Miami Hurricanes could be without healthy tight end versus Pittsburgh
The last two healthy scholarship tight ends on the Miami Hurricanes roster Brevin Jordan and Will Mallory both went down with injuries in Saturday’s win at Virginia Tech.
Jordan’s ankle rolled under the Virginia Tech defender early in the game. X-Rays were inconclusive. Mallory suffered a knee injury and was seen wearing a brace on his knee on the sideline according to sideline reporter Josh Darrow on the Miami Hurricanes official broadcast.
Jordan was seen wearing a boot after the game. Christy Cabrera Chirinos of Sun Sentinel reported on Twitter after the game that Jordan and Mallory will have MRIs forthcoming. Jordan and Mallory become the third and fourth Miami Hurricanes tight ends injured this season.
Michael Irvin II was first on the depth chart before suffering a torn MCL during August training camp. That ended Irvin’s 2018 season. Irvin’s injury was followed by a knee injury to Sophomore tight end Brian Polendey in September.
Those injuries leave Miami with no healthy scholarship tight ends for next Saturday’s game if Jordan and Mallory cannot play. Jordan has been a huge part of the Miami offense this season. He is second on the team with 30 receptions and four touchdown catches and third with 275 yards receiving.
Mallory was productive on Saturday when Jordan was lost for the game with the injury. He had three receptions for 28 yards. Mallory now has five receptions for 34 yards this season.
On the post-game show, Miami Hurricanes Head Coach Mark Richt said that if Jordan and Mallory cannot play next week that walk-on Nicholas Ducheine is a possibility. Ducheine did not play against Virginia Tech because Richt and his staff felt he wasn’t ready.
Couple quick notes from Mark Richt’s post-game presser: Nothing yet on the extent of injuries to Brevin Jordan and Will Mallory. MRIs coming. And he said he stands 100 percent behind Mike Pinckney’s mistake. Called it an “honest” mistake.
— Christy Chirinos (@ChristyChirinos) November 18, 2018
In lieu of the injuries to Jordan and Mallory on Saturday Richt utilized more four wide receiver sets against Virginia Tech. That allowed Miami to call more bubble screens and occasional screens to the running backs.
Miami Tight Ends and Special Teams Coach Todd Hartley gave a shoutout to Jordan and Mallory after the game and left no doubt that they will recover and be back in the Hurricanes lineup.
Love my boys so much man. Pure, genuine love, and it kills me to see them hurting. But if I know one thing, @Brevinjordan and @WillMallory_25 gonna be just fine!! My boys got that DAWG in them!! 💪🏻💪🏻💪🏻🙌🏻🙌🏻🙌🏻 pic.twitter.com/Ai6YBjtM7c
— Todd Hartley (@coach_thartley) November 18, 2018
Miami has the entire week of practice to figure out what they are going to do at tight end. The Hurricanes have an extra day or two to prepare for Pittsburgh compared to last year’s game. Miami and Pittsburgh will play on Saturday, versus last year’s game at Heinz Field the day after Thanksgiving.
Next. Miami Hurricanes doing the right thing buring Cam Davis redshirt. dark
That gives Miami one more day of practice and not have to travel. The win over Virginia Tech was Miami’s sixth of the season making them bowl eligible. That takes a ton of pressure off the Hurricanes to have to win against the Panthers next week to become assure themselves a bowl bid.