While the hype around the Notre Dame football team is hitting a fever pitch as fall camp begins next month, the team got some truly terrible news on Friday. Defensive lineman Jordan Botelho, working his way back from a mid-season injury this spring, suffered a significant setback.
Working out and rehabbing a knee injury that shortened his season in 2024, Botelho was expected to be back and fully healthy for the start of fall camp. However, he suffered a separate injury expected to keep him out for most, if not all, of the 2025 campaign.
Jordan Botelho’s pectoral surgery sidelines him until October, compounding Notre Dame’s D-line concerns
The Notre Dame defensive lineman suffered a pectoral injury during offseason training away from campus. Botelho underwent surgery last week, and according to Irish Sports Daily, his recovery is expected to take approximately four months.
The timing would have Botelho returning around October, assuming he has no more setbacks. This report has one bit of sunshine. If his knee wasn’t entirely ready to get back into things, he’ll now have plenty of time to make sure it is also 100%.
The problem, of course, is that there were already several questions about the Irish defensive line. This offseason, they lost several veterans, including Rylie Mills and Howard Cross III, and are already scrambling to replace them.
Now they must also find someone to replace Botelho for a few months.
If Jordan Botelho is able to come back in October, it will be a big boost for the Notre Dame football team, which is getting ready for the home stretch of what it hopes will be another playoff season.