Notre Dame Football Injury Report: Marcus Freeman Updates Key Players

No. 2 Notre Dame is starting to see its roster return to full health after losing two defensive starters in the season opener against Wisconsin.

Defensive lineman Jason Onye has moved into the questionable category on Notre Dame’s latest availability report as he continues working his way back from a left ankle injury.

If Onye returns this week, it would provide another boost to one of the top defensive interiors in college football. Regardless, all signs point to the veteran defensive lineman being back for Notre Dame’s Nov. 7 matchup against Miami in South Bend.

All-American cornerback Leonard Moore remains questionable after sustaining a concussion at North Carolina. Moore was inside Notre Dame Stadium on Saturday, although he was wearing earplugs a week after suffering the head injury.

Perhaps the biggest X-factor on Notre Dame’s defense is safety Brauntae Johnson, who left the Wisconsin game with a foot injury.

There had been some reports suggesting Johnson would be back by now, but Notre Dame head coach Marcus Freeman made it clear that his star safety remains on track to return within the timeline the program initially established.

“He's exactly as we thought once we did the scans and did his surgery,” Freeman stated. “We knew his recovery would be longer than Jason (Onye). You're talking about a foot that he previously injured. He's right on the timeline that we expect.

“It'll be in November-ish when he's ready to come back. Even though it was the same type of foot injury, it's two different recovery timelines because of having a previous injury to that foot.”

Freeman also provided an update on one of the most closely watched names on Notre Dame’s injury report: offensive lineman Charles Jagusah.

There is still hope that Jagusah can return this season. The 6-foot-5, 330-pound lineman has resumed lifting, although Freeman did not provide a specific timeline for his potential return.

Jagusah injured his arm in an ATV accident during the summer of 2025 and has missed every game since while dealing with multiple setbacks, including nerve damage.

“Absolutely,” Freeman said when asked if Jagusah could play this year. “We have a developmental lift on Friday mornings and I was in there with those guys. I saw Big Charles hang cleaning some good weight. He said that was the first time he's hang cleaned that much weight and there's progress. He's making progress in his bicep and tricep.

“I continue to remain hopeful, as does he. We just got to trust the process. When you're dealing with nerves, you're dealing with really a traumatic injury like he had, it takes time. As long as you continue to see progress, there's a lot of hope. I hope we do see him this year.”

Freshman cornerback Chaz Smith, meanwhile, missed Notre Dame’s first five games after undergoing wrist surgery during fall camp.

Smith was seen using a cane while walking around the field at Notre Dame Stadium on Saturday. A source tells ISD that Smith suffered a torn ACL.

As Notre Dame continues to work players back toward active status, the program’s approach to keeping players engaged while they are out is an important piece to the puzzle. 

Missing multiple weeks or games is never easy, but injured players still have a role to play within the program. Notre Dame emphasizes staying engaged through meetings, position-group coaching and continued preparation so players are ready to contribute when they return.

“You go from recovering from a surgery to a little bit of therapy and rehab and then to actually start in football movements to practice,” explained Freeman. “The mental side is you have to stay engaged, right? How do you improve when you're hurt? Well, I need to be in every meeting. I need to be coaching when I'm not doing some of the recovery, return-to-play stuff that I do off the field.

“They coach their position. They help the guys that are actually getting practice reps because it keeps them sharp, but it helps your teammates. There's a lot of different ways to continue to stay sharp and stay ready, even though you're not out there playing.” 

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