By Will Vandervort.
Could Deshaun Watson be ready for the Wake Forest game on Nov. 6 in Winston-Salem, N.C.?
Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney said during his weekly teleconference Monday that his freshman quarterback will do a little bit more with the football than he did last week.
Just two weeks removed from breaking his right index finger in his right (throwing) hand and having two screws put in place to fuse the bone together, there is a chance Watson could be throwing in practice when the Tigers get back after it on Wednesday.
Watson broke his finger when it got stuck in the facemask of a Louisville player on the Tigers’ 11th offensive play of the game.
“We will see on Wednesday when we get back out there and where he is,” Swinney said. “We think he can be able to do a little bit more this week. They have a different splint for him this week that will give him a little bit more range of motion so we will see.”
Last week, Watson started throwing a Nerf football to help get him used to gripping a ball, again.
Watson isn’t the only player the Tigers, who are coming off a 16-6 victory over Syracuse on Saturday, are hoping to get back next week.
Swinney said wide receiver Charone Peake (knee) is going to do some running this week, reserve center Jay Guillermo (foot) is continuing to improve and tight end Jordan Leggett (knee) is getting better.
“We have a lot of guys we have to get healed up and well. Hopefully when we go up to Wake Forest we will have a few more pieces to the puzzle the next time we play,” Swinney said.
Swinney also mentioned guys like center Ryan Norton, left guard David Beasley and running back C.J. Davidson (shoulder), who were banged up in the win over Syracuse, are expected to play against Wake Forest.
The off week came at a good time for Clemson (6-2, 5-1 ACC). The Tigers have played three straight physical games against Louisville, Boston College and Syracuse.
“I’m proud of our guys. It is really just another hard fought, excellent win,” he said.
Swinney did confirm Davidson did not miss the second half of Saturday’s game because of his injured shoulder. The Clemson coach said running backs coach Tony Elliott went with freshman Wayne Gallman to start the second half and then Gallman got hot.
Gallman rushed for 101 yards on 28 carries for the Tigers as he became the first running back this season to go over the century mark in a game.
Davidson was available to play despite the shoulder injury. The junior running back fumbled and lost the ball on a second quarter pitch that might have gone for a touchdown when the Tigers where down in the red zone following an interception by safety Robert Smith.
“Tony felt like Wayne got hot in the second half and rode him,” Swinney said. “We probably played him a little too much in the second half, but Tony felt good about what he was seeing out of Wayne. Obviously, he was disappointed with C.J. there in the first half.
“C.J. has done a lot of good things, he really has. I like how he is running the football, but he has to be consistent in all areas. Wayne did an excellent job and ran harder. He is getting better and better, but I’m really pleased with his protection and how he protected his protection some Saturday night.”
Swinney went on to say he wanted to get Tyshon Dye in the game, but there was never really a good time or the right situation for the freshman running back. Dye has been out all year after tearing his Achilles last February. He also missed all of last season while recovering from back surgery.
“I like where he is right now and with another two weeks of practice to get game ready, I think that is going to be more of a benefit for him.”