A Notre Dame protection that has overcome key accidents all season should accomplish that once more as standout defensive lineman Rylie Mills will miss the rest of the College Football Playoff with a proper knee damage.
Coach Marcus Freeman on Monday confirmed the outlook for Mills, who was injured whereas sacking Indiana‘s Kurtis Rourke early within the second half of Friday’s 27-17 first-round win at Notre Dame Stadium. Mills, a senior and a captain, leads Notre Dame in each sacks (7.5) and tackles for loss (8.5).
Following the sport, Freeman instructed ESPN’s Scott Van Pelt that Mills’ damage didn’t seem like season-ending and that there was “optimism” Notre Dame may regain him for the CFP quarterfinal in opposition to No. 2 seed Georgia on Jan. 1 on the Allstate Sugar Bowl.
Mills’ absence stings a Fighting Irish protection that already has misplaced All-America cornerback Benjamin Morrison and rush ends Jordan Botelho and Boubacar Traore. The line of defense had simply regained senior Howard Cross III, who performed in opposition to Indiana after lacking Notre Dame’s last three regular-season video games.
Junior Gabriel Rubio changed Mills in the course of the season half in opposition to Indiana and completed with two tackles.
Notre Dame obtained some good damage information as offensive deal with Charles Jagusah, a projected starter at left deal with who sustained a torn pectoral muscle in preseason camp, is offered for the Sugar Bowl. He just lately started practising once more.
Starting offensive lineman Rocco Spindler, who began in opposition to Indiana earlier than leaving with an undisclosed damage, is questionable for Georgia, Freeman mentioned, whereas linebacker Kyngstonn Viliamu-Asa can also be questionable.