Jadarian Price injury update: Marcus Freeman explains absence of Notre Dame RB

Notre Dame running back Jadarian Price wasn’t able to play in the Irish’s Blue-Gold Game, surprising some that he wasn’t able to go. After the game, head coach Marcus Freeman explained that he recently suffered a minor injury that kept him out.

The injury occurred during a kick scrimmage that Freeman says he pulled his hamstring toward the end of. It’s not a major injury, but it was enough for the team to decide to play it safe with him this week.

“Jadarian, we had a kick scrimmage on Tuesday or Wednesday,” Marcus Freeman said. “And on the very last rep came up with a pulled hamstring. It wasn’t crazy. It’s one that would keep him out a week. But it just came at the wrong time right before the spring game because we wanted to see him out there.”

Jadarian Price came to Notre Dame as a four-star recruit in the Class of 2022, according to the On3 Industry Rankings. He was the 13th-ranked running back and the 212th-ranked player overall in that cycle.

During his time in South Bend, Price took a redshirt with an injury in 2022. He went on to play in 13 games during the 2023 season, carrying the ball 47 times for 272 yards or 5.8 yards per carry. He also had three rushing touchdowns to go with another 65 yards and a touchdown receiving.

“Shame on me. I don’t know. I wanted to get one extra rep in the kick scrimmage, and it ended up costing us a hamstring. So, I take the blame on that one,” Freeman said.

“But he’s fine. He had a great spring. He’s done some really good things.”

Marcus Freeman on Riley Leonard missing time in Spring

Notre Dame brought in Riley Leonard as a transfer quarterback from Duke. However, he’s been banged up and Marcus Freeman announced that he would miss time this spring.

“Riley Leonard will be out the next few weeks due to an additional surgery he had on his ankle on Friday – so, yesterday – to address a stress fracture that was beginning to develop. Basically, the surgery was to exchange the current plate he had in his ankle with a new one. The doctors are doing extremely well. The overall prognosis and health of his ankle is excellent. We’ll see when he can get back,” Freeman said.

“We’re not putting a timetable. We know it’s gonna be a few weeks, but we’re not saying he’s out for the spring. There could be a chance he comes back and participates in some capacity during spring ball.”