Marcus Freeman shares update on Drew Pyne injury

It was a scary moment in the second quarter Saturday as Notre Dame quarterback Drew Pyne took a big hit from a UNLV defender and left the game. Pyne returned, though, and Marcus Freeman shared what went into that decision after the game.

Pyne took the ball 21 yards to the one-yard line, where he was met by a defender and appeared to take a hit to the head. He departed for the next play — a Mitchell Evans touchdown run — and true freshman Steve Angeli came in at quarterback to start the next drive. However, Pyne returned after a few plays once he got cleared to play again, Freeman said.

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“[Pyne] tried to stay in the game,” Freeman said. “The doctors pulled him out to make sure they evaluate him and then after that series, a couple plays, said he was ready to go. He wanted to keep going, but the doctors said, ‘You’re out.’ They did the evaluation and they gave him the thumbs-up to go back in the game.”

But the immediate question was about potential targeting, and the Peacock broadcasters openly asked about it. Freeman said he spoke with the officials about it, and they sent it to review before upholding the no-call.

“I thought, from my viewpoint just looking at the replay, it looked like close to helmet-to-helmet,” Freeman said. “They said they reviewed it and contacted Greensboro, the headquarters, and they said it wasn’t helmet-to-helmet.”

Marcus Freeman reacts to Notre Dame’s bounce-back victory over UNLV

One week after Notre Dame suffered another stunning home loss, the Fighting Irish bounced back with a resounding win over UNLV at Notre Dame Stadium. Marcus Freeman knew how much the win meant, but he knows there’s still work to be done.

The Fighting Irish got off to a fast start on offense and defeated the Rebels 44-21 Saturday afternoon to get over .500 on the season. Michael Mayer had a huge day, totaling six receptions for 115 yards and a touchdown to lead the charge.

But Freeman noticed a sense of urgency this week, which started with a practice on Sunday — one day after Notre Dame lost to Stanford. As great as a sense of urgency is, though, he said the Fighting Irish still had to execute.

“I think there were times in both halves that we displayed the sense of urgency and the execution that we need,” Freeman told NBC and Peacock’s Zora Stephenson. “Sense of urgency is one thing, but sense of urgency with execution is what this team needs to make sure it reaches its full potential.”