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Anthonie Knapp injury update: Notre Dame left tackle out vs. Ohio State due to injury

Kyle Kellyby:Kyle Kelly•about 14 hours•

ByKyleKelly

Anthonie Knapp ND
Notre Dame offensive tackle Anthonie Knapp. (Mike Miller/Blue & Gold)

On Sunday, Notre Dame coach Marcus Freeman ruled out left tackle Anthonie Knapp for the Jan. 20 national championship game against Ohio State. Freeman said Knapp has a high-ankle sprain.

“Knapp will miss this game,” Freeman told reporters during a Zoom news conference. “He had a high ankle sprain and won’t be able to make it back.”

With 13:34 remaining in the second quarter, Fighting Irish senior quarterback Riley Leonard ran to the left side, where Knapp was blocking. Leonard landed on Knapp’s backside, causing his legs to come from underneath him.

Knapp initially stood up after the play, attempting to shake it off. However, after a few seconds, he dropped down on the field in pain, holding his left leg. The Notre Dame training staff then tended to him on the field.

After an on-field evaluation, Knapp spent about three minutes in the sideline injury tent. Then, he walked slowly and gingerly to the locker room, where he spent about 15 minutes.

When Knapp returned to the sideline, he was wearing his helmet. However, graduate student Tosh Baker remained in the game and played left tackle after Knapp was ruled out to start the second half. He was no longer in uniform and had a medical walking boot on his left ankle.

RELATED: Notre Dame football injury report: Marcus Freeman updates status of four players before championship

A product of Roswell (Ga.) High, Knapp won the starting left tackle battle coming out of preseason camp over Baker. Sophomore Charles Jagusah was initially the team’s starting left tackle. However, he injured his right pectoralis muscle on Aug. 3. The Notre Dame football communications team ruled him out for the season.

Jagusah eventually returned to practice in December and appeared on the field goal/extra point protection units against Georgia in the Jan. 2 Sugar Bowl. He replaced an injured Rocco Spindler at right guard in the second quarter of last Thursday’s Orange Bowl.

Also on Sunday, Freeman updated the status of Spindler, who did not play in the second half against Penn State. He has been battling an ankle injury during the postseason.

“We expect Rocco to be able to (play),” Freeman said. “We’ll see how he progresses this week of practice. But I know he’ll give everything he has into making sure he’s prepared.”

Notre Dame is already playing with its backup center, Pat Coogan. He replaced Ashton Craig after he suffered a knee injury against Purdue in Week 3.

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