Brian Kelly reveals player ruled out of the season, other injuries

Like most teams in late October, Notre Dame is dealing with a number of injuries on both sides of the ball. On Monday, Fighting Irish head coach Brian Kelly offered an update on Kyle Hamilton, Chris Tyree, Alex Ehrensberger, Zeke Correll and Adam Shibley.

“Hamilton will be out this week,” Kelly said. “He’ll get further testing and see where he is later this week. We don’t think it’s a longterm situation but he’s out this week.”

In Saturday’s 31-16 win over USC, Kyle Hamilton had two tackles before exiting the game after appearing to hyperextend his knee. On the season, the projected first-round pick in the 2022 NFL Draft has recorded 34 tackles and three interceptions. He was named a semifinalist for the Jim Thorpe Award, the award given to the top defensive back in college football. 

In positive news for the Fighting Irish, Tyree, Ehrensberger and Correll are all expected back Saturday against North Carolina, barring setbacks in their respective recoveries.

“As it relates to Chris Tyree, that was a game-time decision,” Brian Kelly said, as to why Tyree missed the USC game. “He’s moving well. We’re optimistic he will be back this week. Ehrensberger was back spasms. Feeling better today. We’re hopeful that continues to clear up. Zeke was in our concussion protocol. We expect him to move around and he will be in the weight room today.”

In somber news, Kelly announced that linebacker Adam Shibley will be out for the season after undergoing rotator cuff surgery. He also explained that Marshall grad transfer Cain Madden has been dealing with discomfort, which is why Madden has been wearing a large brace on his right arm.

“It’s been troublesome for him all season,” Brian Kelly said. “He’s been in that, I think there are times where we pull him a lot. You saw on the goal line we pull him quite a bit he does a nice job. He’s had to manage that, but I think he’s a lot more comfortable.”

Notre Dame sits 6-1 on the season with the lone loss coming to Cincinnati. Brian Kelly’s Fighting Irish have no ranked opponents left on the schedule and could likely finish the season ranked top ten in the country. Should chaos ensue, and Notre Dame handle business, Brian Kelly and the Fighting Irish could even see themselves back in the playoff conversation.