Notre Dame DT Howard Cross out vs. Virginia with ankle injury

Notre Dame will be without one of its top defenders this week against Virginia as defensive tackle Howard Cross, a second-team AP All-America selection in 2023, will miss the game with a left ankle injury.

Coach Marcus Freeman on Monday said that Cross' injury is "not a long-term thing" and that the senior could return Nov. 23 against No. 25 Army at New York's Yankee Stadium. Cross, who became a mainstay starter in 2022 and started throughout last season, ranks second on the team in sacks (4) and tackles for loss (5.5), also adding three quarterback hurries.

He has 164 career tackles, including 11 sacks, 19.5 tackles for loss and 3 forced fumbles. In 2023, he was a Bednarik Award semifinalist.

"There's a reason why Howard Cross has made the impact he's made for as long as he has," Freeman said Monday.

Cross,6-foot-1 and 288 pounds, sustained the injury in the first half of Saturday's win against Florida State and did not return. Junior Donovan Hinish, who has 19 tackles and 2.5 sacks, is set to play in Cross' place this week as No. 10 Notre Dame hosts Virginia.