Notre Dame junior defensive end Joshua Burnham will miss his second-straight game with an ankle injury, the Irish confirmed Saturday afternoon.

According to a source, there is optimism Burnham can return for Week 5 vs. Louisville.

The edge rusher from Traverse City, Mich. injured his ankle on the last defensive play of Notre Dame’s Week 2 loss to Northern Illinois. He was listed as questionable for Week 3 at Purdue and Week 4 vs. Miami (Ohio), but he will wind up missing both games.

Graduate student RJ Oben and freshman Bryce Young will likely handle the bulk of Notre Dame’s strong-side defensive end reps, with Burnham on the sideline.

Burnham played 53 snaps (to Oben’s 11) in the loss to NIU, finishing with 4 tackles (1 solo). Throughout the season, he also has a quarterback hit and 2 defensive stops, which Pro Football Focus defines as tackles that result in a failure for the offense.

A four-star linebacker prospect out of Traverse City Central, Notre Dame converted Burnham to vyper shortly after he arrived on campus and strong-side defensive end before his junior season. He had a productive fall camp, and with Oben struggling, he played starter’s reps in Week 2.

It’s possible the Irish would have started Burnham in Weeks 3-4, if he were healthy. Instead, he’s on the mend and Oben — as well as Young, who has a heavy role on special teams in Year 1 as well — will have to hold down the fort at field end.

The Irish and RedHawks will kick off at 3:30 p.m. ET on Saturday in South Bend.

Here’s the rest of Notre Dame’s Week 4 injury report, with three other players out for the game.

Notre Dame football players out for Week 4 vs. Miami (Ohio)

— Freshman safety Tae Johnson (foot) is out for the game. He sustained a foot injury in his left fifth metatarsal toward the end of preseason camp, which required surgery. 

— Senior defensive lineman Gabriel Rubio (foot) is out for the game. He fractured his second metatarsal during the first preseason camp practice on July 31, which required surgery. On Aug. 29, Freeman said Rubio was about a month from returning. On Sept. 9, Freeman said Rubio “would be back in a couple weeks.”

— Junior offensive lineman Billy Schrauth is out for the game. On Monday, Freeman said the Irish starting right guard “would be out for a few weeks” after injuring his right ankle on a run play against Purdue.

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