Clemson football gets a badly needed open date this week.
Win or lose Clemson football needs an open date as bad as any team in the country. The injury list for the Tigers is likely to be longer than this article.
Clemson football, a program that has been relatively lucky in regards to injuries the last few years seemingly cannot catch a break in 2020. The loss of projected number one receiver Justyn Ross was a blow to the offense. Ross was expected to step into the role vacated by current Cincinnati Bengal Tee Higgins
On defense, the Tigers lost projected defensive starters, Justin Foster, before the season and played without Xavier Thomas early in the year as he worked his way back from coronavirus. Star defensive tackle Tyler Davis has been limited to three appearances this year. Defensive leader and fifth-year senior James Skalski missed his second consecutive game last night as he recovers from a groin injury.
This list is just a sample from what is a banged-up football team.
Injuries have clearly depleted the Clemson football roster.
You will never hear the Clemson football coaching staff make an excuse for wins or losses but when you are missing as many starters as the Tigers currently are due to injury, it takes its toll on the entire program and we have seen that the last two weeks against Boston College and Notre Dame.
It is hard to imagine what type of roster Clemson football would have this week if they had to play next Saturday.
Not many coaches will ever say the open date comes at a bad time, the Clemson staff has to be jumping for joy that they finally can rest this team, allow them time to recover physically and mentally before they sprint to the finish.
At this point, Clemson football’s postseason fortunes will boil down to how healthy they can get and remain during the final three regular-season games.
The Tigers desperately need Skalski, Davis, and Mike Jones back in the lineup and they need them to be able to remain healthy to have a chance to make a run.