It seems like it is a weekly occurrence that Notre Dame football will be down a player due to a season-ending injury.

On Saturday, during Irish head coach Marcus Freeman’s Orange Bowl press conference, he gave an injury update ahead of the matchup against Penn State. Unfortunately, Notre Dame will be without tight end Cooper Flanagan for the remainder of the college football playoff.

The sophomore has contributed this season, but has had a catch since scoring a touchdown against Virginia. While this is a depth loss, it is one that the Irish should be able to overcome with Mitchell Evans and Eli Raridon.

Hopefully the injury doesn’t linger into the spring, as you have to expect that Flanagan will be a much more focal point of the Notre Dame offense in 2025. Here’s to a quick recovery for Cooper.

Notre Dame Fighting Irish tight end Cooper Flanagan (87) and Notre Dame Fighting Irish tight end Kevin Bauman (84) celebrates in front of Purdue Boilermakers defensive back Dillon Thieneman (31) after a Notre Dame Fighting Irish touchdown Saturday, Sept. 14, 2024, during the NCAA football game at Ross-Ade Stadium in West Lafayette, Ind. Notre Dame Fighting Irish won 66-7.

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