What does the Logan Diggs injury mean for Notre Dame football running backs?
Just when you thought the Notre Dame running backs room was in as good of shape as any position group on the roster, sophomore Logan Diggs went down with an injury that could hold him out of at least the season-opener at Ohio State on Sept. 3.
But if it takes a Diggs labral tear and subsequent shoulder surgery to remind folks that junior Chris Tyree was once viewed as the heir apparent to Los Angeles Rams draftee Kyren Williams, then so be it.
Since October of last year, though, Diggs’ stock was trending upwards while Tyree’s was going the other way. In Tyree’s case, that was largely due to injuries of his own. And that’s concerning. If Diggs isn’t able to rehab in time to get back on the field when the season starts, then Notre Dame’s top back is one who has been ravaged by the injury bug since the midway point of the 2021 season.
Tyree has plenty of time to get right. The ankle ailment that affected him during spring ball should be a distant memory by fall camp. He’ll lead a young, hungry corps into that important period of the calendar. Sophomore Audric Estime and freshman Jadarian Price were two of the top performers in the Blue-Gold Game a week and a half ago. They could go from third and fourth options to integral pieces to the puzzle with Diggs out.
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There is not a concrete timetable for Diggs return. The severity of his labrum injury is not known, and everyone’s recovery timeline is unique. Keep in mind, though, that Notre Dame defensive players Jayson Ademilola and Cam Hart had offseason shoulder surgeries in January, and they were nowhere near ready to play in the Blue-Gold Game on April 23. Diggs’ summer took on a new course as soon as he went under the knife.
Ademilola and Hart are going to be just fine by August, though. Their surgeries took place at an opportune time. That of Diggs? Not so much. But it could have been worse. Say it’s going to take Diggs six months to get right and be physically able to endure blows on the football field. He’d still be available in October. Would he miss over half the season? Yes. But could he contribute for a potential College Football Playoff contender down the stretch? Also yes.
Advancements in medical science will probably allow Diggs to beat out a six-month timeframe, too. Early September might be pushing it, but early October isn’t a farfetched pipe dream. The Notre Dame coaching staff is most likely banking on Diggs to be healthy for a considerable portion of the schedule. In the meantime, it could be a Tyree takeover aided by contributions from Estime and Price. And how significant does the last-minute signing of Gi’Bran Payne look now? Notre Dame still has four healthy scholarship backs to work with even with Diggs going down.
The injury wasn’t ideal. But the Irish should be able to manage.
