SOUTH BEND, Ind.—Notre Dame coach Brian Kelly says right guard Christian Lombard has had season-ending back surgery and nose guard Louis Nix III will not make the trip to Air Force because of knee tendinitis.
Kelly says Lombard, a two-year starter, underwent surgery Wednesday to repair a herniated disk. Freshman Steve Elmer will take over as the starting right guard.
Kelly says Kona Schwenke will start on the defensive line instead of Nix. Kelly says Nix has not been able to practice this week because of his knee, so he won’t make the trip to Colorado on Saturday. Nix also sustained a shoulder injury against USC.
Kelly says quarterback Tommy Rees, who missed most of the second half against USC with a neck injury, looked good in practice all week.
