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Notre Dame HC Marcus Freeman delivered several injury updates this week. What are the timelines for several Irish standouts?
Notre Dame football head coach Marcus Freeman provided several injury updates to local media this week, and the Fighting Irish are facing a mixed bag heading into the 2026 college football season.
Some of the news was encouraging, while other updates will force Freeman and his staff to lean on depth and develop contingency plans at multiple positions. From the offensive line to linebacker to wide receiver and the interior defensive line, here is a breakdown of the key injury updates and what they mean for Notre Dame.
Offensive lineman Charles Jagusah’s availability remains unclear
The most significant update involves redshirt junior offensive lineman Charles Jagusah, who has a strong case as the most talented on the roster. At 6-foot-7, 330 pounds, Jagusah has been impressive when available during his Notre Dame career, but availability has been the issue. He has appeared in only two games over the last two seasons.
Jagusah is recovering from nerve damage suffered following a humerus injury during a UTV accident last offseason, and his timetable remains unknown. Freeman told media that he believes Jagusah will play football again but does not know when, confirming the offensive lineman will not be available to start the 2026 season.
If healthy, Jagusah would project as Notre Dame’s starting right guard and potentially one of the best interior offensive linemen in the country. Without him, the Fighting Irish have two routes.
The first is redshirt junior Sullivan Absher, a proven veteran who played significant snaps last season. The second is redshirt freshman Matty Augustine, who at 6-foot-8, 310 pounds has received rave reviews this offseason. Both options carry positives and negatives, and how Notre Dame handles the right guard position will be one of the more compelling storylines of fall camp.
Kyngstonn Viliamu-Asa trending toward a return
The news was far more optimistic regarding junior linebacker Kyngstonn Viliamu-Asa, who has a chance to be one of the best linebackers in college football when fully healthy. The 6-foot-3, 230-pound defender is a dynamic weapon for the Irish defense. He is recovering from a torn ACL suffered late last season and will not be fully available to start fall camp when it opens on August 4, but he will be practicing.
Viliamu-Asa will be designated as “return to play.” There isn’t a complete understanding of when Viliamu-Asa will be fully cleared for a game, but it doesn’t sound like it’ll be far behind. There was a lot of positivity to this update.
Viliamu-Asa has been working diligently to prepare for the start of the season, and I remain optimistic based on Freeman’s update that he will be on the field when it matters. If he is unavailable to open the year, Notre Dame has solid linebacker depth with Drayk Bowen, Jaiden Ausberry, Jaylen Snead, and Madden Faraimo to hold down the fort.
Quincy Porter still recovering from January knee injury
Wide receiver Quincy Porter, a transfer from Ohio State, is still recovering from a January knee injury. From the sounds of it, he may not be fully available to start fall camp, though there is an expectation that he should return early during the camp, if not at the very start.
At 6-foot-4, 207 pounds, Porter has the frame to develop into a weapon as a boundary receiver. The offense will be depending on him to take a substantial step.
His potential slow start elevates the importance of redshirt sophomore Micah Gilbert, who flashed at times last season and now steps into a potentially much bigger role. Younger players like Devin Fitzgerald, Kaydon Finley, and redshirt sophomore Cam Williams may also need to provide reps on the boundary if Porter’s recovery takes longer than anticipated.
Christopher Burgess out after June knee surgery
The final update involves redshirt freshman defensive tackle Christopher Burgess, who suffered a knee injury in June that required surgery. He will not be available to start the 2026 season. From conversations with people who know the injury, it does appear that a midseason return is in play for Burgess.
The 6-foot-4, 300-pounder began his career as a defensive end as a true freshman but has continued to grow into a potentially impactful interior rusher. Without Burgess to start the year, Francis Brewu, Tionne Gray, Jason Onye, Armel Mukam, and Elijah Hughes will carry the bulk of the defensive tackle reps. Burgess was going to be fighting for playing time regardless, and he can still do that down the stretch, but this puts a damper on early offseason momentum for the talented youngster.
Notre Dame has the depth to weather these setbacks, but how quickly these players return will go a long way in determining how high the ceiling is for the Fighting Irish in 2026. Everyone else not mentioned is expected to be good to begin fall camp.
This article was originally published on A to Z Sports. Read the full story here: Marcus Freeman delivers key injury updates ahead of Notre Dame's 2026 fall camp: What's next for the Fighting Irish?
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