Swinney updates Kelly Bryant, more injuries |
Clemson coach Dabo Swinney updated starting quarterback
Kelly Bryant's status in a Monday teleconference.
Swinney said that Bryant "responded well" to concussion protocol over the weekend. "They were pretty encouraged with him listening to (director of sports medicine) Danny (Poole) this morning after evaluating him again this morning," Swinney said. "So that is encouraging news there." Bryant was slammed into the ground on a tackle late in the first half of Friday's 27-24 loss at Syracuse. Bryant was laying on the ground for several minutes before being helped off the field and held out in concussion protocol. Bryant was seen hobbling for much of the game before the hit, playing on an injured left ankle. Swinney said they "hope" Bryant will practice this week. "He will be out today and they are off tomorrow," said the Tigers' head coach. "Hopefully by Wednesday he can get out there and move around. But we are going to be really cautious with him this week and really get him dialed in with what we are doing game plan wise. Come Wednesday I think we will have a much better feel for what he will do practice-wise." The junior quarterback ranks 11th nationally in completion percentage (67.6), passing for 1,375 yards with four touchdowns to four interceptions. He leads Clemson in rushing attempts (101) and ranks second in rushing yards (393) with a team-best seven rushing scores. Bryant wasn't the only injury out of Friday's game. Freshman running back Travis Etienne (hamstring) "is going to be alright," per Swinney, after missing fourth-quarter action. "He kind of tweaked it right there on that long run," Swinney said, referencing the 52-yard TD in the third quarter. "That's why we didn't have in on the kickoff return after that. He was feeling it a little bit but I think it was pretty minor." Swinney said cornerback Mark Fields "was a little banged up" and will be limited in practice with a foot injury (soreness in arch area). Cornerback A.J. Terrell worked out Monday and Swinney said "hopefully he will be OK as the week progresses," for an injury he didn't specify. Swinney said health is the key going forward. "We got to get healthy first and foremost," Swinney said. "We got to own it. Learn from it. Use this as a stepping stone to have a strong finish."
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