Full Breakdown
Notre Dame Football Fall Camp: Injury Updates and Coach Freeman’s Focus on the Wisconsin Opener
8/6/2026, 1:22:29 AM
Injury Report and Player Availability
Notre Dame released a pre-fall-camp availability list on Tuesday. The report separates players into “limited” (expected to be cleared before the season opener) and “out” (will miss the start of the 2026 season).
Limited – expected to return by the opener
- WR Elijah Burress – right hamstring strain
- OL Ashton Craig – left-knee ACL surgery
- WR Quincy Porter – left-knee patella surgery
- S Nick Reddish – right-shoulder labrum surgery
- WR Brayden Robinson – right-knee ACL surgery
- LB Kyngstonn Viliamu-Asa – left-knee ACL surgery
Out – will not participate in fall camp
- DL Christopher Burgess Jr. – left tibia stress fracture (reported after a June repair)
- DL Tiki Hola – right-knee ACL injury
- OL Charles Jagusah – left humerus fracture with nerve-damage complications
- OL Peter Jones – right-shoulder and pec strain
- LB Ko’o Kia – left-shoulder labrum surgery
The list matches updates from 247Sports and Sports Illustrated; other outlets (OneFootDown, AtoZSports) confirm the same out players.
Coach Marcus Freeman’s Outlook
Freeman used the press conference to stress that the team must concentrate on beating Wisconsin, rather than speculating about the College Football Playoff. He warned against “stop worrying about the playoffs” and reminded players that “we didn’t earn that opportunity” last season.
He also clarified the meaning of the “limited” designation:
> “If it says limited and not out, then we're confident that, at some point before the first game, they'll be full go,” — Marcus Freeman, Notre Dame coach
Background & Context
The Irish enter the 2026 campaign ranked in the top five of the AP poll and will open against Wisconsin. Last season the team finished 10-2, ranked No. 11 in the CFP rankings, and missed the playoff field. The disappointment has fueled Freeman’s emphasis on immediate performance.
Data & Statistics
- Players listed as limited: 6
- Players listed as out: 5 (officially confirmed)
- Key returning starters: LB Kyngstonn Viliamu-Asa, OL Ashton Craig, WR Quincy Porter (all limited)
- Top NFL prospects drafted last year: six, including RBs Jeremiyah Love and Jadarian Price
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
While the core injury list is consistent, some sources differ on additional names:
- OneFootDown noted that WR Jaden Greathouse and TE Cooper Flanagan were not on the official list, suggesting the roster may be healthier than expected.
- AtoZSports and SI added DL Tiki Hola, OL Charles Jagusah, OL Peter Jones, and LB Ko’o Kia to the “out” category, but did not specify their status in the 247Sports split.
- No source provided a definitive timetable for the return of the out players, leaving a gap in expectations for mid-season reinforcements.
Implications for the Season
The injury report indicates Notre Dame will rely on depth, especially along the defensive and offensive lines, where multiple starters are limited. Freeman’s focus on Wisconsin suggests the staff will prioritize getting limited players to full health quickly while integrating healthy depth to stay competitive in the opening weeks.
Verbatim Quotes
- “If it says limited and not out, then we're confident that, at some point before the first game, they'll be full go,” — Marcus Freeman, Notre Dame coach
