Notre Dame got the win over Navy, but the price tag keeps getting heavier.
The Irish came out of that game with three defenders leaving with apparent injuries, and the biggest concern now is how many of them will actually be available when Miami comes to town on November 7. Head coach Marcus Freeman addressed Drayk Bowen after the game, but he couldn’t say how long the linebacker will be out. Jason Onye is the other major question mark, both because of the injury itself and because there’s still no clear read on whether he’ll be ready for Saturday.
Onye’s night ended after just five early snaps in a chippy game. Notre Dame hasn’t explained why he was pulled, and that likely won’t change until Freeman speaks on Monday.
It’s a frustrating turn for the sixth-year defensive tackle, who had already spent most of the season sidelined after getting hurt in Notre Dame’s opener against Wisconsin. He had only just worked his way back, returning against BYU for 24 snaps and 2 tackles.
Francis Brewu also exited after only a handful of snaps, and his status for Saturday is just as uncertain. Bowen’s injury adds another layer of stress at linebacker, especially with Kyngstonn Viliamu-Asa already out against Navy because of a nagging thumb injury. KVA may have been held out as a precaution with Miami in mind, or that thumb issue could still limit him against the Hurricanes.
The good news for Notre Dame is that the “next man up” approach has held together so far. When starting safety Brauntae went down in the same game as Onye, Luke Talich stepped in and played well.
When Talich got hurt, true freshman Joey O'Brien made his first career start and delivered. Leonard Moore has also missed time with a concussion, and DJ McKinney filled in so effectively that some NFL Draft analysts have pushed him into the first round of their mock drafts.
Still, the body count is climbing in every part of the defense, and the timing couldn’t be worse. Johnson remains out, Talich is still in a cast on his hand, Moore missed the Navy game but Freeman said he would have been available Saturday in an emergency, and McKinney’s injury against BYU is expected to keep him out for a significant stretch, including the Miami game.
Onye’s absence stings in particular because 2025 had become a breakout season for him. Some draft analysts think he could put himself in position for an early-round selection if he carries that kind of production into 2026. Last season, he posted 26 tackles, 1.5 sacks and a pass defended while making life miserable for opposing offensive lines.
Notre Dame has leaned on depth all season. Right now, that depth is being tested harder than ever.
In Other News...
Notre Dames Rome Opener Put One Irish Freshman Under The Spotlight
Notre Dames season opened in memorable fashion in Rome, where the Irish edged Villanova 74-72 and got an early look at how their new pieces might fit together. Shrewsberry led the way with 15 points, Koehler added 16 points and made key defensive plays, and the game had the feel of a showcase from the start, with the Irish already drawing attention for how they handled a high-level opponent on a stage far from South Bend.
The biggest spotlight, though, landed on freshman Luigi Suigo, whose college debut came with plenty of eyes on him because of his NBA draft potential. He finished with seven points, a modest start by the box score but still a meaningful first step for a player viewed as a possible first-round pick. Villanovas Perkins scored 18 points in the loss, but for Notre Dame, the opener was as much about seeing how Suigo settles in as it was about starting the year with a win. [Read more 🡒]
Notre Dame Gets A Real Opening Against No. 1 Miami
Miamis defense is under the microscope heading into a trip to South Bend, and Mario Cristobal made it clear the Hurricanes know why. After a shaky showing against North Carolina, he pointed to tackling and finishing plays as issues that have to be cleaned up fast, especially with Notre Dame waiting and a quarterback in CJ Carr who can make defenses pay when they lose contain.
For the Irish, that kind of self-scout from the No. 1 team is exactly the opening this matchup seemed to promise. South Bend will get a heavyweight game with real stakes, and Notre Dames offense now has a chance to test a Miami defense that is being asked to sharpen its execution and communication in a hurry. [Read more 🡒]
Notre Dame Defense Faces A Massive Question Before Miami Showdown
Notre Dame heads into its matchup with Miami carrying more than the usual pregame uncertainty on defense. The Irish are already dealing with a cluster of lower-body injuries from the Navy game, and the availability report has only sharpened the concern around the middle of the defense and the interior line.
Drayk Bowen is officially out, while Francis Brewu and Jason Onye are both listed as questionable with knee injuries. Linebacker Kyngstonn Viliamu-Asa and safety Brauntae Johnson are also in doubt, leaving Notre Dame with several key pieces hanging in the balance as it tries to sort out its rotation before one of the biggest games on the schedule. [Read more 🡒]