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Notre Dame head coach Marcus Freeman gives injury updates on safeties
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- Notre Dame head coach Marcus Freeman gives injury updates on safeties
As Notre Dame football gets prepared for their upcoming matchup against the Purdue Boilermakers , it appears safety Brauntae Johnson is still "another couple of weeks" from returning.
Head coach Marcus Freeman met with the media on Monday and gave some updates on injuries his Fighting Irish team has been dealing with. He mentioned that Johnson is progressing as expected during his rehabilitation from a left foot injury he suffered in the first half of Notre Dame 's Sept. 6 victory over the Wisconsin Badgers .
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"Tae is right on track -- what we thought," Freeman said. "He still has another couple weeks to get back to where he can go full. We'll just keep trusting in the rehab and what he needs to do to get back."
Notre Dame safety Luke Talich (28) intercepts a pass during a NCAA football game against Michigan State at Notre Dame Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026, in South Bend.
(Michael Clubb/South Bend Tribune, USA TODAY Network via Reuters Co)
Notre Dame running back Nolan James Jr. (2) rushes the ball during a NCAA football game against Michigan State at Notre Dame Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026, in South Bend.
(Michael Clubb/South Bend Tribune, USA TODAY Network via Reuters Co)
Notre Dame head coach Marcus Freeman, left, hugs quarterback CJ Carr before a NCAA football game against Michigan State at Notre Dame Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026, in South Bend.
(Michael Clubb/South Bend Tribune, USA TODAY Network via Reuters Co)
Michigan State basketball head coach Tom Izzo walks on the sidelines during a NCAA football game between Notre Dame and Michigan State at Notre Dame Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026, in South Bend.
(Michael Clubb/South Bend Tribune)
General view of fireworks before the game between Michigan State Spartans and Notre Dame Fighting Irish at Notre Dame Stadium, Sept. 19, 2026.
(Michael Caterina, IMAGN IMAGES)
Notre Dame running back Aneyas Williams stretches out to score a touchdown against Michigan State at Notre Dame Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026, in South Bend.
(Michael Clubb/South Bend Tribune)
Notre Dame Fighting Irish quarterback CJ Carr looks to pass against the Michigan State Spartans during the first half at Notre Dame Stadium, Sept. 19, 2026.
(Michael Caterina, IMAGN IMAGES)
Notre Dame Fighting Irish running back Aneyas Williams runs against the Michigan State Spartans during the first half at Notre Dame Stadium, Sept. 19, 2026.
(Michael Caterina, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
The Notre Dame leprechaun leads the team onto the field before a NCAA football game against Michigan State at Notre Dame Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026, in South Bend.
(Michael Clubb/South Bend Tribune)
Notre Dame quarterback CJ Carr warms up before a NCAA football game against Michigan State at Notre Dame Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026, in South Bend.
(Michael Clubb/South Bend Tribune)
Notre Dame head coach Marcus Freeman looks on before a NCAA football game against Michigan State at Notre Dame Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026, in South Bend.
(Michael Clubb/South Bend Tribune)
Notre Dame wide receiver Micah Gilbert rushes the ball during a game against Michigan State at Notre Dame Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026, in South Bend, Indiana.
(Michael Clubb/South Bend Tribune)
Notre Dame defensive lineman Tionne Gray celebrates after getting a sack against Michigan State at Notre Dame Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026, in South Bend, Indiana.
(Michael Clubb/South Bend Tribune)
Notre Dame quarterback CJ Carr (13) warms up before a NCAA football game against Michigan State at Notre Dame Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026, in South Bend.
(Michael Clubb/South Bend Tribune)
Notre Dame Fighting Irish running back Nolan James Jr. scores a touchdown against the Michigan State Spartans during the first half at Notre Dame Stadium, Sept. 19, 2026.
(Michael Caterina, IMAGN IMAGES)
Fans cover up as rain starts to fall during a NCAA football game between Notre Dame and Michigan State at Notre Dame Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026, in South Bend.
(Michael Clubb/South Bend Tribune)
Fans crowd to watch the Notre Dame football team enter Notre Dame Stadium before a NCAA football game against Michigan State on Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026, in South Bend.
(Michael Clubb/South Bend Tribune)
Notre Dame Fighting Irish wide receiver Micah Gilbert runs against Michigan State Spartans cornerback Tyran Chappell during the first half at Notre Dame Stadium, Sept. 19, 2026.
(Michael Caterina, IMAGN IMAGES)
Notre Dame running back Aneyas Williams (22) rushes the ball during a NCAA football game against Michigan State at Notre Dame Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026, in South Bend.
(Michael Clubb/South Bend Tribune)
Notre Dame Fighting Irish wide receiver Jordan Faison makes a catch against Michigan State Spartans cornerback Tre Bell during the first half at Notre Dame Stadium, Sept. 19, 2026.
(Michael Caterina, IMAGN IMAGES)
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See photos from Notre Dame's win over the Michigan State Spartans
Notre Dame safety Luke Talich (28) intercepts a pass during a NCAA football game against Michigan State at Notre Dame Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026, in South Bend.
(Michael Clubb/South Bend Tribune, USA TODAY Network via Reuters Co)
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See photos from Notre Dame's win over the Michigan State Spartans
Notre Dame safety Luke Talich (28) intercepts a pass during a NCAA football game against Michigan State at Notre Dame Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026, in South Bend.
