Football: Injury Update

My cousin is injury-prone, to say the least. He’s broken dozens of bones, sprained countless limbs, suffered any freak injury your imagination could muster. He’s rarely healthy and when he is, it’s just a matter of time before he pulls a muscle, or chips a bone.

That’s been Notre Dame this season.

Brian Kelly and co. have heard a lot of criticism for a poor season, but how can he be expected to win without his top quarterback (Dayne Crist), his top running back (Armando Allen), his top tight end (Kyle Rudolph), and his best defensive lineman (Ian Williams)? Even Michael Floyd, his top wide receiver and probably top player, has missed time due to injury.

I can’t judge Kelly too harshly on this season because of how shorthanded his team has been. He has made some questionable coaching decisions (i.e. throwing at the end of the Tulsa game instead of setting up for, then kicking the field goal), but it hasn’t been a fair test. We will learn a lot more about Brian Kelly and his future at Notre Dame during next season. Until then, I’ll hold my tongue.

Somehow, despite the rash of injuries, and inexplicable losses to Navy and Tulsa, Notre Dame is a win Saturday over Army away from bowl eligibility. And, as the luck of the Irish would have it, Notre Dame will be getting some reinforcements for Saturday’s game. (ESPN Chicago)

"Junior linebacker Darius Fleming (St. Rita) left after the first quarter with a concussion and freshman Prince Shembo was a productive replacement with five tackles and a sack.“Darius did not play after the first quarter; he suffered a concussion,” Kelly said.“Fleming will be back this week. He was cleared today through a battery of tests.”"

Kelly also said that wide receiver TJ Jones and linebacker Carlo Calabrese are expected to return from their respective hamstring injuries, according to ESPN.com’s Wes Morgan.

For more details, check out the full injury report below:

OUT:

QB Dayne Crist: Out for season, torn left patellar tendon

RB Armando Allen: Out for season, hip

TE Kyle Rudolph: Out for season, right hamstring evulsion

RETURNING:

LB Carlo Calabrese:  hamstring

WR TJ Jones:  hamstring

POSSIBLE FOR USC:

DT Ian Williams: MCL Sprain

Kelly on Williams:  “Ian, we’re going to have to wait until the end of this week to know whether he can be braced up and still be active enough for the USC game.”

WR Theo Riddick: ankle

Kelly on Riddick: 

“I think we got a really good shot at Riddick,” he said. “We’re gonna move him aggressively this week. He’ll be in a lot of drill work — straight-line stuff — then we’ll start to move him laterally probably Thursday. So I’ll get a really good feel for his availability for USC. But we’re on track for him returning for the USC game.”