Notre Dame announces season-ending injury to starting quarterback

Notre Dame quarterback Tyler Buchner will miss the rest of the 2022 season, the program announced on Monday.

Buchner left with a shoulder injury in the closing moments of Notre Dame’s Week 2 loss to Marshall. According to Freeman, the Irish quarterback has a Grade 5 AC joint sprain that required surgery on Tuesday.

Tyler Buchner is lost for the season, per Marcus Freeman.

High grade shoulder sprain that will require surgery on Tuesday.

— Pete Sampson (@PeteSampson_) September 12, 2022

Notre Dame hosts California on Saturday. The Irish play Stanford in South Bend later this season, with a 4:30 p.m. PT kick scheduled for Oct. 15. The Irish travel to Los Angeles to close out the regular season against USC on Nov. 26.

Drew Pyne will start at quarterback for Notre Dame with Buchner done for the season. True freshman Steve Angeli is listed as Pyne’s backup on Notre Dame’s depth chart.

Buchner beat out Pyne for the starting job in fall camp but struggled in his first two games as the starter. He threw two interceptions in Notre Dame’s loss to Marshall on Saturday. He went 10-for-18 for 177 yards in the season-opening loss to Ohio State.

Pyne has thrown 39 career pass attempts for 256 yards, three touchdowns, and two interceptions. Freeman said the change will affect the quarterback run game more than it does the pass game.

Marcus Freeman says the change from Buchner to Pyne is more in the run game than the pass game, particularly the types of QB runs installed.

Pyne doesn't have the same straight-line speed as Buchner. But Freeman believes Pyne can be effective in the zone read game.

— Pete Sampson (@PeteSampson_) September 12, 2022

The Golden Bears (2-0) and Fighting Irish (0-2) square off Saturday at 11:30 a.m. PT on NBC.