Dabo Swinney gives update on two injured defensive players

Not only was the Clemson football team's loss to Louisville last Saturday demoralizing on the scoreboard, but it also was damaging in the sense that the Tigers saw several key players leave the game with injuries. Two players who were banged up during the game were defensive linemen Peter Woods and Tre' Williams.

Meeting with the media following Wednesday's practice, head coach Daby Swinney provided an update on both players. Fortunately, it appears that each has a shot to play this weekend against Virginia Tech.

Saying that both are "progressing pretty good", he indicated that Woods and Williams are day-to-day.

“A little bit better each day,” Swinney said. “Still just Wednesday, and so they’ve made a little progression each day. We’ve still got a couple more days before we’ve got to head up (to Virginia Tech). We leave here I think at 1 on Friday, so every day’s gonna help and every minute.”

According to Swinney, Woods is dealing with a head injury. Swinney even went to far as to call the play on which Woods was injured "dangerous".

“It was a kickout block," he said "and the guy kind of hit him with the top of his head. Really kind of dangerous on the guy that hit him, actually,” Swinney said. “Kind of hit him kind of high. He tried to kind of keep going a little bit, but it just didn’t feel right."

“The kid that hit him just kind of lowered his head and hit him in a bad spot."

Thus far in 2024, Woods has racked up 14 total tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss, a sack and a forced fumble. The 6-foot-3, 315-pound sophomore also missed some action earlier this season with a leg injury thanks to a chop-block against Appalachian State on Sept. 7.

Swinney did not provide a specific update on Williams. The senior defensive tackle has ten total tackles this year with one for loss.

If these two interior defensive linemen are unable to play this week, Clemson could be rather thin at tackle. That's because fellow DT Demonte Capehart has already been ruled out for this week's game after also being injured against Louisville.

Perhaps all of the defensive line injuries were one reason that Louisville was able to run for 210 yards and three TDs against the Tigers. Stopping the run will be a key this week as well given that Va. Tech has the No. 27 rushing attack in the NCAA averaging 201.4 yards per game. Thus, Swinney's team will need as many healthy and capable defensive tackles as it can muster.