NCAAF News

Home

Teams

Quizzes

Newsletter

Power Rankings

Main Image: MANDATORY CREDIT GREG SWIERCZ / USA TODAY NETWORK

Notre Dame’s Jordan Botelho Sidelined for Four Months

Originally posted on Last Word On Sports
By Michael Compton | Last updated Jun 14, 2025 2:15 PM ET

Notre Dame defensive end Jordan Botelho suffered a torn pectoral muscle and will miss four months. Botelho started the 2024 season on a strong note before injuring his knee in the third game of the season, a 66-7 win over Purdue. His latest injury, which reportedly occurred in offseason training away from campus, required surgery last week. Botelho is the Irish’s most experienced edge defender.

While Botelho’s torn pectoral muscle is an obvious setback for the Notre Dame defense, it will give him more time to heal his knee. If his recovery remains on schedule, Botelho should be able to return to the field in October. The Irish are slated to play arch rival USC in South Bend on October 18th.

Two weeks after Botelho went down last year, Boubacar Traore also suffered a season-ending knee injury. With both Botelho and Traore coming back from significant injuries last season, the Irish could start the 2025 slate thin at the edge position. As a result, seniors Joshua Burnham and Junior Tuihalamaka , along with sophomore Bryce Young, will have opportunities to step up and lead the way. Sophomore Loghan Thomas and redshirt freshman Cole Mullins should also see more reps in the coming season. Thomas played in all 15 games as a freshman, amassing seven tackles and one-and-a-half sacks. Mullins was sidelined for part of last season with a meniscus injury.

Tuihalamaka racked up 49 tackles, five-and-a-half for loss, and three sacks in his first three years with the Irish. Burnham has 49 tackles, 11 for loss, and three sacks in 28 games. Young made 23 tackles, three for loss, and had one-and-a-half sacks last year.

Losing Jordan Botelho is a Blow to the Irish

A native of Honolulu, Botelho elected to return to Notre Dame for a sixth season after rupturing his patellar tendon. All told, Botelho has recorded 77 career tackles, 16 for loss, and 11.5 career sacks. According to Pro Football Focus, Botelho also has 49 career pressures. He had his best game last year against Texas A&M. Botelho recorded a career-high six tackles—three solo—and added a team-best two quarterback hurries in the win over the Aggies.

Given his veteran presence, Botelho’s absence from action for at least four months is undoubtedly a blow to the Fighting Irish. Fortunately for new defensive coordinator Chris Ash and head coach Marcus Freeman, Notre Dame has plenty of talent with Traore, Burnham, Tuihalamaka, and Young poised to play more prominent roles. Without question, though, Botelho’s experience and disruptive play on the edge will be sorely missed, especially in key early-season matchups.

“I just look at the group, the defensive end group in general—I think there’s several playmakers there,” Ash said to Blueandgold.com. “Those guys, they’ve got length, they’re explosive, they’re physical. They can rush the passer, they can play the run, they can drop in coverage if they need to. There’s a lot of things that those guys can do.”

Depending on his recovery time, Botelho could return in mid-October, potentially providing a much-needed boost for the latter half of the season. And just in time to face the Trojans and to prepare for a possible playoff push.

This article first appeared on Last Word On Sports and was syndicated with permission.

More must-reads: