Notre Dame DT Daniel Cage Taking Medical Redshirt for Concussions, Knee Injury

Notre Dame senior defensive tackle Daniel Cage plans to take a medical redshirt season to recover from multiple concussions and an offseason knee surgery, his mother told Pete Sampson of Scout.com.

"He loves football," Bionne Cage said. "First and foremost, his health has to be OK. If he can get that straightened out, he can continue playing." 

She continued: "He wants to make sure it's safe for him. We don't want to put him in an environment where it's risking a long term effect for a short term goal. Right now his head aches, his knee is healing. The process has been overwhelming and he wants to make sure he's OK."

The effects of the three concussions Cage suffered while playing for Notre Dame have persisted, according to his mother, as he's continued to suffer headaches since his head injury in November.

The veteran defensive tackle has appeared in 30 games for the team in his college career. In total, he's registered 32 tackles and five tackles for loss.

As Sampson noted, a medical redshirt year would leave the team with question marks on the defensive line. Elijah Taylor is recovering from a foot injury and only Jerry Tillery and Jonathan Bonner—the presumed starters for the team going forward—have significant experience at defensive tackle.

Pete Mokwuah has also seen some action, but mostly in garbage time. The team's other options at the position, Micah Dew-Treadway, Brandon Tiassum, Myron Tagovailoa, Kurt Hinish and Darnell Ewell, have never taken a college snap, according to Sampson.