New Week, Same Injury Problems for Tigers

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CLEMSON - As Clemson returned to full-scale workouts Monday in preparation for N.C. State, Tommy Bowden and his staff found themselves dealing with a familiar problem.

Injuries.

Starting cornerback Kevin Johnson did not practice Monday due to a broken rib, prompting defensive coordinator Reggie Herring to announce that redshirt sophomore Toure Francis will start Saturday. Johnson may be able to play vs. the Wolfpack, but true freshman Jamaal Fudge will be getting additional work at the spot just in case.

"He (Johnson) didn't practice today," Herring said. "We've got to go ahead and prepare like he's not going to be here."

Meanwhile, freshman wide receiver Roscoe Crosby's bad luck continues.

After finally returning to limited action against Georgia Tech Sept. 29, Crosby apparently reinjured his knee during workouts last Thursday. He spent most of Monday's practice on the sidelines, and his status for Saturday remains unclear.

This comes after Crosby suffered a broken nose at the hand of a teammates helmet during the Georgia Tech postgame celebration. His nose was reset over the weekend, and any time missed will be because of the knee injury.

"If he hadn't hurt his knee again Thursday I'd say he'd be a hundred percent," Bowden said. "But now it's like last week...we'll look at him Tuesday, look at him Wednesday and so on, and try to make a decision later in the week.

"He's just got to weather the storm. It happens sometimes. Week after week after week it's something else."

NOTES:

- The Clemson vs. North Carolina game on October 20th will be a 12:00 Noon kickoff and will be televised by ESPN-2.

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