Notre Dame is down its sixth key player for the season, as sophomore safety Drue Tranquill has torn the ACL in his right knee, the school announced Sunday.

Tranquill left Saturday's 30-22 win over Georgia Tech after falling awkwardly on the way down from a chest bump with Joe Schmidt following a crucial third-down pass breakup in the end zone late in the second quarter.

Coach Brian Kelly said Tranquill is expected to undergo surgery within two weeks after doing some rehabilitation work.

Tranquill, who was making his first start of the season, joins a list of ailing Fighting Irish players that includes starting quarterback Malik Zaire (broken right ankle), starting running back Tarean Folston (torn right ACL), starting tight end Durham Smythe (torn right MCL), starting defensive tackle Jarron Jones (torn right MCL) and starting nickelback Shaun Crawford (torn ACL).

"Certainly we can't afford to lose any more players at key positions: Quarterback, running back, you start to get into true freshmen, and that will be obviously a significant change in what we look like," Kelly said.

Tranquill tore the ACL in his left knee in November, forcing him out of the final two games of the 2014 season.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.