Marcus Freeman announces safety Brandon Joseph is doubtful vs Navy

Notre Dame safety Brandon Joseph is unlikely to play this Saturday against Navy after spraining his ankle against Clemson. Head coach Marcus Freeman said that Joseph is “doubtful,” according to Pete Sampson of The Athletic.

With Joseph a likely scratch, wide receiver Matt Salerno will take over punt return duties, according to Sampson.

Joseph is a transfer from Northwestern now playing his first season at Notre Dame. In nine games for the Irish, he has a forced fumble and took the first pass of the game against Syracuse for a pick-six.

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He earned All-American honors as a redshirt freshman at Northwestern, when he picked off six passes and led a stingy Wildcats defense to the Big Ten championship game.

DJ Brown is likely to get more playing time for Notre Dame with Joseph out

Freeman talked about DJ Brown and his character — which he raved about — earlier in the week, but also highlighted how he’s become a steady football player for Notre Dame.

He isn’t the flashy playmaker like Joesph, but when Joseph went down with an injury, Brown was ready to step in and confidently fill an expanded role.

Brown has played in every game for Notre Dame this season and while his stats don’t pop off the page, Freeman had high, high praise for his play.

“He’s played extremely well,” Freeman said. “He played more this past game than probably we thought, going in. And he’s played a lot this year. But, because of BJo going down — Brandon Joseph going down with an ankle sprain — but he’s been playing really well I think. I’ve been around him, this is the second year, and he’s playing his highest level of football right now. DJ’s got to improve, just like every other member, but he’s getting better. He’s getting better. He’s playing with a lot of confidence right now and really, really doing a good job.”