The Notre Dame Fighting Irish secured a commanding 41‑13 victory over Wisconsin on Sunday, but the win was clouded by the loss of two pivotal defensive contributors.
Safety Brauntae Johnson, a preseason AP All‑America selection, suffered a left foot injury during the third quarter and has been ruled out for about two weeks, while defensive lineman Jason Onye aggravated a left ankle issue and will also miss the same timeframe. Both players were seen on the sideline wearing protective boots after being taken out of the game.
Looking Ahead to the Rice Opener
Their absence leaves a noticeable gap in a defense that posted 48 tackles and four interceptions from Johnson in the previous season and contributed 26 tackles and 1.5 sacks from Onye, forcing the coaching staff to reshuffle the unit before the upcoming home opener against Rice on September 12.
Head coach Marcus Freeman watched the developments closely, and the team is already adjusting its scheme to compensate for the missing pieces as it prepares to face the Owls.