Marcus Freeman’s defense, which ranked top 5 in passing defense last season, was expected to once again be among the nation’s best this season. But now they rank among the worst, and, surprisingly, Notre Dame starting cornerback Christian Gray has been a disappointing part of that struggling secondary. Especially against USC, Gray had a night to forget. He drew multiple penalties and gave up big plays. But the question is whether his struggles stem from an injury or a lack of progress.

On Monday, ahead of the Boston College game, Marcus Freeman met with the media and explained why Christian Gray hasn’t been at his best. He wasn’t listed on the injury report, but Freeman noted that Gray has been banged up. “That’s where a lot of his issues came from,” according to Notre Dame HC. Although Notre Dame defeated USC 34–24, Gray was clearly not in top form.

“Yes, Christian Gray has been playing hurt. It has affected his play,” wrote Notre Dame beat writer Jack Soble. “Injuries have caused him to use poor technique in certain situations.” Yet, despite his injury, Gray delivered when Notre Dame needed him most.

With less than two minutes left in the third quarter, Notre Dame was barely holding on to a 27–24 lead while USC marched down the field with purpose. The Trojans had all the momentum until Christian Gray changed everything. He broke on Jayden Maiava’s throw like he saw it coming a mile away, snatching the ball out of the air. Surely that interception didn’t seal the game, but it flipped. Notre Dame’s sideline roared back to life, and from that point on, the Irish took control.

Even last season, Gray flashed this kind of redemption. He looked like the target on every Trojan throw for most of the night against USC. They went after him, and for a while, it worked. But when the game hung in the balance, Gray flipped the script. He jumped the route, taking it all the way home for a game-sealing pick-six, and his interception punched Notre Dame’s ticket to the first-ever 12-team CFP.

With such game-changing ability, losing Gray for even one game could cost Notre Dame dearly. That’s why Freeman emphasized, “We’ve got to keep making sure he gets healthy so he can play at a high level.” While the starting cornerback now appears likely to suit up against Boston College, Notre Dame defensive tackle Gabriel Rubio’s return remains uncertain.

Notre Dame’s injury woes continue to mount

Notre Dame’s second bye week couldn’t have come at a better time. It gave several players a chance to rest, recover, and get healthy. But the team has taken some heavy hits, and one key name still sidelined is senior defensive tackle Gabriel Rubio. Rubio, who leads all Irish defensive tackles with 173 snaps, was ruled out before the USC game with a left arm injury.

But now, there’s no timeline yet for his return, leaving a gap in the heart of the defensive front. Still, Marcus Freeman remains confident in his interior line. “At some point we plan on getting him back before the season is over. Don’t have a great timeline for when that’s going to be, but we believe it will be before the season is over,” said the Notre Dame HC.

Moreover, he added, “And yeah, I do believe they will continue to enhance. That has to be everybody in our program. That has to be the D-tackles, that has to be the head coach. It’s a mindset we have to continue to get better. To have that mindset is the first thing, but then you need the ability to find the answers to help you get better.” While Notre Dame’s defense has been hit by injuries, the squad needs to stay sharp to keep its winning streak alive.