**“TROUBLE IN SOUTH BEND? CJ Carr’s Readiness, Lingering Injuries, and Inconsistent Pass Rush Spark Major Concerns for Notre Dame Ahead of 2025 Season”**

There’s never a quiet offseason in South Bend, but the lead-up to the 2025 Notre Dame football campaign feels particularly tense as multiple red flags threaten to derail the Irish before the first snap of the season. The headlines coming out of training camp have ignited more anxiety than excitement, with a potent mix of uncertainty surrounding quarterback CJ Carr’s readiness, a cascade of untimely injuries, and a pass rush that’s looking dangerously toothless. The Fighting Irish, long considered a perennial College Football Playoff hopeful, suddenly face a gauntlet of internal challenges that could test both the resolve of their coaching staff and the patience of their devoted fanbase. If Notre Dame hopes to contend with the heavyweights of college football in 2025, they’ll need to address these growing concerns—fast.

The CJ Carr era was supposed to begin with a sense of optimism, energy, and renewal. Carr, a blue-chip quarterback recruit and legacy name, entered the Notre Dame program with as much hype as any quarterback in recent memory. With elite footwork, a rocket arm, and a football IQ that had scouts salivating, Carr looked the part during spring practice. But as fall camp approached, the fairytale image started to blur. Behind the scenes, questions emerged about Carr’s ability to lead the offense with the consistency and command expected of a Power Five starter. Reports of erratic throws, delayed reads, and communication breakdowns with receivers have taken the shine off his star, and the coaching staff appears to be treading cautiously. Carr may still be the long-term answer under center, but his ability to hit the ground running in Week 1 now seems less certain.

That uncertainty is magnified by the lack of a proven, game-ready backup. With Steve Angeli transferring out and no experienced security blanket behind Carr, the Irish are gambling on youth, raw talent, and hope. That’s rarely a comfortable position for a team with championship aspirations. Add in the pressure of Notre Dame’s brutal early-season schedule—featuring physical, top-tier defenses—and suddenly the quarterback situation begins to resemble a landmine.

And as if quarterback growing pains weren’t enough, the injury bug has arrived at precisely the wrong time. Several projected starters and key contributors have either missed significant portions of summer camp or are trending toward limited availability to start the season. The most concerning names are on both lines of scrimmage—an area where championship teams often separate themselves. Veteran offensive lineman Joe Alt’s recovery from a nagging ankle injury is progressing slower than hoped, and there are whispers that he may not be full-strength until midseason. On defense, both linebacker Jaylen Sneed and nose tackle Gabriel Rubio are dealing with lingering lower-body issues that could impact the heart of the Irish defense.

Injuries to role players are one thing, but when foundational pieces start missing reps and potentially games, the ripple effects can be devastating. Continuity suffers, rotations get thinner, and chemistry becomes an issue. Notre Dame has long prided itself on its conditioning and depth, but even the deepest roster can be stretched thin when critical cogs are in the medical tent.

Perhaps most frustrating for Irish fans is the continued inconsistency of the pass rush. For all the talent the Irish have recruited along the defensive front, they’ve struggled in recent years to develop a relentless, game-changing edge presence. That trend appears to be continuing in 2025. Early reports from practice suggest that while the interior of the defensive line is stout against the run, the outside pressure remains tepid at best. Jordan Botelho, expected to be a breakout force off the edge, has flashed but lacks consistency. Sophomore Boubacar Traore shows promise but isn’t yet refined enough to be a week-in, week-out disruptor. The net result? Notre Dame’s pass rush may be too reliant on scheme and blitz packages to create pressure—an approach that leaves the back end of the defense exposed.

That’s particularly dangerous in a year when Notre Dame faces multiple quarterbacks with NFL-level arms. From ACC crossovers to traditional rivals like USC, the Irish will be tested through the air. Without a front four that can create pressure organically, Notre Dame’s defense could be forced into uncomfortable high-risk, high-reward scenarios far too often. Defensive coordinator Al Golden has proven adept at making adjustments, but even the best play-callers need players who can win one-on-one battles in the trenches.

The challenges Notre Dame faces aren’t insurmountable, but the timing and combination are troubling. Each issue—Carr’s readiness, the injury logjam, and the pass rush inefficiency—might be manageable in isolation. Together, they present a volatile mixture that could compromise Notre Dame’s season before it ever hits stride. Coach Marcus Freeman, now in his fourth season at the helm, finds himself at a crossroads. He’s elevated recruiting, instilled a new culture of accountability, and brought fresh energy to the program. But at some point, results on the field must match the ambition off it. The margin for error in modern college football is razor-thin, and elite programs don’t get the benefit of patience when expectations are sky-high.

The upcoming opener against Texas A\&M—a team with its own mix of volatility and talent—looms large. It’s a game that will test CJ Carr’s poise, challenge Notre Dame’s injured reserves, and expose the quality of the pass rush. A win could settle nerves and inject momentum into a shaky preseason narrative. A loss, particularly a lopsided one, could ignite panic and cast a shadow over the rest of the campaign. Beyond that, dates with Michigan State, Florida State, and USC offer little reprieve. The Irish will need to be battle-tested early, and unfortunately for them, the battles are already happening within their own locker room.

There’s still time for Notre Dame to course correct. Carr has the tools to be special—perhaps even this year—if he can find rhythm and confidence. The medical staff is working overtime to get key players back on the field, and the development of younger edge rushers could provide a spark if someone seizes the moment. But those are all hopeful outcomes, not guarantees. In the unforgiving world of college football, especially under the microscope in South Bend, hope has a short shelf life. What matters is production.

Notre Dame’s 2025 season was supposed to be the year all the pieces finally came together. With recruiting trending upward, a deep and experienced defense, and an offense loaded with potential, the belief was that the Irish would be ready to contend not just for a New Year’s Six bowl but a legitimate College Football Playoff run. Instead, just weeks before kickoff, the conversation has shifted dramatically. Can Carr handle the heat? Can the walking wounded get healthy in time? Can the defense generate enough havoc to keep opposing quarterbacks from feasting?

For now, Notre Dame is staring at a season defined not by what it hopes to achieve, but by what it must overcome. The pressure is mounting, the noise is getting louder, and the margin for error is shrinking. One thing is certain: if the Irish are to reach their lofty goals in 2025, they’ll need to silence doubt not with promises, but with performance. And that work begins now.