Riley Leonard says he “feels great” and is prepared for spring practice at Notre Dame.
Turns out, reports of the demise of Riley Leonard’s ankle have been greatly exaggerated. Reports earlier this week said Notre Dame’s new transfer quarterback, by way of Duke, was unable to bear weight on the ankle he injured last season after having surgery last month. The surgery part is accurate. Tight rope surgery, to be exact, for the high ankle sprain that still had not healed properly since the injury four-plus months ago. But it was obvious the moment that Leonard walked up the steps to the second floor of the Irish Athletic Center Friday afternoon that he was able to bear weight on the ankle.
“I feel great,” Leonard declared at his first Notre Dame media availability. “Obviously, no boot, nothing. You probably wouldn’t even realize I got surgery. That story broke a couple days ago. It wasn’t really a secret. I tell people all the time, like I was riding around campus in my electric wheelchair thing, just scooting around. I was embracing it. But it’s been good, like it’s been super easy. Rob Hunt, the athletic trainer for Notre Dame football, and the entire athletic training staff have been great with me. I should be back in a couple of weeks, so there shouldn’t be any issues.”
Ironically, the injury happened on the last offensive play of the Blue Devils’ season, on September 30, during Notre Dame’s thrilling 21-14 victory over Leonard and Duke. Fighting Irish nose guard Howard Cross collided with the then-Duke quarterback. “It’s still not over that (Cross) owes me dinner,” laughed Leonard. “I informed him that there is a chris nearby. My ankle was feeling a lot of weight from that.
After the injury, Leonard only participated in two more games, but he was a completely different player from before the injury. He then missed the last five games for Duke, which included their victory over Troy in the Birmingham Bowl. He was also hindered by a toe injury. His ankle did heal somewhat from the prolonged rest he received while still at Duke, but after speaking with doctors, he decided to have the surgery as soon as he got to Notre Dame in January.
Leonard clarified, “We could take a chance and play in the spring and maybe in the fall and have no issues.” However, because it was a little loose, there was a chance that it would get hurt again. It was their statement.We therefore thought, “Let’s finish it now—it’s January.” Even though I haven’t been able to go for almost three months due to a toe injury, it is still January. It’s still early. So we said, “Knock it out, whatever it is, four to six weeks, six to eight weeks.” Better yet, just go ahead and do it.
Leonard working out with his teammates was captured on camera by Notre Dame’s social media on Thursday. With a few minor deviations, he is doing nearly everything his teammates are doing. Leonard stated, “Right now, the only thing I’m not doing is, like, sprinting.” “I work out with those guys for everything else in the weight room, though.”
The team’s newest signal caller, Notre Dame, anticipates being fully functional when the rest of the squad takes to the field for spring practice, which begins next month.
