Miami got a brief scare with one of its most important defensive linemen Saturday, and it underscored a problem the Hurricanes can’t afford to ignore.
Defensive tackle Ahmad Moten was taken to the locker room in the first quarter against Wake Forest after appearing to favor his left arm on the way off the field. He did not return for the rest of that defensive series, making him the third Miami starting defender to get banged up in this young season. Both starting cornerbacks, Xavier Lucas and OJ Frederique, are already expected to miss several weeks after injuries in the season opener against Stanford.
Moten, though, came back in the second quarter after being listed as questionable.
His status matters because he’s not just another body in the rotation. The fifth-year senior has started 19 games and earned All-ACC second-team honors last season after posting 31 tackles, 9 tackles for loss and 4.5 sacks. At 6-foot-3 and 300 pounds, he’s one of Miami’s most draft-eligible players and has been projected as an early-round pick in the 2027 NFL Draft.
That makes his availability a major deal for a defense that was expected to be a strength. Miami lost Reuben Bain and Akheem Mesidor to the NFL Draft, but there was still plenty of optimism around the unit thanks to the talent coming back and the recruiting work Mario Cristobal’s staff has done over the past several years.
Now the Hurricanes are being forced to test that depth much earlier than planned.
They’ve already had to move safety Bryce Fitzgerald to cornerback to help cover for the injuries at that spot. If Moten had been unable to continue, Miami likely would have leaned harder on Armondo Blount and Keona Davis for more interior snaps. Blount’s ability to move inside or outside is especially important if the Hurricanes want more pressure from the front four.
Through two games, that pressure hasn’t come easily. Miami has struggled to get to the quarterback and create negative plays, and Moten is a key piece in fixing that.
The encouraging part for the Hurricanes is that Moten did return. But the bigger message from his injury scare is hard to miss: Miami needs more of its younger players ready to go, and fast. Nearly everyone on the roster saw the field last week against Florida A&M, but tougher games over the next several weeks are going to demand even more from that group.
In Other News...
Miami's Wake Forest Win Came With A Brutal Price
Miamis win over Wake Forest did more than keep the Hurricanes moving forward in the schedule. It also left the depth chart thinner, with coach Mario Cristobal confirming that running back Marty Brown suffered a season-ending knee injury in the game. Wide receiver Josh Moore will also be out for the rest of the year after an upper-body injury, while linebacker Ezekiel Marcelin Jr. is expected to miss several weeks.
The timing makes the injuries especially painful for a Miami team trying to stay steady through the grind of the season. Cristobal did offer a few useful updates beyond the bad news, and Jordan Lyle is available to play again after serving consequences tied to a legal issue. For Miami, the challenge now is not just replacing production, but doing it without letting one tough afternoon reshape the bigger picture. [Read more 🡒]
Miami's Injury Problem Just Got Worse Before Central Michigan
Mario Cristobals postgame injury update after Miamis win over Wake Forest brought a sharper edge to what had already been a physical stretch for the Hurricanes. CharMar Brown and Josh Moore are done for the season, and Eezekiel Marcelin is expected to miss a few weeks with a lower-body injury, leaving Miami to sort through another round of personnel hits on both sides of the ball.
The timing is hardly ideal with Central Michigan next on the schedule, especially with Malachi Toney and Mark Fletcher Jr. also dealing with bumps but still projected to be available. Miami has managed to keep moving forward, but the injury list is starting to touch enough key spots that each practice rep matters a little more than it did a week ago. [Read more 🡒]
Miami Suddenly Has A Big Offensive Depth Question
Miamis offense took another hit this week when Mario Cristobal confirmed that running back CharMar Marty Brown and wide receiver Joshua Moore are both done for the rest of the 2026 season because of injuries. Browns setback came on a right knee hyperextension against Wake Forest, while Moore is dealing with an upper-body injury, leaving the Hurricanes to sort through another round of personnel changes at two spots where depth matters.
For a team trying to keep its offense on track, the timing is especially tough because these are the kinds of injuries that force younger players into bigger roles before they may be fully ready. Miami now has to lean on the next wave in the room, and the coming weeks will show how well the Hurricanes can absorb those losses without letting the depth chart become a bigger issue than the injuries themselves. [Read more 🡒]