Notre Dame Edge Jordan Botelho Suffers Season-Ending Injury
Notre Dame lost a key piece to its defensive line over the weekend as edge Jordan Botelho suffered a patella tendon injury on his right knee and will not return to the field in 2024, per head coach Marcus Freeman.
The 6-foot-3, 250-pounder left Saturday’s game against Purdue on a cart during the first half after making three tackles and a sack.
It’s a loss that will hurt Al Golden’s defense, as Botelho was not only becoming a force off the edge but has been a key chess piece in third-down sub-packages over the last three seasons.
The Hawaii native started 2024 with 12 tackles and a sack but also had the team’s highest PFF grade on the defensive side of the ball when looking at the players in the two-deep.
For his career, Botelho has registered 77 tackles, 15 tackles for loss and 11.5 sacks.
Notre Dame will have options behind Botelho and it starts with sophomore Boubacar Traore, who recorded two tackles and sack against Purdue. The 6-foot-4, 243-pounder had seen an increase in his reps this fall and Traore will now be tasked with developing, but also producing at higher level as the Irish look to turn the season around.
Junior Tuihalamaka will also be counted on to fill in for Botelho. The junior defensive end had appeared in 29 games during his three years in South Bend and has tallied 17 tackles.
Golden will also have the ability to move around freshman Bryce Young and classmate Loghan Thomas has appeared in three games for the Irish in a special teams role, so he could see an increased role in the coming weeks.
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