SOUTH BEND – Notre Dame’s KeiVarae Russell had what he deemed successful surgery on his right tibia Sunday.

The senior cornerback suffered the injury Saturday night at Fenway Park in Boston during his team’s 19-16 victory against Boston College.

Russell’s rehab is expected to take 6-8 weeks. Notre Dame coach Brian Kelly said Sunday there’s a possibility Russell could be healed in time for a return for the national championship game Jan. 11, should the Irish advance that far.

Notre Dame is fourth in the College Football Playoff rankings. The top four teams in the final rankings, released Dec. 6, will take part in the national championship semifinals Dec. 31.

In the meantime, Russell said he is looking forward to trying to get back on the field and, along the way, helping his teammates still on it.

He is the eighth Irish starter this season to be sidelined for a significant amount of time.

Russell had started all 11 games for the Irish after missing last season while serving an academic suspension. He is tied for second on the Irish with 60 tackles to go with two interceptions.

Kelly said Devin Butler, Nick Coleman and Nick Watkins will help fill in for Russell, starting with the regular-season finale at Stanford on Saturday night.