Notre Dame got a brief scare from one of its defensive leaders early in fall camp, but Adon Shuler appeared to come through it without issue.
The veteran safety limped off after the first play of a two-minute drill during the third practice of camp, when CJ Carr hit Micah Gilbert on a short pass over the middle. Shuler made his way to the sideline medical tent and stayed there for several minutes with a team athletic trainer.
His right cleat came off, and the staff seemed to focus on his right knee. A compression sleeve was then placed on that knee.
Not long after, the Irvington, N.J., native got off the medical table, walked over with a smile, and gave offensive coordinator Mike Denbrock a quick update and a hug. He later talked with athletic trainer Rob Hunt between practice periods before returning to his position group for individual work.
Shuler has become one of the most dependable pieces in the Irish defense. Over the last two seasons, he has logged 1,429 defensive snaps and started 27 of 28 games. He also missed the first half against Purdue last September after being ejected for targeting in the fourth quarter of the previous week’s loss to Texas A&M.
At a Tuesday, Aug. 6 news conference before camp, Shuler was asked what he wanted opposing teams to think when they lined up against Notre Dame’s 2026 defense this season.
“You know when you play your older brother in video games?” Shuler said.
“You’re like, ‘Oh, I have to play him.’ I feel like that’s how I want it to be with the defense.
Like, ‘Man, we have to play Notre Dame this week. No matter where we go with the ball, there’s going to be a guy there that’s about their business.’
“
That mindset matched what the Irish showed last season, when they rebounded from an 0-2 start to win their final 10 games.
“That’s the goal for the defense,” Shuler said. “No matter where you go, there ain’t no weak points in the defense. We’re going to attack you, you know?”
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