Notre Dame’s quarterback future took another hit Saturday when Champ Monds announced he will miss the rest of his senior season at Vero Beach after an unexpected procedure.
Monds, who was already seen Friday on the sideline wearing a sling instead of going through warmups, confirmed the news in an Instagram message directed to both his current school and the Fighting Irish. The 4-star commit said the procedure will end his 2026 season after just two starts, and that his attention now shifts to getting back to full strength for 2027.
“Vero Nation! First of all, I’d like to thank my coaches, teammates, supporters, and the fan base for the past 3 years, as it’s been a blessing to play here," the Notre Dame commit wrote.
"Unfortunately, that run has ended as my 2026 season has been cut short due to an unexpected minor procedure that needs to be addressed. I know that all of my guys at Vero will finish the drill without me!
Even with how disappointing this is for me, I’m excited about a new start, 100% healthy, in South Bend! Irish fans, see you soon!!”
The setback arrives only a few games into a season that had Monds climbing fast. In his first two games, he went 33-of-40 for 591 yards with seven touchdowns and no interceptions. But he did not take part in warmups or play against the Panthers, and his non-throwing arm was in a sling.
Monds, a 6-foot-2½, 219-pound quarterback from Vero Beach High School in Vero Beach, Florida, originally was in the 2028 class before moving up to 2027.
The concern for Notre Dame is that this is the second year in a row Monds has had his season cut short. Last year, injuries to his ankle and shoulder limited him to five games, though he was efficient when available.
He completed 45 of 63 passes for 691 yards, seven touchdowns and no interceptions, finishing with a 71.4% completion rate. He also ran nine times for 33 yards and a touchdown.
Monds has not said exactly what the procedure was, but with his arm in a sling, the issue appears to involve his non-throwing shoulder. For Notre Dame, the hope now is simple: that this latest setback is the last one before he arrives in South Bend.
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