(Michael Clubb/South Bend Tribune, USA TODAY Network via Reuters Co)
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See photos from Notre Dame's win over the Michigan State Spartans
Notre Dame running back Nolan James Jr. (2) rushes the ball during a NCAA football game against Michigan State at Notre Dame Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026, in South Bend.
(Michael Clubb/South Bend Tribune, USA TODAY Network via Reuters Co)
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See photos from Notre Dame's win over the Michigan State Spartans
Notre Dame head coach Marcus Freeman, left, hugs quarterback CJ Carr before a NCAA football game against Michigan State at Notre Dame Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026, in South Bend.
(Michael Clubb/South Bend Tribune, USA TODAY Network via Reuters Co)
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See photos from Notre Dame's win over the Michigan State Spartans
Michigan State basketball head coach Tom Izzo walks on the sidelines during a NCAA football game between Notre Dame and Michigan State at Notre Dame Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026, in South Bend.
(Michael Clubb/South Bend Tribune)
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See photos from Notre Dame's win over the Michigan State Spartans
General view of fireworks before the game between Michigan State Spartans and Notre Dame Fighting Irish at Notre Dame Stadium, Sept. 19, 2026.
(Michael Caterina, IMAGN IMAGES)
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See photos from Notre Dame's win over the Michigan State Spartans
Notre Dame running back Aneyas Williams stretches out to score a touchdown against Michigan State at Notre Dame Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026, in South Bend.
(Michael Clubb/South Bend Tribune)
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See photos from Notre Dame's win over the Michigan State Spartans
Notre Dame Fighting Irish quarterback CJ Carr looks to pass against the Michigan State Spartans during the first half at Notre Dame Stadium, Sept. 19, 2026.
(Michael Caterina, IMAGN IMAGES)
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See photos from Notre Dame's win over the Michigan State Spartans
Notre Dame Fighting Irish running back Aneyas Williams runs against the Michigan State Spartans during the first half at Notre Dame Stadium, Sept. 19, 2026.
(Michael Caterina, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
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See photos from Notre Dame's win over the Michigan State Spartans
The Notre Dame leprechaun leads the team onto the field before a NCAA football game against Michigan State at Notre Dame Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026, in South Bend.
(Michael Clubb/South Bend Tribune)
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See photos from Notre Dame's win over the Michigan State Spartans
Notre Dame quarterback CJ Carr warms up before a NCAA football game against Michigan State at Notre Dame Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026, in South Bend.
(Michael Clubb/South Bend Tribune)
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See photos from Notre Dame's win over the Michigan State Spartans
Notre Dame head coach Marcus Freeman looks on before a NCAA football game against Michigan State at Notre Dame Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026, in South Bend.
(Michael Clubb/South Bend Tribune)
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See photos from Notre Dame's win over the Michigan State Spartans
Notre Dame wide receiver Micah Gilbert rushes the ball during a game against Michigan State at Notre Dame Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026, in South Bend, Indiana.
(Michael Clubb/South Bend Tribune)
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See photos from Notre Dame's win over the Michigan State Spartans
Notre Dame defensive lineman Tionne Gray celebrates after getting a sack against Michigan State at Notre Dame Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026, in South Bend, Indiana.
(Michael Clubb/South Bend Tribune)
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See photos from Notre Dame's win over the Michigan State Spartans
Notre Dame quarterback CJ Carr (13) warms up before a NCAA football game against Michigan State at Notre Dame Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026, in South Bend.
(Michael Clubb/South Bend Tribune)
15
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See photos from Notre Dame's win over the Michigan State Spartans
Notre Dame Fighting Irish running back Nolan James Jr. scores a touchdown against the Michigan State Spartans during the first half at Notre Dame Stadium, Sept. 19, 2026.
(Michael Caterina, IMAGN IMAGES)
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See photos from Notre Dame's win over the Michigan State Spartans
Fans cover up as rain starts to fall during a NCAA football game between Notre Dame and Michigan State at Notre Dame Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026, in South Bend.
(Michael Clubb/South Bend Tribune)
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See photos from Notre Dame's win over the Michigan State Spartans
Fans crowd to watch the Notre Dame football team enter Notre Dame Stadium before a NCAA football game against Michigan State on Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026, in South Bend.
(Michael Clubb/South Bend Tribune)
18
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See photos from Notre Dame's win over the Michigan State Spartans
Notre Dame Fighting Irish wide receiver Micah Gilbert runs against Michigan State Spartans cornerback Tyran Chappell during the first half at Notre Dame Stadium, Sept. 19, 2026.
(Michael Caterina, IMAGN IMAGES)
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See photos from Notre Dame's win over the Michigan State Spartans
Notre Dame running back Aneyas Williams (22) rushes the ball during a NCAA football game against Michigan State at Notre Dame Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026, in South Bend.
(Michael Clubb/South Bend Tribune)
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See photos from Notre Dame's win over the Michigan State Spartans
Notre Dame Fighting Irish wide receiver Jordan Faison makes a catch against Michigan State Spartans cornerback Tre Bell during the first half at Notre Dame Stadium, Sept. 19, 2026.
(Michael Caterina, IMAGN IMAGES)
Johnson's absence stresses out the safety depth for Notre Dame which took another hit when Luke Talich injured his left wrist/hand late in the Saturday victory over Michigan State . Talich has gotten more playing time in Johnson's absence and had an interception and a sack against the Spartans on Saturday night. Freeman said that Notre Dame will receive MRI results later Monday.
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This article originally appeared on Fighting Irish Wire: Notre Dame head coach Marcus Freeman gives injury updates on safeties
