Senior running back Jay Haynes was unable to take part in Clemson’s first scrimmage of fall camp last Saturday, due to an injury suffered in camp earlier in the week.

Head coach Dabo Swinney gave the latest on Haynes’ status following the Tigers’ second scrimmage of camp on Thursday at Memorial Stadium, saying he is still “working his way back” from the injury.

“Not quite,” Swinney said when asked if Haynes is back. “He’s still working his way back. He was back and going full speed, then he kind of had a little setback. Now he’s working his way back again.”

Haynes has not played since tearing an ACL in the 2024 ACC Championship Game win over SMU. While recovering from the knee injury, Haynes suffered a setback that kept him out all of last season and limited him during the spring. He was finally a full go when camp started in early August, before dealing with this latest injury.

Haynes enters the 2026 season having rushed for 330 yards and four touchdowns on 49 carries. He has also reeled in nine catches for 52 yards and a touchdown through the air.

His most productive season came in 2024, when he appeared in 13 games and rushed 43 times for 295 yards, with three touchdowns, while adding seven receptions for 32 yards.

After Thursday’s scrimmage, Swinney said sophomore wide receiver Juju Preston is also “a little banged up right now.”

“Still waiting to get him back,” Swinney said. “He was having a great camp, so hopefully we’ll get him back here soon.”

Preston, a Virginia state record holder who enjoyed a prolific prep career, has dealt with various injuries since enrolling at Clemson the summer of 2025. Last year, he played seven offensive snaps in two game appearances while redshirting. The 6-foot, 155-pounder made his college debut vs. Furman, catching a 4-yard pass and recording a 10-yard punt return.

Preston was credited with 185 receptions for 3,700 yards and 67 touchdowns during his prep career. He is the all-time receiving touchdown leader in Virginia state history.

A former three-star recruit, Preston transferred to Hayfield Secondary School for his senior season in 2024 after helping Freedom High School to the Class 6 VHSL State Championships in 2022 and 2023, going 28-0 over those two seasons. He left Freedom as its all-time receiving leader after only three years.