Injury update: Notre Dame RB Devyn Ford to miss Week 2; LB Nolan Ziegler remains out
Notre Dame graduate running back Devyn Ford will miss Saturday’s game at North Carolina State with a concussion, Irish coach Marcus Freeman confirmed in his Zoom press conference Thursday.
Despite Ford’s absence, Freeman is still confident in the “stable,” as running back coach Deland McCullough nicknames them, of ball carriers behind junior starter Audric Estimé.
Sophomores Jadarian Price and Gi’Bran Payne, as well as freshman Jeremiyah Love, have impressed the Notre Dame coaching staff with their performances through two games this season. Each of them scored their first career touchdown against Navy (Price) or Tennessee State (Payne and Love).
“It’s a talented room that has a lot of guys that can help us,” Freeman said. “I love what Coach Deland is doing in terms of having certain packages for certain guys, and being able to really use all the positive attributes that they have.”
Payne seems most likely to take Ford’s snaps, as the Irish have used both frequently on passing downs in the early going.
Additionally sophomore linebacker Nolan Zielger remains unavailable for Notre Dame as he deals with a personal issue. Ziegler stopped practicing about a week into fall camp, although Freeman has said midway through camp that the four-star prospect from the class of 2022 has been around the team, at least at times, throughout his absence.
On Thursday, Freeman shined a little bit of light on what Ziegler is going through.
“It really relates to mental health,” Freeman said. “He’s progressing, but he’s just dealing with a personal issue.”
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Notre Dame fans should continue to respect Ziegler and his family’s privacy as the middle (“Mike”) linebacker works his way back.
Freeman did not update sophomore tight end Eli Raridon’s status, but he remained off Monday’s depth chart after missing the first two games of the season as he works back from a torn ACL in 2022.
Raridon tore his ACL for the second time in a calendar year last October, and while his target date to return to full action was Aug. 26 against Navy in Dublin, Ireland, the Irish will certainly not rush him back. Notre Dame sees Raridon as a valuable offensive weapon in the future.
Junior defensive tackle Gabriel Rubio and graduate wide receiver Matt Salerno will also miss Saturday’s game, Freeman confirmed Monday, with knee and lower-leg injuries, respectively. Freeman also said Monday that he expects freshman linebacker Drayk Bowen to be available Saturday after missing Week 1 for undisclosed reasons.
Barring a surprise, like Bowen’s absence was last week, everyone else on Notre Dame’s depth chart should be available as the Irish take on NC State.
