Notre Dame quarterback Tommy Rees will return to practice Tuesday and is expected to play Saturday at Air Force, coach Brian Kelly said.

Rees left this past weekend's game against USC early in the third quarter after suffering a neck strain on a third-quarter sack by Lamar Dawson.

Notre Dame was up 14-10 at the time of his injury and ended up winning by that margin, with the offense struggling to move the ball on the seven drives with backup Andrew Hendrix at the helm.

A senior from Lake Bluff, Ill., Rees has started games in each of his four years with the Fighting Irish and has started all seven games for the 5-2 squad this year, completing 53.1 percent of his passes for 1,660 yards with 15 touchdowns and six interceptions.