While the Notre Dame football team hasn't given an official update on freshman defensive back Joey O'Brien's Blue-Gold game injury, a Friday morning scare might be overblown.
After O'Brien posted a picture on Instagram of the Fighting Irish star lying in a hospital bed, fears heightened that his spring game injury was more severe than first thought. According to On3's Pete Nakos, the young defender did have surgery but it's expected to be a relatively minor procedure.
Joey O'Brien surgery report gives Notre Dame football a measure of relief
"Notre Dame safety and five-star recruit Joey O'Brien underwent surgery on his left leg after exiting the spring game," Nakos wrote on Twitter. "A source tells @On3 that it's nothing major and he will be ready for fall camp."
Should the report be true and accurate, it's a massive relief. O'Brien was getting plenty of mention during spring practice that it was clear he was muscling his way into being a real factor as a true freshman this fall.
That he got hurt in what amounts to the final practice of the spring session was a huge bummer. Even with the idea that he'll be back by the fall, the severity of the injury and needing surgery explains why Notre Dame was so quiet about just what the situation was right after the Blue-Gold game.
Notre Dame football now waits to see how quickly Joey O'Brien can get back
Injury situations like O'Brien's tend to be dealt with immediately. The silence and lack of clarity already had more than a few Fighting Irish fans nervous a big announcement was coming.
The one question remaining is whether "being ready for the fall" means that Joey O'Brien will be able to work out later in the summer and really be ready, or whether it means the Notre Dame freshman will have to play catch-up once practices start. The former means he can still contend for big-time playing time. The latter likely means sitting out the majority of the early season.
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