Last month, Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney said that transfer defensive tackle Markus Strong would likely be out for the season after the injury he suffered against LSU.

Strong suffered a lower leg injury in the season opener against LSU on Sept. 5 and subsequently underwent surgery, with Swinney saying “Strong is gonna probably be done for the year unfortunately.”

However, during his radio show Monday night, Swinney revealed positive injury news, saying Strong has a shot to return late this season, possibly for the postseason.

“Obviously he got hurt, although maybe there’s a chance we get him back. I thought he was done for the year,” Swinney said. “But maybe we get him back for postseason. I’m hearing good things about him, so we’ll see.”

Strong, a senior, spent his first three college seasons at Oklahoma from 2023-25, helping the Sooners to the College Football Playoff in his final season with the program, before transferring to Clemson in January.

The 6-foot-3, 295-pounder was credited with 10 tackles (four for loss) and three sacks in 14 games at Oklahoma. He played 11 games in 2025, logging seven tackles (two for loss) and a sack, after appearing in two games in 2024, with both of his two tackles on the year being sacks. He appeared in one game while redshirting in 2023.