SOUTH BEND, Ind. — A week after Notre Dame lost its right guard for most, if not all, the rest of the regular season, the Irish (6-2) lost junior right tackle Robert Hainsey for the remainder of the year to a broken ankle. Hainsey’s leg was rolled up on Notre Dame’s second drive during its 21-20 victory against Virginia Tech. The play had hardly ended before fifth-year right guard Trevor Ruhland, the week-old fill-in, signaled for trainers to get on the field.
Irish head coach Brian Kelly said Hainsey will have season-ending surgery Thursday.
A captain, Hainsey was making his 22nd consecutive start, though he practically started his entire freshman season (which would extend that streak to 34) in a timeshare with Tommy Kraemer.