Lions running back Jahmyr Gibbs

· Washington Commanders running back Derrick Gore

· Miami Dolphins defensive lineman Da’Shawn Hand

· Houston Texans linebacker Christian Harris

· Buffalo Bills running back Damien Harris

· Pittsburgh Steelers running back Najee Harris

· Indianapolis Colts linebacker Ronnie Harrison

· Atlanta Falcons safety DeMarcco Hellams

· Tennessee Titans running back Derrick Henry

· Baltimore Ravens cornerback Marlon Humphrey

· Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts

· Chicago Bears safety Eddie Jackson

· Denver Broncos safety Kareem Jackson

· Las Vegas Raiders running back Josh Jacobs

· New England Patriots linebacker Anfernee Jennings

· Denver Broncos wide receiver Jerry Jeudy

· Philadelphia Eagles cornerback Josh Jobe

· Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver Julio Jones

· New England Patriots cornerback Mac Jones

· Indianapolis Colts center Ryan Kelly

· Washington Commanders defensive tackle Phidarian Mathis

· Cincinnati Bengals quarterback AJ McCarron

· New York Giants safety Xavier McKinney

· Houston Texans wide receiver John Metchie III

· New York Jets linebacker C.J. Mosley

· New York Giants offensive tackle Evan Neal

· Washington Commanders defensive tackle Daron Payne

· Carolina Panthers defensive tackle LaBryan Ray

· Seattle Seahawks nose tackle Jarran Reed

· Philadelphia Eagles cornerback Eli Ricks

· Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Calvin Ridley

· New York Giants defensive lineman A’Shawn Robinson

· Washington Commanders running back Brian Robinson Jr.

· Jacksonville Jaguars offensive tackle Cam Robinson

· Denver Broncos linebacker Drew Sanders

· Los Angeles Chargers punter JK Scott

· Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver DeVonta Smith

· Cincinnati Bengals tight end Irv Smith Jr.

· Philadelphia Eagles offensive lineman Tyler Steen

· Denver Broncos cornerback Patrick Surtain II

· Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa

· Houston Texans linebacker Henry To’oTo’o

· Cleveland Browns defensive tackle Dalvin Tomlinson

· Miami Dolphins wide receiver Jaylen Waddle

· Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback Levi Wallace

· Detroit Lions wide receiver Jameson Williams

· Cincinnati Bengals offensive tackle Jonah Williams

· New York Jets defensive tackle Quinnen Williams

· Cleveland Browns offensive tackle Jedrick Wills Jr.

· New England Patriots linebacker Mack Wilson

· Carolina Panthers quarterback Bryce Young

· Las Vegas Raiders defensive tackle Byron Young

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Mark Inabinett is a sports reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter at @AMarkG1.