Notre Dame is building its defensive plan around more than one possibility for Saturday's game against Miami after Hurricanes star wide receiver Malachi Toney sustained an ankle injury. Fighting Irish coach Marcus Freeman said Notre Dame, ranked 11th, must prepare both for Toney to play and for him to miss the game.

Sources told ESPN's Pete Thamel that Toney is having surgery for a high ankle sprain, an injury that will sideline him for the Notre Dame game and likely several more weeks. The sources said a postseason return is possible.

Miami acknowledged Toney's injury in a statement Wednesday, but the Hurricanes did not offer more specific information. Freeman said Notre Dame is preparing to adjust to the personnel Miami uses Saturday.

Freeman said preparations began Sunday with Toney central to the discussion. "We started prepping on Sunday, and you've got to have a plan for a dynamic player like that," Freeman said Thursday.

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The Notre Dame coach also emphasized flexibility while Miami's plans remain unsettled from the Irish perspective. "We'll see if he plays or not."

Freeman said Notre Dame also must be ready to adjust if Toney does not play, noting the depth of available talent on Miami's offense. Freeman said he was not suggesting that one person would replace Toney.

"They've got great players. I'm not saying one person's going to replace Malachi Toney, but they have got a lot of great players on their team and they're going to find ways to get the best players on the field."

Freeman said Notre Dame would continue preparing to respond to any lineup Miami presents. "And so we're going to have a good plan and be able to adjust to whatever happens on Saturday and whoever we see."

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Freeman learned of Toney's injury after Notre Dame practiced Wednesday. Some members of his staff had received the information earlier that day.

Toney's history against Notre Dame includes his collegiate debut in Miami's 27-24 home win last year. He finished that game with six receptions for 82 yards and a touchdown.

Toney leads the top ranked Hurricanes in three receiving categories. He has 73 receptions, 1,027 receiving yards and 13 receiving touchdowns.

Cooper Barkate is second on the team with 28 receptions for 372 yards and four touchdowns. Barkate transferred from Duke alongside quarterback Darian Mensah.

Freeman said he does not know which individual would enter the lineup for Toney. "What's the one person that's going to come in [for Toney]? I don't know," Freeman said.

He pointed to the broader range of options Miami could use as its 11th player. "They've got a long list of guys that they can put on the field to be the 11th player."

For Freeman, the possible response is not limited to placing another wide receiver into Toney's spot. "It's not always the position as much as it is the player."

Freeman specifically mentioned the running backs, tight ends and young wide receivers available to Miami. "There's players all over. There's great running backs, there's good tight ends, there's good young wide receivers who can step up."

Notre Dame's need to remain flexible extends through Saturday. "Whatever it is their plan will be on Saturday, we have to be ready to adjust."

Notre Dame also has absences on defense. Linebacker Drayk Bowen, who has an ankle injury, will not play, while safety Brauntae Johnson remains sidelined with a foot injury and cornerback DJ McKinney remains sidelined with an ankle injury.

The status of two Notre Dame defensive linemen is less certain for the Miami game. Francis Brewu and Jason Onye are both questionable with knee injuries.

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