“We ain’t about to panic!” This mantra became the battle cry of Notre Dame’s 2024 run to the national title game. It defined Marcus Freeman’s culture: steel-nerved, defiant, anchored in the belief that chaos is just the fuel the Fighting Irish need. Yet fate laughs at best-laid plans. The ghost of Mercedes-Benz Stadium still chokes South Bend. Six starters in street clothes. A national championship stolen by Ohio State while Notre Dame’s depth chart bled out on the sideline. This offseason for the Irish was supposed to be a total reload – NFL performance guru Loren Landow was in, practice intensity was slashed, and a vow was made: “Prevent as many preventable injuries as you can.” For a moment, redemption seemed tangible.
Notre Dame defensive end Jordan Botelho is expected to be out for the next four months following a pectoral injury. https://t.co/WBzwNclkwC
— Matt Freeman (@mattfreeman05_) June 13, 2025
But then again, when have things ever gone according to plan? Coming straight from Matt Freeman, “Notre Dame defensive end Jordan Botelho is expected to be out for the next four months following a pectoral injury.” The Hawaiian EDGE predator, whose 2024 season vaporized in Week 3 with a shredded knee—wasn’t just rehabbing. He was transfigured. Even Freeman confessed that Botelho would be “full-go for summer workouts” alongside fellow ACL survivors Boubacar Traore and Ashton Craig. Then, the gut-punch no one saw coming. An off-campus training injury—requiring surgery and a 4-month break.
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