Notre Dame’s defense is still dealing with injuries, but the Irish did avoid one more scare as they move into Week 3 against Michigan State.
The weekly availability chart brought the same bad news for safety Brauntae Johnson and defensive lineman Jason Onye: both are out again. Johnson and Onye were hurt in the first half of the Week 1 win over Wisconsin and did not return. They were also ruled out for Week 2 against Rice with ankle or foot injuries.
After the Wisconsin game, Notre Dame head coach Marcus Freeman said neither player is expected to miss the entire season and that both should be back at some point this year. Still, Johnson remaining listed as “out” rather than questionable is a sign this return is not close. The hope was that he might only need about two weeks, but that does not appear to be the case.
There was better news elsewhere on the injury front. Offensive lineman Guerby Lambert, who was seen limping late against Rice, is not listed on the availability chart at all. That points to him being fine and ready to go this week.
Notre Dame also ruled out transfer wide receiver Porter for a third straight week because of a left knee injury. Freeman said on Aug. 21 that Porter had undergone a “minor procedure” that would push back his return.
“He’s still a couple of weeks out,” Freeman said on August 21“He’s getting better. We had a minor procedure today to get him a little bit quicker, to hopefully being able to help us. He’s still got a little bit of time to be in a position where we feel like he can help this team."
The longer Porter stays sidelined, the more it starts to look like he could miss the season altogether. That would be especially frustrating because there is no redshirting and getting a year back. The NCAA does still have waivers available, but the organization has made it clear that players who receive them will be rare.
Even with Johnson and Onye out, Notre Dame’s defense handled itself well without them last Saturday. That next-man-up approach has already been tested, and for now, the Irish are still passing it.
In Other News...
Notre Dame May Have Seized Early Control In A Huge Recruiting Fight
Notre Dames 52-0 rout of Rice did more than pad a season opener, it also gave the Irish another chance to make a strong impression on one of their top long-term targets. Wyatt VanBoening, a four-star offensive tackle in the 2028 class, was among the visitors taking in the atmosphere, and the performance only reinforced what the program wanted recruits to see: a team that can dominate on the field while making campus feel like a place worth returning to.
VanBoening has been around Notre Dame several times already, and that familiarity matters in a recruiting battle that includes offers from several major programs. The Irish appear to have given themselves an early edge, but with so much time still left in his recruitment, the real question is whether those repeated visits and the latest trip can eventually turn into something more permanent. [Read more 🡒]
Notre Dame Freshman Just Made The Irish Backfield More Interesting
A freshman running back already finding his way into Notre Dames rotation is the kind of development that can quietly change the feel of an offense, and Jonaz Walton did exactly that in the home opener against Rice. Walton led the Irish in rushing yards with 48 on eight carries, giving the staff a glimpse of what his speed can add as the season moves forward.
Marcus Freeman singled out Waltons growth at the college level, and the broader takeaway from the opener was just as important for Notre Dames depth chart. Young contributors such as offensive lineman Cam Herron and wide receivers Jerome Bettis Jr. and Elijah Burress also got involved, and their early usage suggests the Irish may keep leaning on this next wave of talent sooner rather than later. [Read more 🡒]
Notre Dame Looks Like A CFP Contender With One Clear Concern
Notre Dame handled Rice 52-0 in its 2026 home opener, a result that pushed the Irish to 2-0 and offered an early glimpse of a team that looks built to stay in the CFP conversation. The offense moved with ease, and the wide receiver group showed the kind of depth that can make this group difficult to defend over the course of a season.
Kyngstonn Viliamu-Asa also gave the defense a boost in his return from injury, adding impact in the middle of the field and helping keep Rice from ever settling in. Even so, the running game remains the clear thing to watch for Notre Dame, because the Irish have already shown plenty of firepower elsewhere and now have one obvious area still waiting to catch up. [Read more 🡒]