Notre Dame opened its 2026 season with a win, but the Irish didn’t get through the first half cleanly.
Safety Brauntae Johnson and defensive lineman Jason Onye both went down on defense, and each was seen later with a boot on a leg. Johnson did return to the field, though he was wearing a walking boot on his left leg. Onye also had a boot on.
On Tuesday, head coach Marcus Freeman offered an update on both players. He didn’t get into the specifics of either injury, but he did say Johnson and Onye will be out for a few weeks. The encouraging part for Notre Dame is that neither injury sounds like a season-ender, and both are expected back later this season.
With Johnson sidelined, Luke Talich appears set to step in at safety. He replaced Johnson after the injury, and the staff has plenty of trust in him.
The former walk-on made his case against Wisconsin, finishing with 4 tackles. Freshman Joey O’Brien, a former 5-star recruit, should also see a bigger role.
Up front, Francis Brewu and Tionne Gray are the leading options to fill Onye’s spot. Both transfers have already earned early rotation work, and both have shown they can handle this level. If one were to get the nod first, Brewu looks like the more likely choice.
It wasn’t the ideal injury update for Notre Dame, but there is still a clear upside to the situation. The Irish have depth to lean on, and the extra reps for younger players and transfers should pay off as the season moves along.
In Other News...
Jadarian Price Already Gave Seahawks Fans A Frustrating First Question
Jadarian Prices first NFL game gave the Seahawks something to think about right away. The rookie running back handled 10 carries for 52 yards and added 2 catches for 6 yards, and by Pro Football Focus grading he stacked up better than teammates George Holani and Emmanuel Wilson. Still, Seattle kept its backfield workload spread around, with Price playing 24 snaps, Holani 23 and Wilson 3 in a rotation that never really let anyone settle in.
What stood out most was how the usage changed as the game went on. Price saw fewer second-half carries than his early work might have suggested, and he was not used on third downs or in short-yardage spots, the kind of situations that usually tell you what a coaching staff really thinks of a rookie back. For a player who looked efficient in his debut, that split raises the first real question of his NFL role, and it may not be an easy one to answer. [Read more 🡒]
Notre Dame's Right Guard Battle Just Took A Turn
Notre Dames offensive line looked far sturdier after halftime in its recent game, and the change showed up most clearly on the ground. Sullivan Absher helped lead the rushing surge, while left guard Anthonie Knapp continued to stand out with the kind of steadiness and experience the Irish have come to lean on up front.
Marcus Freeman said the unit made adjustments as the game went on, and those late improvements also put a spotlight on the right guard competition. Absher and Styles Prescod are still battling for that spot, and the way Notre Dame finished in the run game only adds another layer to a job that appears far from settled. [Read more 🡒]
CJ Carr Showed Notre Dame Something Bigger Than Opening Night Stats
The opener at Lambeau Field gave Notre Dame plenty to like from CJ Carr, and not just because the box score popped. The sophomore quarterback threw for 239 yards and two touchdowns against Wisconsin, a tidy debut for a player who entered the season carrying Heisman buzz and a lot of attention with it.
Gino Guidugli came away talking less about the numbers than the way Carr handled the moment. The quarterbacks coach pointed to Carrs poise, leadership and game management, especially the way he processed defenses, handled the clock and stayed composed when the pressure tightened. For Notre Dame, that sort of control may end up mattering just as much as the throws that showed up on the stat sheet. [Read more 🡒]