CLEMSON – There have been six weeks and nearly five full games since the last time Clemson fans got a look at quarterback Christopher Vizzina in action.

The Tigers’ veteran signal-caller, originally dubbed Clemson’s starter ahead of the season, suffered a fracture in his elbow in the first quarter against Georgia Southern back on Sept. 12. 

One week earlier, in the Tigers’ season-opener, Vizzina made his second career start in a loss to LSU, completing 10-of-16 passes for 83 yards. Last season, he made a start against SMU, throwing for 317 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions.

Despite head coach Dabo Swinney originally telling media members that Vizzina’s status was “day-to-day,” after the injury, the senior has not entered back into a game since leaving the Georgia Southern game after three offensive series.

While freshman Tait Reynolds has been running the Tigers’ offense, Vizzina has been working to get his full range of motion back in his non-throwing arm.

On Monday night, the veteran had his best practice since the injury.

“(Vizzina’s) been awesome, and actually, last night was his best practice since Georgia Southern,” Swinney said at his weekly press conference Tuesday. “He started looking like CV, which was really good. So it’s the best I’ve seen him look. So it’s really encouraging.”

Over the last few weeks, Swinney noted that Vizzina’s biggest struggle keeping him from being available was the ability to fully bend his left arm and get enough torque to throw the ball. On Monday, two days after Clemson’s (4-2, 2-1 ACC) 37-0 win over Charleston Southern in which Vizzina did not appear, Swinney saw that demonstrated in the practice setting. 

“I thought he was able to really rip the ball, and he had a smile on his face because I think this is the best he’s been,” Swinney said. 

However, the road to Vizzina’s return has been far more than just physical. The senior also had to deal with the mental load of remaining a team leader despite not being able to play in any of Clemson’s last four games. 

According to his head coach, who has known him for the better part of a decade, Vizzina’s leadership has remained intact through this period.

“He’s been a great leader,” Swinney said. “I mean, he’s in our leadership meetings, he’s talking to the guys. He’s encouraging the guys. I mean, he’s awesome. I mean, the heart breaks for him because, like I said, he just didn’t even get a chance to really compete, outside of the three series that was his last three series, and he’s hurt. He’s got a fracture in his arm, and he hasn’t really been able to do what he needs to do.”

Though Swinney affirmed after Clemson’s most recent win that Reynolds will remain the starter, Vizzina will no longer be just an emergency option for offensive coordinator Chad Morris and the Tigers.

“It’s been more about just getting him ready to be an emergency guy, and now he’s in a part where I think we’re getting ready where he can play based on what I saw last night,” Swinney said. “I was very encouraged, but from a leadership standpoint, he’s been awesome.”

The Tigers will have more of a clear picture of Vizzina’s availability this week ahead of Clemson’s upcoming matchup against Virginia Tech at Memorial Stadium this Saturday.