Clemson Tigers

> Clemson had a pair of starters miss Saturday’s game against Charleston Southern as safety Andrew Mukuba and receiver Cole Turner were held out with injuries. Swinney shared that Mukuba is “day-to-day but doing good,” while Turner will be back this weekend when Clemson hosts FAU. > > In addition to getting back Turner, Clemson will also have freshman receiver Tink Kelley available against the Owls. Kelley has yet to play in a game this season and the plan is for Clemson to redshirt him. > > [Defensive lineman Vic] Burley has also yet to appear in a game this season, but unlike Kelley, the plan is for Burley to avoid a redshirt and be a regular contributor for the Tigers. > > “[Burley’s] back. He’s back in practice this week. We’ll see how he does today and tomorrow,” Swinney said. “Today will be full pads day and tomorrow will be a shells day, but he just got put back last night into practice. So we’ll see. He’s a guy we hope will be able to help us.”

> One of Clemson’s all-time great kickers, B.T. Potter, was released by the Pittsburgh Steelers after going two for three field-goal attempts and hitting all three of his extra-point attempts. The undrafted free agent will look for a new opportunity and has a chance to join the Steelers practice squad.

The Clemson quarterbacks (and Garrett Riley) are growing out their mustaches for the fall.

> Clemson freshman defensive tackle Vic Burley might miss the team's opener because of injury, but Tigers coach Dabo Swinney said it's nothing that is expected to keep the highly ranked recruit out for the long term. Swinney said Wednesday that a lower body injury might keep Burley out when No. 9 Clemson opens the season at Duke on Sept. 4. > > He got hurt in the Tigers' scrimmage Saturday. The 6-foot-4, 315-pound Burley, who is from Warner Robbins, Georgia, was considered the second-best defensive tackle by 247sports.com coming out of high school. Burley enrolled at Clemson in the spring and was working with the Tigers' defensive tackle rotation, which is led by returning starters Tyler Davis and Ruke Orhorhoro. Swinney said Burley doesn't need surgery.

> Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Justyn Ross exited training camp practice early on Tuesday, taking a cart off of the field as trainers examined his left leg, according to Alex Gold. Ross was reportedly able to walk to the cart under his own power. It’s a worrying sight for Chiefs fans after the second-year receiver just made a healthy return from injury. > > Ross hauled in his first touchdown of the 2023 season on Sunday off a pass from quarterback Shane Buechele. His 15-yard score capped off a five-play, 54-yard drive and cut the Saint’ lead to 17-13.

> Clemson is set to have one of the most dynamic linebacker corps in the ACC, and the decision to cross-train a player or two could make the unit even more dynamic in 2023. Veterans Barrett Carter and Jeremiah Trotter return on the weak side and at middle linebacker, respectively, while strong-side 'backer Wade Woodaz will cross-train at all three. Coach Dabo Swinney likes the additional flexibility that will provide.

> The sophomore took over in the ACC title game for DJ Uiagalelei, leading the Tigers to their 27th conference title. He's now set for his first full season as Clemson's starting quarterback. > > He'll do so as one of the faces of Rhoback's NIL campaign. The former five-star prospect agreed to terms on a multi-year endorsement deal with the activewear company. He becomes the brand's second long-term play; Rhoback is in its second year of a partnership with Alabama quarterback Jalen Milroe.

> The Clemson defense got the better of the Tigers offense for the majority of practices before and during the 2022 season. The offense has done a much better job of holding its own so far in 2023. Players on both sides of the ball have said that the offense has been much better and practices have been more competitive under new offensive coordinator Garrett Riley. That competitiveness apparently led to a fight on Thursday during the "W drill," according to sophomore receiver Antonio Williams. > > "I know y'all weren't there the whole practice. Y'all left before the 'W drill,' if y'all know what that is. Where we get physical and stuff," Williams said. "We had people fighting out there. Dabo [Swinney] had to kick some guys out. But you know, we're competing." Williams added that he feels like the offense got the better of the defense during Thursday's practice.

cross-posted from: https://fanaticus.social/post/251613

> The San Francisco 49ers will be without receiver/returner Ray-Ray McCloud for about two months after he broke his left wrist, coach Kyle Shanahan said Thursday. > > McCloud injured the wrist while trying to haul in a deep pass from quarterback Sam Darnold in Tuesday's practice and is slated to have surgery Friday. He is expected to miss eight weeks. > > "They always say around eight weeks," Shanahan told reporters after Thursday's practice with the Las Vegas Raiders. "It could be a little less. Hopefully, it is. We'll see.

> Former Clemson receiver Amari Rodgers is getting another shot in the NFL. Rodgers has signed with the Indianapolis Colts, the franchise announced on Wednesday. > > To make room for Rodgers, the Colts cut Johnny King. King signed with the Colts in May out of Southeast Missouri State. > > Rodgers joins the Colts after playing in 32 games, with two starts, so far in his NFL career. The 23-year-old was drafted by the Green Bay Packers in the third round of the 2021 NFL Draft. Rodgers spent the 2021 season with the Packers and part of the 2022 season in Green Bay, before being cut.

> “Me, just knowing I can maximize myself here. I got guys, me and Ruke [Orhorhoro] talked about it. We know that we got Coach Eason just got there, and we feel like we had one of our best years just being over here for one year,” the star Clemson defensive lineman began. “Then we got our strength coach, Coach Batson, Coach Dennis Love, he prepared me. My body never felt the way it felt ever since I’ve been there,” Davis continued. “Just knowing all those and knowing all that, I said, why not? Why not have this chance to go win a natty, knowing I got the best linebacker duo and got guys like JP, Sheridan, Nate, Wiggins, RJ Mickens, Andrew Mukuba back there in the secondary, why not just go and have one of the best defense and go win a natty?” > > Davis appeared in 12 games last year for the Tigers, making 11 starts. He had 31 tackles, 9.5 tackles for loss and 5.5 sacks. He has been productive every season for the Tigers, despite battling injuries.

> After three seasons at Coastal Carolina, [Austin] Randall had appeared in 14 games, including all 13 in 2022 — he played mostly as a special teamer. He’s listed as a defensive back for Clemson and, as a walk-on, will likely be gunning for special teams reps again as a path to the field. > > A true freshman in 2022, [his brother] Adam Randall was limited during the season due to an injury. He still played in 12 games for Clemson, catching 10 passes and playing 290 offensive snaps. As a sophomore, he’s expected to play a big role in the Tigers passing offense.

> The Clemson basketball program got an infusion of cash on Thursday afternoon, the school announced in their press release. The release read, “The Clemson University Board of Trustees and the Finance and Facilities Committee gave Phase I approval on a plan for comprehensive improvements to Swann Pavilion and Littlejohn Coliseum, benefiting both men’s and women’s basketball programs, with the recently added gymnastics program beginning competition in the spring of 2024. The project includes renovations of more than 51,000 square feet of existing team spaces and 30,000 square feet of new construction at a cost of $40 million.”

Didn’t see that one coming. Today I learned that MLB teams really just throw out random draft picks once they run out of actual prospects.