The Clemson Tigers football team has hit on some hard times with regards to injuries, dating back to the Spring Game in April with the late game injury to QB Taisun Phommachanh. It has only snowballed since then.
Injuries are a part of the game, every team goes through injuries and yes, it does affect the game. It’s not an excuse.
Currently out for the season for the Tigers:
OL Dietrick Pennington OL John Williams
OL Tayquon Johnson DL Bryan Bresee
QB Will Taylor
S Lannden Zanders
Current list of the walking wounded:
RB Will Shipley – looks to be back in about 2-3 weeks C Mason Trotter – hand injury
WR Frank Ladson – working through a groin injury WR EJ Williams – battling through thumb injury
WR Justyn Ross – exited game early against BC after possible head injury TE Braden Galloway – exited BC game early with possible head injury OL Will Putnam – toe injury from the NC State game
DT Tyler Davis – expected back in 4-5 weeks
S Nolan Turner – tore hamstring early in fall practice, just returning against BC CB Mario Goodrich – working through a groin injury
CB Malcolm Greene – shoulder injury, will be available for Syracuse
DT Demonte Capehart – spring camp injury
CB Fred Davis – out with a rolled ankle
18 injuries will affect any team. The Clemson fanbase is going through withdrawals with all the close games. We want to blame the young quarterback for not being Deshaun Watson or Trevor Lawrence. We want to blame the offensive line for not opening holes. We want to blame the offensive coordinator for not calling the right plays. Let’s look a little deeper into what the coaches are going through with regards to “next man up”.
Saturday, the Tigers opened up the game without two defensive line starters, Tyler Davis and Bryan Bresee. Let’s move up Etinosa Reuben and Ruke Orhorhoro, two players that saw a lot of “spot duty” behind the starters. Behind them are freshmen Payton Page and Tre Williams. These four young men are not Davis and Bresee, but they held their own… so far.
