The Notre Dame Fighting Irish secured a significant Week 1 victory by defeating Texas A&M in College Station. The game had an electric atmosphere, and Duke transfer Riley Leonard shined in his debut for Notre Dame, even outplaying his former coach, Mike Elko.
Notre Dame won the game 23-13 in a hard-fought contest but suffered a setback with a key injury to starting wide receiver Jordan Faison. According to Pete Sampson of The Athletic, Faison will miss one to two weeks due to an ankle sprain.
“Marcus Freeman says wide receiver Jordan Faison out 1-2 weeks with an ankle sprain.”
Faison was listed as a starter and recorded just two catches for 12 yards in the opener. However, the sophomore from Fort Lauderdale is anticipated to be a significant contributor to the Notre Dame offense, making his absence a notable loss for the coming weeks.
According to LeVon Whittaker, with Faison sidelined, KK Smith will take on a larger role, as Freeman confirmed in a press conference.
“Freeman says sophomore WR Jordan Faison will miss 1-2 weeks with an ankle sprain. KK Smith moves up on the depth chart and ‘will see the field Saturday,’ Freeman said in Monday’s press conference.”
KK Smith, a sophomore from Texas, didn’t receive any targets in the Week 1 win, but he is expected to see action in the Week 2 matchup against Northern Illinois.
In 2023, Faison recorded 14 catches for 207 yards and three touchdowns in six games. Despite his injury, Notre Dame’s upcoming games against Northern Illinois, Purdue, and Miami (Ohio) provide an opportunity to rest him without rushing his return and risking further injury.
