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Notre Dame WR Matt Salerno to miss time with lower leg injury

IMG_7504by:Jack Soble•09/04/23•

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Notre Dame graduate receiver Matt Salerno (middle) runs with the ball during a 56-3 win over Tennessee State on Saturday in South Bend. (Chad Weaver, Blue & Gold)

Notre Dame graduate receiver Matt Salerno is out for “an extended period of time,” Irish coach Marcus Freeman said during his weekly press conference Monday.

Salerno suffered a lower leg injury during Notre Dame’s 56-3 win over Tennessee State.

“He will be out for an extended period of time,” Freeman said. “Multiple weeks. I don’t know when he’ll be back, but he definitely got injured in the game.”

Salerno played only seven snaps against Tennessee State. He played 11 in Week 0 against Navy, catching one pass for nine yards from graduate quarterback Sam Hartman. Salerno returned two punts in Week 1 against Tennessee State as well, totaling 21 yards.

After beginning his Notre Dame career as a walk on from Valencia (Calif.) Crespi Carmelite in 2018, the Irish placed him on scholarship in January 2022. Salerno has become valuable depth at the field receiver position behind sophomore Tobias Merriweather, sharing the second-string role with freshman Rico Flores Jr.

Salerno first started to earn playing time as a punt returner in 2020, returning 12 punts for 45 yards. He emerged as a viable receiver in 2022, catching five passes for 62 yards throughout the season, including a juggling catch on Sept. 3 against Ohio State for 31. Salerno caught his first career touchdown in a 44-0 win over Boston College on Nov. 19.

He was the No. 2 punt returner last season behind safety Brandon Joseph, who left for the NFL Draft after the season. Senior receiver Chris Tyree won the punt returner job out of fall camp this year, but Salerno got a couple reps late in Week 1.

Salerno emerged from fall camp firmly in the Notre Dame wide receiver rotation, as wide receivers coach Chansi Stuckey said he had a good month of August at practice.

With Salerno out, Notre Dame will rely on Merriweather, Flores, Tyree, freshman Jaden Greathouse, junior Deion Colzie and junior Jayden Thomas all slightly more than they had before. Freeman made it a point to shout out Thomas for his performance through two games, as he is Notre Dame’s leading receiver with eight catches for 125 yards.

Greathouse is second with five for 98, while Tyree is third among receivers with four for 60. The converted running back caught his first touchdown as a slot receiver Saturday against TSU.

Notre Dame (2-0) faces North Carolina State (1-0) at 12:00 p.m. ET on Saturday at Carter-Finley Stadium in Raleigh, N.C.

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