Tight End Kyle Rudolph of Notre Dame Lost for Season

Notre Dame coach Brian Kelly announced today at his Tuesday press conference that tight end Kyle Rudolph will be lost for the season after his ongoing hamstring injury was aggravated on Saturday against Pittsburgh.

The hamstring is off the bone and will require surgery.

Rudolph is considered one of the top tight ends in the country and was a preseason nominee for the Mackey Award. He had 28 receptions for 328 yards and three touchdowns this season, including a 95-yard touchdown against Michigan. He is expected to have surgery in the next two to three days.

This has been an ongoing injury that started in the spring and has continued to hamper Rudolph throughout the year, although it seemed to be close to 100 percent after the 95-yard touchdown gallop.

Tyler Eifert, who sprained a shoulder ligament earlier this season, will step in along with veteran tight end Mike Ragone, who has been slowed by injury and off-field situations. Jake Golic is also expected to help fill the void.

Coach Kelly said that the rehab process for this type of injury is about six months and that the team should have Rudolph back and ready for spring practice. Notre Dame fans had been curious as to whether or not Rudolph would return for his senior year after being projected as a first-round draft pick after this season.

Rudolph was most productive this season during the Michigan and Michigan State games with 16 receptions for 244 yards in those contests. His production dropped off rapidly following Week 3, with seven catches for 41 yards over the next three weeks.