Notre Dame Announces Crushing Injury Loss Heading Into Quarterfinals
12/23/2024 12:53 PM
After some initial optimism, it sounds like the Notre Dame Fighting Irish have suffered a tough loss in the trenches.
Per The Athletic's Pete Sampson, veteran defensive lineman Rylie Mills has been ruled out for the remainder of the postseason with Friday night's knee injury.
Mills suffered the injury early in the third quarter after Notre Dame's defense sacked Indiana QB Kurtis Rourke. Later in the game, ESPN's Molly McGrath updated fans on what transpired and it sounded vaguely positive that he might be able to come back.
"Rylie Mills came out of the injury tent walking gingerly, favoring his right leg," McGrath reported. "Athletic training staff made him put a brace on that right knee, which he was hesitant to do. He told teammates he was fine, but he was moving with a noticeable limp. It looks like he'll try out this brace and see if it helps."
Mills never ended up returning, however. Although head coach Marcus Freeman believed it was possible the fifth-year senior could be ready for Jan. 1's Sugar Bowl vs. Georgia.
"There is optimism," Freeman said postgame. "I won't get into details on what they told me, but it sounds like it's not season-ending. We just gotta get him right here in the next 10-11 days and get him ready for this upcoming contest down in New Orleans."
Things have apparently changed though and the Irish defense will be now be without its top sack-getter against this year's SEC champion.
Notre Dame enters the quarterfinals as a 2.5-point underdog to Kirby Smart's Dawgs. But things just got a little harder for the Golden Domers and their chances of winning a national title.
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