9/24/2022 football Edit

TE Kevin Bauman, S Ramon Henderson won't play for Notre Dame against UNC

Tight end Kevin Bauman will miss at least the North Carolina game with a knee injury. (Jeff Douglas, Inside ND Sports)

Tyler James • InsideNDSports

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Covering Notre Dame football, recruiting and other Irish sports. Email: tjames@insidendsports.com

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. — Notre Dame will attempt to end North Carolina's undefeated season Saturday without backup tight end Kevin Bauman and backup safety Ramon Henderson. Both were announced by Notre Dame as unavailable — Bauman with a knee injury and Henderson with an ankle injury.

Head coach Marcus Freeman didn't offer many details Thursday when asked about an injury to Bauman that occurred in practice this week. He described the injury as "getting twisted up a little bit." Henderson's absence was more unexpected.

Update: Freeman said after Notre Dame's 45-32 win that Bauman will miss the rest of the season with a torn ACL in his left knee.

The 6-foot-5, 252-pound Bauman missed nearly two months last season with a broken leg. He played in all three games to start the 2022 season including a start against Ohio State. Bauman played 75 snaps in those games, per Pro Football Focus, and caught three passes for 44 yards.

Notre Dame will likely use some combination of sophomore Davis Sherwood, who also plays fullback, and freshmen Eli Raridon and Holden Staes to replace Bauman. That trio has been limited to nine, seven and two snaps, respectively, in the first three games.

The 6-1, 190-pound Henderson totaled eight tackles, one quarterback hurry and a half sack in the first three games. The junior played 61 snaps, the fourth-most of Notre Dame's safeties behind starters Brandon Joseph and DJ Brown and backup Houston Griffith. Henderson's absence could mean a larger role for junior Xavier Watts.

Notre Dame will also be without starting linebacker JD Bertrand in the first half as he serves the rest of his penalty for a targeting call late in the Cal game.

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