Notre Dame injury updates: Leonard Moore, Matty Augustine, Kyngstonn Viliamu-Asa questionable

SOUTH BEND, Ind. -- Notre Dame could be without several key players this weekend as the Fighting Irish prepares for their rivalry matchup against Stanford.

Head coach Marcus Freeman said cornerback Leonard Moore is questionable with a concussion. If Moore is unable to play, Jayden Sanders and DJ McKinney would be next in line, while Mark Zackery IV could also see increased opportunities.

Offensive lineman Matty Augustine has also been moved to questionable. Freeman said Augustine’s availability will depend on how he progresses throughout practices Tuesday and Wednesday.

“Matty Augustine’s focus is to try to be the best football player he could be. He owes it to himself and the team to try to work his way back to being the best football player he can be,” Freeman said. “We will determine what that means for Saturdays though.”

Linebacker Kyngstonn Viliamu-Asa is also questionable with a thumb injury after a strong performance against North Carolina that included an interception.

Despite the Irish coming away with a 37-26 win over the Tar Heels, Freeman reiterated that Notre Dame’s pass defense still needs improvement.  He specifically pointed to fundamentals in man coverage and better eye control as areas the defense must clean up moving forward.

On the offensive side, true freshman running back Jonaz Walton continued to make his case for a larger role.

Walton rushed for 120 yards against North Carolina and received more carries than Aneyas Williams and Nolan James Jr. combined. Freeman said Walton possesses a different type of ability and has shown flashes reminiscent of former Notre Dame running backs Jadarian Price and Jeremiyah Love.

But Freeman continues to emphasize that Notre Dame’s crowded running back room is about more than determining one starter.

“You’re rotating four starters for two spots, and we need our team to continuously believe in that, choose to value that and put winning above the individual,” Freeman said.

Quarterback CJ Carr also continued to show his competitiveness against North Carolina, particularly when using his legs.

Freeman joked that watching Carr take off with the football stresses him out but said the quarterback’s competitive nature makes it difficult to hold him back. Freeman said Carr even defended his rushing decisions during a meeting Tuesday, arguing that he needed every one of those yards, especially while navigating rainy conditions in Chapel Hill.

Notre Dame now turns its attention to Stanford as the Irish look to remain unbeaten.