Notre Dame football will be without starting nose tackle Howard Cross III for Saturday's game against Virginia. Head coach Marcus Freeman announced Monday that Cross will remain sidelined with a left ankle injury he suffered in the 52-3 win over Florida State this past weekend.

Freeman was encouraged that the injury would not keep Cross sidelined for long as AP No. 8 Notre Dame (8-1) approaches the end of the regular season in November. Saturday's game against Virginia (5-4) will be Notre Dame's final regular season game in Notre Dame Stadium (3:30 p.m. EST on NBC).

"It's not a long-term thing," Freeman said of Cross' injury, "but our doctors made the determination that probably he's going to be out this week. We'll hope to get him back the following week depending on how the rehab continues to happen."

Cross, a graduate senior, recorded 23 tackles, four sacks, 5.5 tackles for loss and three quarterback hurries in the first nine games this season. Cross entered the season as an Associated Press Preseason First Team All-American.

SUBSCRIBE TO INSIDE ND SPORTS TO STAY IN THE KNOW ON NOTRE DAME ATHLETICS

► Notre Dame football depth chart projection for matchup with Virginia

► Intel: How Notre Dame fared with Florida State game visitors

► Snap Counts: Here's who played for Notre Dame football against Florida St.

► After a win of historical proportions, Notre Dame pushes itself for more

► Notre Dame football brings boom to Florida State with eight sacks

Junior Donovan Hinish will move into the starting lineup at nose tackle in Cross' absence. Hinish stepped up against Florida State with five tackles and two sacks. Hinish recorded 19 tackles, 2.5 sacks, two quarterback hurries and one pass breakup through nine games this season.

Notre Dame has three players listed as questionable for Saturday's game: punt returner Max Hurleman (left hamstring), running back Devyn Ford (right groin) and defensive end Loghan Thomas (right hamstring).

Hurleman, a walk-on graduate transfer from Colgate, played some defense late in Saturday's game in addition to his typical special teams duties. He's returned 10 punts for 78 yards this season. He's also tallied seven tackles.

"Talking to him, he's probably probable," Freeman said of Hurleman.

Sophomore wide receivers Jordan Faison or Jaden Greathouse are listed as Hurleman's potential replacements on punt returns. Faison has one return for no yards this season. Greathouse returned one for nine yards.

Ford, a graduate senior, plays special teams in addition to his reserve running back role. He's rushed 13 times for 55 yards and caught two passes for six yards this season. Ford also returned two kickoffs for 23 yards, one of which he fumbled against Louisville. He has one tackle this season.

Offensively, the Irish still have three running backs who regularly play more than Ford: sophomore Jeremiyah Love, junior Jadarian Price and freshman Aneyas Williams.

Thomas, a freshman, didn't dress for Saturday's game. Freeman said he thinks Thomas will be probable to play by the end of the week. Thomas saw action in each of the first eight games, primarily on special teams, and recorded three tackles, a half sack and one quarterback hurry. He'll provide depth at vyper defensive end behind Joshua Burnham and Junior Tuihalamaka when he returns.

JOIN THE CONVERSATION ON THE INSIDER LOUNGE MESSAGE BOARD

CLICK HERE TO SUBSCRIBE TO INSIDE ND SPORTS ON YOUTUBE

Notre Dame continues to leave senior defensive tackle Jason Onye off the depth chart as he deals with personal issues. Freshman quarterback CJ Carr continues to be sidelined with a right elbow injury, though an official update was not provided.

Notre Dame has lost five starters to season-ending injuries this year: cornerback Benjamin Morrison (hip), vyper Jordan Botelho (knee), center Ashton Craig (knee), left tackle Charles Jagusah (shoulder) and vyper Boubacar Traore (knee).

Notre Dame previously declared many other players out for the season: walk-on CB Marty Auer (knee), walk-on DL Quentin Autry (shoulder), S Taebron Bennie-Powell (shoulder), walk-on CB Charles Du (shoulder), LB Kahanu Kia (knee), RB Gi'Bran Payne (knee), OL Styles Prescod (shoulder) and CB Chance Tucker (knee).

---------------------------------------------------------------

• Talk with Notre Dame fans on The Insider Lounge.

• Subscribe to the Inside ND Sports podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, SoundCloud, Podbean or Pocket Casts.

• Subscribe to the Inside ND Sports channel on YouTube.

• Follow us on Twitter: @insideNDsports, @EHansenND and @TJamesND.

• Like us on Facebook: Inside ND Sports

• Follow us on Instagram: @insideNDsports