Notre Dame football coach Marcus Freeman reveals LB JD Bertrand suffered injury vs. NC State
The Notre Dame football program did not leave Raleigh, N.C., with a 45-24 win over NC State on Saturday unscathed in the injury department. According to head coach Marcus Freeman, Fighting Irish graduate student linebacker JD Bertrand suffered a head injury during the game.
“Out with a head injury,” said Freeman, commenting on Bertrand’s status to reporters postgame at Carter-Finley Stadium. “I haven’t talked to (JD) yet. But they (seemingly the athletic training staff) told me they pulled him out second half with a head injury.”
The 6-foot-1, 233-pound Bertrand registered five tackles, including one solo stop, in the victory. He also had a pass breakup and two quarterback hurries.
The final stat Bertrand recorded was an assisted tackle alongside senior defensive Rylie Mills on a 1-yard carry by Wolfpack running back Jordan Houston. That happened on Notre Dame’s seventh defensive snap in the third quarter. The drive ended with 11:16 remaining in the third quarter.
Bertrand’s head injury is the third notable injury he has suffered in his five seasons with the Irish. Last season, he missed the 2022 Navy game with a groin injury. He also played the 2021 season with a left wrist injury, which he had surgery on ahead of the 2022 season.
A glimpse at Bertrand’s Notre Dame football career
In 42 career games with Notre Dame, Bertrand has 208 tackles (121 solo), 16.5 tackles for loss and 3.5 sacks. He also has a forced fumble and six pass breakups. He’s started 26 outings.
In 2023, Bertrand started the first two games of the season and racked up eight tackles (six solo) and a tackle for loss.
With Bertrand’s absence, sophomore linebacker Jaylen Sneed stepped up with an increased role. The 6-3, 223-pound Sneed stated a solo tackle and quarterback hurry. And he put together a passable performance, according to Freeman, a defensive-minded coach and former Ohio State linebacker.
“Yeah, I got to watch the film a little bit,” he said. “But he didn’t do a bad job, or I would’ve noticed that. Sneed’s a good player. That room is similar — I know, the running backs have one guy on the field at a time — but that room is similar, where there are three, four, five guys that should help us.
“We have to continuously get them on the field between JD, Marist (Liufau), (Jack) Kiser and Sneed. Those four guys, we have to keep them on the field and find different ways to get them game reps.”
No. 10 Notre Dame (3-0) hosts Central Michigan (1-1) next Saturday at 2:30 p.m. EDT. Bertrand’s status for that Week 3 game is uncertain.
