Clemson’s injury picture took a turn in both directions this week, and the biggest swings are happening right where the Tigers can least afford them: up front.
The encouraging news is that right tackle Collin Sadler is trending toward a return after missing the opener at LSU. The bad news is that defensive tackle Markus Strong’s first season in Clemson is already over after just one game, leaving the Tigers thinner on the defensive line as they prepare for Georgia Southern.
There’s also a possible return looming for Vic Burley, who has been suspended indefinitely and could be back soon if Dabo Swinney gives the word.
With kickoff approaching, here’s where Clemson stands on the injury report.
RT Collin Sadler: Probable
Sadler sat out Week 1 after entering the LSU game as questionable, and Clemson didn’t have to specify the injury because it was a non-conference matchup. Swinney later described it as some kind of "fluke" injury in the weight room, and the expectation now is that the fifth-year senior will be back for Week 2.
If Sadler isn’t ready for a full workload, Easton Ware could be asked to handle right tackle again. Ware already got that experience against LSU in a game that was rough across the board for the Clemson offensive line, but at least the extra week gave Sadler time to recover.
DT Markus Strong: Out for season
Strong arrived from Oklahoma as one of Swinney’s biggest portal additions, with Clemson hoping he could help stabilize the defensive line. Instead, he was forced out of the LSU game in the third quarter after suffering a lower-leg injury, unable to put any weight on his foot and needing help off the field.
Now the Tigers have lost him for the year, which puts more pressure on Amare Adams, Andy Burburija, Champ Thompson, and the rest of the rotation to keep things together until Burley’s suspension ends. Clemson’s defensive front is already its most vulnerable area, though there is at least a little breathing room before Miami shows up in a month.
Strong’s absence makes Burley’s eventual return even more important, especially before the UNC game.
DT Vic Burley: Suspended indefinitely
Burley is expected to make his way back to the team soon, and Swinney has suggested that next week could be the target.
Clemson should be able to take care of Georgia Southern on Saturday night without him, which would give Burley time to get back into the rhythm of being around the program after being away for a few weeks. Since this is a team-mandated suspension, his return depends on Swinney saying he’s cleared. All signs point to that happening next week.
In Other News...
Herbstreit Just Framed Clemsons Week 1 Reality In A Brutal Way
Week 1 has a way of sorting the preseason noise from the teams that look ready to matter right away, and Kirk Herbstreit wasted little time doing exactly that. In his early-season take, he put Miami, Indiana and LSU at the top of the national conversation, pointing to Miamis strong showing with new quarterback Darian Mensah, Indianas stability under its coaching continuity and Josh Hoovers four touchdown passes, and LSUs emphatic win behind Sam Leavitt and offensive coordinator Charlie Weis Jr.
For Clemson, the bigger issue is what that kind of snapshot says about the lane ahead. Herbstreit also flagged Notre Dame as a team to keep watching, which only adds to the sense that the race near the top is already taking shape, and the Tigers will have to answer quickly if they want to avoid getting left outside that first wave of contenders. [Read more 🡒]
Berkeley Just Sent Clemson Fans A Message About Regional Power
Berkeleys win over Summerville carried more than just local bragging rights, and Clemson fans who follow the states high school pipeline had to notice. In a matchup between two programs with real regional weight, Berkeley controlled the night behind senior quarterback Henry Rivers, whose legs helped set the tone while the defense kept Summerville from ever finding much rhythm.
The result also comes at a time when both teams are headed into games against ranked opponents, which only sharpens the significance of what happened here. Berkeley showed it could handle pressure against a familiar rival and do it with balance on both sides of the ball, while Summerville now has to regroup quickly after a loss that could ripple beyond one Friday night. [Read more 🡒]
Clemsons Home Opener Suddenly Carries More Pressure Than Fans Expected
Clemson heads into its Week 2 home opener against Georgia Southern with a little more urgency than anyone imagined after the opener. The Tigers will try to steady things Saturday night at 7:30 p.m. ET on the ACC Network, and while the matchup still comes with a lopsided point spread in Clemsons favor, the focus inside the building is on cleaning up the issues that showed up in the loss to LSU.
Run defense is one of the obvious areas to monitor, and the offense also has questions to answer after a shaky start in Baton Rouge. A first home game usually brings a chance to settle in and reset the tone, but this one now carries the kind of early-season pressure that can shape the conversation around Clemson if the Tigers dont look sharper against Georgia Southern. [Read more 🡒]