College Football Playoff: Notre Dame QB Riley Leonard leaves the Orange Bowl in the second quarter

Notre Dame QB Riley Leonard was forced to leave the Orange Bowl late in the second quarter after he was tackled to the ground.

Leonard was hit as he threw the ball and the back of his head hit the turf. Leonard was slightly shaken when he stood up and was immediately noticed by an official who signaled that Leonard should be checked out on the sideline. The QB was immediately escorted into the Notre Dame medical tent.

Steve Angeli replaced Leonard with the Irish trailing 10-0.

Leonard’s exit came as Notre Dame offensive lineman Rocco Spindler was being treated by the training staff. Spindler was the second offensive lineman to leave the game due to injury after starting left tackle Anthonie Knapp was rolled up and suffered an apparent left ankle injury. Knapp walked cautiously to the sidelines and had not returned to the game following his injury.

Leonard was 6-of-11 passing for 43 yards and an interception before the frame. Angeli led Notre Dame to a field goal before the end of the half to cut Penn State’s halftime lead to 10–3. At the start of the break, coach Marcus Freeman said he did not have an update on Leonard’s status and said Notre Dame would have fewer designed QB runs going forward if Leonard would be unable to return.