Notre Dame football injury report: Donovan Hinish set to play vs. Pitt

Donovan Hinish will be available to play for Notre Dame in Saturday’s Pittsburgh homecoming.

The redshirt junior defensive tackle has been cleared to make his return from a concussion, according to No. 9 Notre Dame’s pregame availability report prior to the 12 p.m. ET kickoff against No. 22 Pitt (7-2) in Acrisure Stadium.

Hinish, a captain, missed last weekend’s 49-10 victory over Notre Dame after being a midweek addition to the availability report. The 6-foot-2, 277-pound Hinish attended nearby Pittsburgh Central Catholic High School before joining the Irish.

Hinish started three of Notre Dame’s first eight games. He tallied 10 tackles, two quarterback hurries and one half of a sack. Hinish entered Saturday’s game with the second-most pressures (22) on the team, according to PFF. He accounted for one less pressure than redshirt sophomore defensive end Boubacar Traore in 54 fewer pass rush snaps (222 to 168).

The Irish will once again be without junior tight end Cooper Flanagan, who remains sidelined while recovering from a left Achilles tear in January. Flanagan made his return to game action Oct. 18 in Notre Dame’s 34-24 win over USC. He played six snaps on offense and special teams, but he missed the last two games. Flanagan played in 13 games and started five for the Irish last season. He caught four passes for 55 yards and two touchdowns.

The Irish have relied on senior Eli Raridon and redshirt junior Ty Washington as their top two tight ends without Flanagan. Raridon is tied for third on the team with 24 catches for 254 yards. Washington has four catches for 23 yards and one touchdown.

Earlier this week, Notre Dame declared seven players would not play against Pitt due to injury: kicker Noah Burnette (right hip), wide receiver Jaden Greathouse (right thigh), defensive tackles Gabriel Rubio (left elbow) and Sean Sevillano Jr. (left ankle) and offensive linemen Charles Jagusah (left arm), Billy Schrauth (left knee) and Peter Jones (left ankle).

The Irish also ruled earlier this week that junior cornerback Christian Gray and redshirt freshman wide receiver Micah Gilbert would return following recent absences. Gray, who started the first seven games of the season, missed the last two games with a left hip injury. He recorded 16 tackles, two interceptions and a team-high eight pass breakups prior to being sidelined. Gilbert missed the last three games with a left hand injury. The rotational receiver caught four passes for 54 yards and one touchdown.