Rylie Mills injury update: Huge blow for Marcus Freeman after first-round CFP game against Indiana

The No. 7 Notre Dame Fighting Irish lost starting defensive tackle Rylie Mills to injury in the second half of their first-round college football playoff clash against the No. 10 Indiana Hoosiers on Friday. Mills injured his right knee while recording a sack in Notre Dame's first defensive play of the second half, necessitating Fighting Irish's medical staff helping him off the field.

Mills' knee was heavily strapped as he watched his team close out the game, 27-17 from the sideline. ESPN's sideline reporter Molly McGrath gave a comprehensive rundown of Mill's injury during the game.

“Rylie Mills came out of the injury tent walking gingerly, favoring his right leg,” McGrath said. “Athletic training staff made him put a brace on that right knee, which he was hesitant to do. He told teammates he was fine, but he was moving with a noticeable limp. It looks like he’ll try out this brace and see if it helps.”

Mills would be a huge loss to coach Marcus Freeman's team for their January 1, Sugar Bowl clash against the No. 2 Georgia Bulldogs.

During his postgame news conference, Freeman was optimistic about Riley Mills being fit for the Sugar Bowl clash against Georgia.

“There is optimism,” Freeman said. “I won’t get into details on what they told me, but it sounds like it’s not season-ending. We just gotta get him right here in the next 10-11 days and get him ready for this upcoming contest down in New Orleans.”

The sixth-year Rylie Mills has played the third most games in the history of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish (62 games).

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Rylie Mills' injury leaves Notre Dame's defense thin

Ryan Mills had registered one sack and two solo tackles against the Indiana Hoosiers before he was replaced by senior defensive lineman Gabriel Rubio. His knee injury could not have come at a worse time for coach Marcus Freeman's team, who are already dealing with a litany of injuries.

The Fighting Irish are without Jason Onye and Howard Cross III is just making his comeback from an ankle injury sustained against the Florida State Seminoles in November.

Freeman has also had to do without the services of Jordan Botelho, who sustained a season-ending injury against the Purdue Boilermakers and his backup Boubacar Traore, who also injured his knee against the Louisville Cardinals, prematurely ending his season.

Before his injury against the Indiana Hoosiers, Rylie Mills had registered 37 tackles (19 solo), 7.5 sacks and 8.5 stops for loss to make himself a key cog in the Notre Dame Fighting Irish machine.