Indiana starting cornerback Jamier Johnson missed Indiana’s final regular season game against Purdue due to an undisclosed injury.
But Johnson is back out on the practice field, and going into Friday night’s contest against Notre Dame in South Bend (8 p.m. ET, ABC), the Hoosiers appear to be in good shape on the injury front.
“Yeah, our health is good,” IU coach Curt Cignetti said on Monday. “Jamier is out there practicing, looks good. We’re in pretty good shape.”
Despite missing a game, Johnson ranks seventh among IU defenders with 588 snaps this season. So he’s clearly someone the staff values having on the field. He’s been targeted 50 times for 33 completions according to PFF. Johnson has an interception and three pass break-ups. He has 34 tackles.
Backup cornerback Jamari Sharpe filled in for Johnson against Purdue and demonstrated that IU has depth out on the edge. The Hoosiers held the Boilermakers under 100 total yards and pitched a shutout.
Indiana has been fairly healthy throughout their historic 11-1 run to the College Football Playoff. Johnson was the first defensive starter to miss a full game this season.
There has been a bit more turmoil on the offensive side of the ball, where starting linemen Nick Kidwell and Drew Evans were both lost for the season.
And of course starting quarterback Kurtis Rourke successfully navigated a broken right thumb that cost him a game and a half. He’s said repeatedly over the last couple weeks he is back to 100 percent. And Rourke looked healthy against Purdue in weather conditions that should be similar to what the Hoosiers will face on Friday evening.
Meanwhile, Notre Dame will have two of its starters back and available for Friday. Defensive lineman Howard Cross III and running back Jeremiyah Love both will play, coach Marcus Freeman said on Sunday.
Notre Dame also will have reserve running back Devyn Ford available, Freeman said. Linebacker Kyngstonn Viliamu-Asa (knee) and multiple reserves will be out against Indiana.
