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Although the University is not releasing a full injury report weekly, Miami Hurricanes Head Coach Mark Richt updated the status of several players after practice today.
First up, star WR Ahmmon Richards and S Jaquan Johnson will both be held out of this week’s game against FIU.
Mark Richt says that neither WR Ahmmon Richards nor S Jaquan Johnson will play Saturday against FIU.
— Christy Chirinos (@ChristyChirinos) September 20, 2018
Not unexpected, but now official.
Richards is nursing a knee injury sustained in the LSU game, while Johnson is out with a hamstring injury sustained last week at Toledo. Both players will use the additional time to further their recovery.
With the ACC opener coming against North Carolina on a short week — the game is next Thursday night — holding out Richards and Johnson makes sense. And, honestly, if they need to sit next week as well, I’d do that, too (North Carolina is a bad team, and FSU is the next week, so additional rest would be great if possible so Richards and Johnson can return vs the Noles).
Miami’s WR rotation has been solid in Richards’ absence. Senior Darrell Langham and freshmen Brian Hightower and Dee Wiggins have shared snaps at Richards’ position, and speedster Jeff Thomas has blossomed into a superstar from his slot position as well.
Without Johnson in the lineup, look for sophomore S Amari Carter and junior S Robert Knowles to get additional snaps. I’d personally like to see freshman S Gurvan Hall get some PT too, because he’s INCREDIBLY talented and will be a force on Miami’s defense for years to come.
Additionally, freshman QB Jarren Williams is battling an abdominal strain, and that has kept him out of practice recently, as well.
Mark Richt also says QB Jarren Williams is dealing with some lasting effects of an abdominal strain he was dealing with earlier in the year.
— Christy Chirinos (@ChristyChirinos) September 20, 2018
He did not practice yesterday or today.
With Malik Rosier still starting, and N’Kosi Perry at QB2, it is likely Williams redshirts in 2018. So, the obvious and smart choice is to let him sit and get healthy as opposed to pushing him and risking further injury to the affected area.
While they were not mentioned today, please be reminded that TEs Michael Irvin II and Brian Polendey are both out for the season, as well. That leaves the freshman duo of Brevin Jordan and Will Mallory the only healthy scholarship players at the TE position. We discussed this earlier this week:
Miami’s Young Tight End Corp Gets Even Thinner Following Polendey’s Injury #TheU #GoCanes https://t.co/pcZfm8dOGu pic.twitter.com/uArZy351Ct
— StateOfTheU.com (@TheStateOfTheU) September 19, 2018
And that should be that.
See you at HRS on Saturday for Miami-FSU!