Notre Dame football shows its cards regarding plan for ailing WR Jaden Greathouse
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SOUTH BEND — Junior wide receiver Jaden Greathouse, out since late September for Notre Dame football, will likely sit out the final two games of the regular season as well, Irish coach Marcus Freeman said Monday, Nov. 17.
The good news is Greathouse’s nagging hamstring/thigh injury, which recently required a procedure to extra blood from the area, has improved to the point that the starting slot receiver is due back in December for another potential run through the College Football Playoff.
“It’s taken him longer than we thought to get healthy, but he’s probably as close to being healthy right now as he’s been,” Freeman said of the Austin, Texas product. “Is it right for him, is it right for us to make him play these last two games and cost him a year (of eligibility) if we can get away with saving him a whole year by not playing him?”
Greathouse played in the first four games, making a twisting sideline catch on Sept. 27 at Arkansas among his four overall receptions, but he would retain two years of eligibility if he waits until the postseason to play again.
Freeman said he had a recent conversation with Greathouse to that effect. A breakout star in the final two games last season against Penn State and Ohio State, Greathouse is listed as questionable again this week for Senior Day against Syracuse.
“Right now, that’s our mindset: If we don’t have to play him this week, let’s try not to,” Freeman said. “He’ll be ready, but we’re going to try to hold off on playing him. If we play beyond Stanford, then he’ll be ready to go.”
Meanwhile, starting defensive tackle Gabriel Rubio (left elbow) is due back for the postseason as well, Freeman said. Rubio last played against N.C. State on Oct. 11.
Defensive tackles Jason Onye, Elijah Hughes, Jared Dawson and Donovan Hinish all played between 27 and 31 defensive snaps in the 37-15 win over Pittsburgh. Hinish returned from a one-game absence due to concussion protocol to play in his hometown.
Mike Berardino covers Notre Dame football for the South Bend Tribune and NDInsider.com. Follow him on social media @MikeBerardino.
This article originally appeared on South Bend Tribune: Notre Dame football declares its plan for ailing WR Jaden Greathouse
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