The big news coming out of the bye week was not all great. During Brian Kelly’s weekly press conference, it was made official that the Irish will be without two offensive linemen for Friday’s game. Junior center Jarrett Patterson has been lost for the season after a foot injury during the Boston College game that required surgery. The other lineman out is grad senior right guard Tommy Kraemer, who had an emergency appendectomy. Kraemer, unlike Patterson, will be back hopefully next week.

Brian Kelly injury updates:

Jarrett Patterson is out for the season following foot surgery. Brian Kelly said Patterson will be back for next season.

Tommy Kraemer has an emergency appendectomy and is expected to return to football activities next week.

— Pete Sampson (@PeteSampson_) November 23, 2020

For one of the nation’s top offensive lines this is a big blow, but if there is one position that the Irish seem to just reload at year after year it’s offensive line. Starting at center this week will be sophomore Zeke Correll, and senior Josh Lugg will get the start at right guard. Correll has seen a little action, mostly in mop-up duty during big wins last year and this year. Lugg has 5 starts under his belt, all coming last year. The Irish will be losing a lot of the current offensive line that has started the last 8 games of the season, so getting young guys some meaningful starts will only help the future of this team. There might be some growing pains, but I do not see much changing as far as the Irish running the ball and protecting Ian Book.