Notre Dame loses Roberson, McDonald for spring

Spring football is for thinning out the competition at various spots, but not in the way Notre Dame went about it recently.

Running back Camerson Roberson is out indefinitely after suffering a torn lateral collateral ligament and a partially torn ACL in his left knee last Saturday. In addition, linebacker Anthony McDonald will miss the remainder of spring practice with a partially torn pectoral muscle.

Both injuries will be surgically repaired, according to Notre Dame.

Roberson suffered the injury early in practice last weekend, and while the sophomore was running as the third-string tailback, his absence leaves the Irish with just two scholarship running backs for the remainder of spring practice: Cierre Wood and Jonas Gray.

According to Notre Dame, Roberson’s return date is “uncertain,” meaning the Irish have to rely on walk-on Patrick Coughlin to take some practice reps now and then hope that incoming freshmen Cam McDaniel and possibly George Atkinson III can assume part of the workload in August.

McDonald was working as a first-team inside linebacker with Manti Te’o limited in spring practice following offseason arthroscopic knee surgery. The school said McDonald should be ready for the start of preseason camp in August, but the injury continues a string of bad luck for the senior, who has missed action previously with a knee injury and a head injury.

Meanwhile, walk-on tryouts Monday produced two additions to the roster. The first is freshman running back Tyler Plantz, who will help offset the workload Roberson left behind. Plantz attended Providence Catholic High School in New Lenox, Ill., and his father, Ron, was an offensive guard for the Irish from 1982-85.

The second walk-on is wide receiver Ryan Liebscher, a freshman from Colorado Springs, Col. Both practiced for the first time Wednesday.
bchamilton@tribune.com