Notre Dame: Brian Kelly provides update on Jack Coan injury

Notre Dame head coach Brian Kelly provided an update on starting quarterback Jack Coan, saying his injury is “ahead of where I thought he would be” prior to this weekend’s clash with No. 7 Cincinnati.

According to ESPN’s Adam Rittenberg, Coan has split first-team reps this week with freshmen Drew Pyne and Tyler Buchner as the team prepares for any situation.

Coan suffered an ankle injury during the 41-13 win over Wisconsin last week, giving way to Pyne in the second half. Notre Dame rallied with the backup quarterback, outscoring Wisconsin 31-3 in the fourth quarter behind 21 points on defense and special teams.

Since transferring from Wisconsin this season, Coan is 4-0 as the starter at Notre Dame. He beat out the two freshmen for the job this summer.

Coan finished Saturday’s game 15-for-29 with 158 yards and a touchdown. In relief, Pyne was 6-for-8 with 81 yards and a touchdown.

Another quarterback returns from injury

Notre Dame’s plan for this weekend remains up in the air with Coan’s quick recovery and Buchner’s return from a hamstring injury.

Brian Kelly added to his list of injury updates that the freshman quarterback was “back to where he was health-wise before the hamstring injury,” according to Rittenberg.

“He looks great this week,” said Kelly. “And then we’ll start to build back more inventory into what we’re doing offensively with him.”

Brian Kelly on quarterback depth

Earlier this week, Notre Dame head coach Brian Kelly provided an update on Coan’s status, as well as his hold on the team’s starting quarterback job.

“The quarterback situation is such that if Jack [Coan] is healthy, Jack would be our starter,” Kelly stated in his Monday press conference.

Additionally, Kelly added an update on quarterback Tyler Buchner. While he has not supplanted Coan as the team’s starting quarterback, Buchner’s dynamic ability has kept him on the field when healthy.

“Tyler felt really good yesterday in treatment,” stated Kelly. “He declared himself feeling really good, so that’s good for us. That allows us to get him back into the mix.

 “If he looks good, [Coan] will be our starter and Tyler Buchner will play. Like we had before we went into this game. If he can’t, then Drew [Pyne] is ready to go — but it appears Tyler [Buchner] will be in pretty good shape to play for us. So, the two quarterbacks is the situation — it just depends on what two.”