Freeman, Franklin Talk Key Injuries Before Orange Bowl

The questions needed to be asked, but there was little expectation that they would be asked. 

In fact, when asked about the health of one of his frontline players in the lead-up to Thursday’s Capital One Orange Bowl, Penn State head coach James Franklin tried to flip to his counterpart, Notre Dame head coach Marcus Freeman.

”I was going to ask you guys a couple questions about the health of the Notre Dame team,” Franklin jabbed. “I was hoping you guys would ask for more so we could figure some of that stuff out.”

Both teams have injury issues to frontline players heading into the College Football Playoff Semifinals tomorrow. 

For Penn State, it’s the status of Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year Abdul Carter. 

“Yeah, we anticipate Abdul playing,” Franklin said of the defensive end, who left last week’s Fiesta Bowl with an apparent shoulder injury.

“He's doing everything he possibly can to play. His approach has been awesome. He's lived in the training room. But it'll be a game-time decision, and we'll see.”

Franklin said that Carter has approached the process to return to the field “the right way.”

“He wants to play,” Franklin continued. “He's put a ton of cryptic messages out on social media, which you guys have probably seen those. I learn as much from those as I do from our trainers. 

“But we are hopeful and expecting Abdul to play, and we'll see how that plays out.” 

For Freeman and the Irish, the concern revolves around elite running back Jeremiyah Love, who has been hobbled by a knee injury for the past few games and had to exit the Sugar Bowl against Georgia.

It sounds like Love has been able to do more during this week’s preparation than Carter, but it also sounds like the Irish aren’t expecting to use him as much as they’d like to.

“Jeremiyah has had a great week of practice,” said Freeman. “We have to be smart in terms of how much we're asking him to do in practice. We've got to get him ready for the game. But he's confident.

Freeman then seemed to downplay the significance of Love’s injury.

“Nobody, I think, feels 100 percent right now,” he said. “We're in Week, I think, 15 or Game 15, - 16 maybe for you. 

“Nobody feels 100 percent. But J Love will be good to go.” 

Want the latest scoop on the Fighting Irish? Sign up for our newsletter and become an ISD Premium Subscriber: Sign Up for ISD

Under Armour Green Notre Dame Fighting Irish Script School Logo All Day Raglan Pullover Hoodie