Notre Dame’s Kevin Austin Sidelined At Least Eight To 12 Weeks
When news broke in early August that junior wide receiver Kevin Austin had undergone left foot surgery (fifth metatarsal ) following a summer workout, the University of Notre Dame vaguely indicated his return would be sometime “this fall.”
During a Zoom conference with media members on Monday afternoon, Fighting Irish head coach Brian Kelly was more specific.
Austin reportedly suffered the injury July 29 and had surgery on it Aug. 3. For the remaining four weeks of August, Kelly said Austin is not permitted to even put weight on the foot. After that, October might be the best-case situation for a return by Austin, or it could extend into November.
“It’s anywhere from eight to 12 weeks, depending on how he heals,” Kelly said of where Austin will stand (literally) after he is allowed to put weight on the foot. “He’s got a great attitude. I think he’s taking all the things he needs to do at this time to heart in terms of doing the little things to get him ahead of the game...
“But he’s got to be off his feet for the first four weeks and then we can begin some form of rehab program for him.”
Projected to be the successor to second-round pick Chase Claypool as the boundary receiver, Austin was allowed to practice with the team last year but was not permitted to play in games because of a violation of team policy.
Among the five freshman receivers signed in 2018, Austin was the only one who played, that year, snaring five passes for 90 yards. The 6-2, 210-pound Coconut Creek, Fla., native was ranked the nation’s No. 88 overall prospect by Rivals that season.
“Kevin Austin is going to be a star,” Claypool said at the NFL Combine this winter when asked who could be the next top Fighting Irish wideout. “I’ve been saying it all along. He’s a super-good player … Kevin Austin will really break out.”
If Austin can play following eight weeks of rehab after no weight bearing in August, his first game likely would be versus probable preseason No. 1 Clemson (Nov. 7). Notre Dame then closes out at Boston College (Nov. 14), followed by a Nov. 21 bye, at North Carolina (Nov. 27) and then hosting Syracuse (Dec. 5).
No other Notre Dame wideout caught more than 13 passes last season, with junior Lawrence Keys III holding that distinction. Junior Braden Lenzy and fifth-year senior Javon McKinley had 11 apiece.
Expected to provide a boost to the corps is graduate transfer and former Northwestern captain Ben Skowronek, who caught 110 passes for 1,417 yards (12.9 yards per catch) and eight touchdowns during his career with the Wildcats.
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