Notre Dame got a playmaker back but lost a backup quarterback going into its home game against Navy.
Receiver Michael Floyd, who broke his collarbone in the Irish’s 33-30 victory over Michigan State on Sept. 19, has been cleared to play, coach Charlie Weis said Tuesday.
“It feels better week by week,” said Floyd, who consulted with Dr. James Andrews of Birmingham, Ala. then got the OK from his mother to play.
“Sometimes not being in there and (knowing) there were plays I could make, that kind of frustrated me.”
Floyd had 13 catches for 358 yards, 27.5 yards per catch, with five touchdowns when he was injured.
It was originally thought that the 6-foot-3, 220-pound sophomore would be available only for a possible bowl game this season.
“It’s great to have one of the best receivers in the nation back,” receiver Golden Tate said.
“It definitely brings that dimension to our offense that we really can’t be stopped at this point, I feel like.”
All of the injury news wasn’t good for the Irish (6-2), who play the Midshipmen (6-2) at 2:30 p.m. Saturday.
Backup quarterback Dayne Crist will have surgery Friday after tearing the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee in the fourth quarter against Washington State.
“Fortunately there are not a lot of other things wrong, but that needs to be done,” Weis said of the surgery.
Weis said Crist will be out four to six months, and fifth-year senior Evan Sharpley will back up starter Jimmy Clausen.
Sharpley cut his minor league baseball season short to return to Notre Dame. In his career, he has started two games and has thrown for 761 yards with five touchdowns and three interceptions in 19 games.
Former Bishop Dwenger standout John Goodman, who played quarterback his senior year of high school, will be the third-string quarterback.
“It reminds me of spring ball when I went back and threw a couple balls and did a little bit,” Goodman said of working with the quarterbacks for part of the practices.
“I don’t feel it will ever, ever happen that I would have to go back there. The coaches are just trying to prepare for if there is an emergency situation.”
Notre Dame will likely use a backup on the offensive line against Navy. Right guard Trevor Robison, who injured his ankle against Washington State, is doubtful for the game, according to Weis.
Senior Dan Wenger, who started at center last season, is listed as the starting right guard on the depth chart.
Receiver Robby Parris, who sat out against Washington State, and defensive end Kapron Lewis-Moore, who injured his ankle against the Cougars, are available for Saturday’s game, Weis said.
Running back Armando Allen, who is dealing with a nagging ankle injury, is day-to-day, according to Weis.
Reserve tight end Bobby Burger is undergoing more tests for an injured neck, and Weis said they were going to be careful with Burger.
