Notre Dame tight end Kyle Rudolph runs after a catch against Washington. (Getty)
By Brian Hamilton
Notre Dame tight end Kyle Rudolph will not play for the remainder of the regular season, dealing the reeling Irish yet another critical blow via injury.
Irish coach Charlie Weis made the news official Tuesday, saying the sophomore tight end is likely done until a bowl game. Rudolph injured his left shoulder on a catch along the sideline in the Navy loss last Saturday and Weis said the injury involves some muscle issues in the shoulder.
"Rudy probably won't be back for the rest of the regular season," Weis
said. "They feared a collarbone being broken and that's not it. In all
likelihood -- (doctors) said Stanford is a possibility, but I think
that's a reach. I think he'd be able to practice again in December."
Rudolph has 33 catches, second-most on the team, for 364 yards and three touchdowns. But he's now the second potent offensive option to miss extended time in 2009, after receiver Michael Floyd missed five and a half games with a broken collarbone.
Floyd returned with 10 catches for 141 yards against Navy last weekend. But a tight end threat would have created dilemmas for defenses aiming to stop Rudolph, Floyd and Golden Tate as Notre Dame starts a season-defining homestretch at No. 8 Pittsburgh on Saturday.
Rudolph has 33 catches, second-most on the team, for 364 yards and three touchdowns. But he's now the second potent offensive option to miss extended time in 2009, after receiver Michael Floyd missed five and a half games with a broken collarbone.
Floyd returned with 10 catches for 141 yards against Navy last weekend. But a tight end threat would have created dilemmas for defenses aiming to stop Rudolph, Floyd and Golden Tate as Notre Dame starts a season-defining homestretch at No. 8 Pittsburgh on Saturday.
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