Notre Dame offensive lineman Jarrett Patterson has collected a few injuries during his college career. He added another to the list this week.
In a Thursday press conference, Fighting Irish head coach Marcus Freeman said Patterson was sidelined on Monday with a right foot sprain. He also said team doctors estimated the fifth-year senior would miss up to 10 days of practice and deemed him questionable for the Sept. 3 contest with Ohio State.
Patterson made 34 starts at center for Notre Dame in the last three seasons but had shifted to left guard after missing spring camp with a torn pectoral muscle that required surgery. Notre Dame offensive line coach Harry Hiestand said Patterson’s absence allowed senior Zeke Correll to solidify himself as the team’s starting snapper.
Beyond the pectoral and sprained foot, the 6-foot-5, 310-pound lineman had his junior year cut short with a Lisfranc fracture in his left foot that required surgery and ended his 2020 season. He had a follow-up operation that following spring to ensure proper healing.
Patterson is one of college football’s premier talents, especially in the trenches. ESPN recently ranked him as the No. 23 overall player in the sport before this fall, and he also is listed as Mel Kiper’s second-best draft-eligible center for 2023.
Patterson and wide receiver Avery Davis are Notre Dame’s two returning captains from last season. Davis suffered a season-ending injury on Friday when he tore his ACL in his right knee.
In Patterson’s absence, junior Andrew Kristofic is expected to fill in with the first-string offense while sophomore Rocco Spindler provides depth at the position.
