Notre Dame football injury update: Coach Marcus Freeman details LB JD Bertrand, others' status
Ahead of No. 9 Notre Dame’s (3-0) Week 3 matchup with Central Michigan (2-0) on Saturday, coach Marcus Freeman addressed the media. And he provided an update on the injury status of graduate student linebacker JD Bertrand and three others.
“He’s in concussion protocol,” Freeman said. “He’ll be non-contact (Tuesday). I talked to him (Sunday) but he’s doing much better. (His status) is to be determined (for Saturday).”
Bertrand left last Saturday’s game against NC State in the second half due to what Freeman called a “head injury.”
The 6-foot-1, 233-pound Bertrand registered five tackles, including one solo stop, in the 45-24 victory over the Wolfpack. He also had a pass breakup and two quarterback hurries.
The final stat Bertrand recorded was an assisted tackle alongside senior defensive Rylie Mills on a 1-yard carry by Wolfpack running back Jordan Houston. That happened on Notre Dame’s seventh defensive snap in the third quarter. The drive ended with 11:16 remaining in the third quarter.
Bertrand’s head injury is the third notable injury he has had in his five seasons with the Irish. Last season, he missed the 2022 Navy game with a groin injury. He also played the 2021 season with a left wrist injury, which he had surgery on ahead of the 2022 season.
Notre Dame RB Devyn Ford’s injury status
Irish graduate student running back Devyn Ford missed last Saturday’s game due to a concussion suffered against Tennessee State on Sept. 2. However, Freeman said Ford is trending to play this Saturday against Central Michigan.
“He’s expected to be back,” he said. “He’s finishing up his concussion protocol. But he’s expected to be back by Saturday.”
The 5-11, 200-pound Ford had an eight-yard kick return with under three minutes left in the first quarter against Tennessee State. He fumbled the football and suffered an apparent head injury on that play. Earlier in the game, he had a three-yard rush. He played three offensive snaps in that game.
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Notre Dame DL Gabriel Rubio’s injury status
Irish defensive lineman Gabriel Rubio has been out the last two weeks with a knee injury he sustained in Notre Dame’s 42-3 victory over Navy on Aug. 26. Freeman said last Monday that Rubio had arthroscopic surgery and should be back in “another couple weeks.” That is still the case.
“He’ll be out this week,” Freeman said.
The 6-5 1/4, 306-pound Rubio, who played in his 12th game for the Irish in Week 0, had one tackle in the victory. He played 19 snaps and recorded two quarterback hurries, one leading to a sack for sophomore Vyper Joshua Burnham. Rubio’s tackle came after a 7-yard rush by Alex Tecza.
Notre Dame TE Eli Raridon’s injury status
Despite practicing in the preseason, Irish tight end Eli Raridon has yet to appear in a game during the 2023 season. Raridon tore his ACL in his right knee last October. According to Freeman, he will unlikely make his sophomore season debut against Central Michigan.
“Still progressing,” Freeman said. “I doubt he’ll be back this week. I’m not 100% sure, but I doubt he’ll be back. It’s progression. When you come off your second ACL, it can be physical and mental. And that’s something that until he feels physically 100% and mentally feels ready to go, you can’t push that guy to get on the field.
“So, we’re working with him to physically make sure he’s feeling like 100%. And then mentally that he feels capable that he won’t go out there and reinjure (himself).”
Raridon appeared in five games last season before enduring the non-contact injury during practice. That was his second torn ACL in his right knee.
