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

On Sunday, Notre Dame football coach Marcus Freeman provided injury updates on four players ahead of the national championship game against Ohio State on Jan. 20.

During his Zoom news conference, Freeman said that left tackle Anthonie Knapp will be out due to a high-ankle sprain. Meanwhile, he expects graduate student right guard Rocco Spindler (ankle) and sophomore running back Jeremiyah Love (knee) to be available to play. Additionally, graduate student wide receiver Beaux Collins‘ (calf) availability depends on this week of practice.

Knapp injured his ankle 14 plays into the Orange Bowl. With 13:34 remaining in the second quarter, Fighting Irish senior quarterback Riley Leonard ran to the left side, where Knapp was blocking. Then. Leonard landed on Knapp’s backside, causing his legs to come from underneath him. Knapp was not in uniform for the second half.

Collins only played seven snaps. After the opening series, Blue & Gold saw that Collins spent about five minutes in the sideline injury tent. He had a wrap on one of his lower legs when he emerged. Currently, Freeman said Collins is “healing.”

“He has a calf strain,” he said. “He’ll work back into practice here in the next couple of days. I hope as long as he progresses, he’ll be good to go for the game. But we have to make sure that he progresses as we go through this week.”

Spindler came up gimpy and walked to the sideline with the training staff in the second quarter. Penn State junior defensive tackle Zane Durant tossed Spindler to the ground during his pass rush. Spindler immediately grabbed his lower right leg. He has been dealing with a right ankle injury for the postseason. Spindler did not return to the game.

“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.”

After re-injuring his knee against Georgia in the Sugar Bowl on Jan. 2, Love played 32 snaps against Penn State in the Orange Bowl last Thursday. He finished with 11 carries for 45 yards and 1 touchdown and had a six-yard catch. Freeman anticipates having Love fully available against the Buckeyes.

“J-Love is good to go,” Freeman said. “J-Love will be full go.”

Freeman also commented on the team’s standing after battling the flu this winter.

“As far as the flu, I’m sure every school — Ohio State is probably dealing with it, too,” he said. “I think really probably over half of our team has gotten it already, so I don’t think it will have an impact on this week’s game.”

Though Freeman did not provide an update Sunday, Irish senior Jason Onye remains out with a personal matter and has not been listed on the team’s depth chart. He has not played since Sept. 21 against Miami (Ohio).

Notre Dame football players out for the season

— Senior walk-on cornerback Marty Auer (knee) is out for the season. He tore his left ACL during a preseason practice on Aug. 2.

— Walk-on graduate student defensive lineman Quentin Autry (shoulder) is out for the season. There are no details on when the injury occurred.

— Freshman safety Taebron Bennie-Powell (shoulder) is out for the season. He underwent surgery on his left shoulder labrum after a high school injury hindered him during preseason camp.

— Graduate student Jordan Botelho (knee) is out for the season. The Irish starting vyper injured his right knee on a pass rush against Purdue on Sept. 14.

— Junior Ashton Craig (knee) is out for the season. The Notre Dame starting center injured his left knee on a run-blocking play against Purdue on Sept. 14.

— Sophomore Cooper Flanagan (left Achilles) is out for the season. The Irish tight end suffered an injury against Georgia on Thursday.

— Sophomore linebacker Kahanu Kia (knee) is out for the season. He tore his ACL during preseason camp.

— Graduate student defensive lineman Rylie Mills (knee) is out for the season. Mills suffered his injury against Indiana on Dec. 20 while taking down quarterback Kurtis Rourke for a sack.

— Junior cornerback Benjamin Morrison (hip) is out for the season. Morrison had season-ending surgery and has not played since the Stanford game Week 7.

— Junior running back Gi’Bran Payne (knee) is out for the season. He tore his ACL in his right knee during the Blue-Gold Game on April 20.

— Freshman offensive lineman Styles Prescod (shoulder) is out for the season. A high school shoulder injury persisted during preseason camp, which resulted in the decision to have surgery.

— Sophomore defensive lineman Boubacar Traore (knee) is out for the season. He suffered a knee injury against Louisville on Sept. 28 that required season-ending surgery.

— Senior cornerback Chance Tucker (knee) is out for the season. He tore his ACL during the team’s “jersey scrimmage” on Aug. 17.