Notre Dame TE Mitchell Evans Suffers Season-Ending Knee Injury

Notre Dame will be without a key part of its offense for the remainder of the season as junior tight end Mitchell Evans suffered an ACL injury in the Pitt game, per head coach Marcus Freeman. 

The 6-foot-5, 260-pounder took a shot to his knee during Saturday’s contest and did not return after making five catches for 66 yards.

“Mitchell Evans will be done for the season,” Freeman said. “He will have surgery in the next week or so, depending on when the doctors decide to do it. He tore his ACL, and he’ll be out for the season.”

It’s a significant loss to Notre Dame’s offense as Evans leads the team in receptions and receiving yards entering game 10. The Ohio native has tallied 29 catches for 422 yards and one score on the year, which included six catches for 134 yards against Duke. 

Notre Dame’s tight end room will be tested, and it likely promotes sophomore Holden Staes to the top of the depth chart. Staes has made 12 catches for 163 yards and four touchdowns in 2023.

After Staes, it gets a little dicey for the Irish in terms of production as junior Davis Sherwood has been used primarily as a blocker (2 receptions, 18 yards, 1 touchdown). Sophomore Eli Raridon returned three games ago from his second ACL injury and has not recorded a reception, while true freshman Cooper Flanagan recorded his first catch and touchdown of his career last weekend. 

“You don’t make up for the production that Mitch gave our offense with one guy,” Freeman said. “I think every person in that tight ends room will be asked to do more, and I’m confident they’ll be able to.”

Evans is the second Notre Dame tight end to have his season cut short this season due to a knee injury as senior Kevin Bauman tore his ACL in fall camp. 

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