Marcus Freeman Updates Notre Dame Injuries vs Central Michigan

Fighting Irish head coach Marcus Freeman updated the status of four players at Monday's press conference

As Notre Dame prepares for its fourth game of the season and its second home game this weekend against Central Michigan, Fighting Irish head coach Marcus Freeman updated the status of a handful of injured players at his Monday press conference.

The latest Irish player to suffer an injury is JD Bertrand. The middle linebacker left Saturday’s win over North Carolina State after taking a hit to the head.

"He’s in concussion protocol,” Freeman said of his captain linebacker. "So, he’ll be non-contact tomorrow, but I talked to him yesterday. He’s doing much better but he’s in concussion protocol so to be determined, right now.”

Bertrand has been Notre Dame’s leading tackler the past two seasons. His 13 tackles through three games are currently No. 4 this season.

Running back/kickoff return man Devyn Ford was in concussion protocol last week after taking a helmet to helmet hit that forced him out of the Tennessee State game on Sept. 2. He could be back in action this week.

"He’s expected to be back,” said Freeman. "He’s finishing up his concussion protocol but he’s expected to be back by Saturday.”

Defensive lineman Gabriel Rubio has missed Notre Dame’s last two games after suffering a knee injury in the season-opener against Navy. Freeman expects Rubio to return to the field this season, but it will be later than sooner.

"He’ll be out this week,” Freeman was all Freeman said of Rubio.

The final player Freeman updated was tight end Eli Raridon. The sophomore tight end tore his right ACL last October to shut down what had been a promising start to his freshman season. It was the second time in less than a year he tore his right ACL. Raridon has practiced to different degrees with the team since training camp, but he is yet to see action in a game. That could soon change.

"He’ll be back this week,” Freeman hesitantly began. "I’m not a hundred percent sure but I doubt it. He’ll be back .... It’s progression and when you come off your second ACL, it can be physical and mental and that is something that until he physically feels a hundred percent and mentally feels like he’s ready to go, you can’t push that go to get on the field. So, we’re working with him to physically make sure that he’s feeling like a hundred percent and then mentally you feel capable that you won’t go out and reinjure yourself.”

The 6-7, 250-pound tight end tore the same ACL in December 2021 during his senior year high school basketball season. Raridon said during training camp that he thinks he may have rushed the recovery process after that 2021 injury. 

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