Riley Leonard injury: Notre Dame QB returns to Orange Bowl after concussion scare

(This story was updated with new information).

Notre Dame football finds itself in an early deficit in the first half of the College Football Playoff Orange Bowl semifinal to No. 6 Penn State.

The Irish also briefly found themselves without their starting quarterback. Quarterback Riley Leonard exited the game in the final minutes of the first half following a quarterback hurry from Penn State defensive players Dvon J-Thomas and Zane Durant that sent him to the ground. He then returned in the start of the second half after being declared ‘asymptomatic.’

Leonard, who walked off the field and went into the medical tent, attempted to walk back onto the field after the hit but eventually was escorted to the injury tent.

Prior to exiting the game, the Notre Dame quarterback was 6 of 11 passing for 63 yards with an interception. He also had seven rushing yards on five carries. Replacing Leonard on the field was backup quarterback Steve Angeli, who led the Irish down the field for a 41-yard field goal to cut their deficit to 10-3 going into the second half.

Here’s the latest on Leonard’s injury:

Riley Leonard injury update

According to The Athletic’s Pete Sampson, Leonard came out from the locker room with his helmet on and was seen warming up with Angeli on the sidelines at Hard Rock Stadium.

Shortly after, ESPN’s Molly McGrath reported that Notre Dame coach Marcus Freeman said that Leonard was tested for a concussion during halftime and is asymptomatic. He was cleared to play the second half as well.

ESPN’s Sean McDonough noted that Leonard was entering the concussion protocol. Angeli came in for Leonard to finish the second half.

Freeman told McGrath in a halftime interview that he hasn’t heard any information on Leonard’s health and status yet.

‘I haven’t heard (anything). They are going to check him out right now,’ Freeman said. ‘They told me just before the field goal that they don’t have an answer right now on what it is going to be.’

ESPN’s Pete Thamel reported on X (formerly Twitter) that Leonard jogged off the field at Hard Rock Stadium with his helmet on his head, as he came out of the medical tent.

This story will be updated.