Entering 2014, North Carolina State will be without a key piece of its defensive puzzle for at least a handful of games -- and, perhaps, longer.
Head coach Dave Doeren confirmed this past weekend that M.J. Salahuddin sustained a significant knee injury during practice last week. The linebacker is expected to miss at least the first month of the season, and could very well miss the entire season.
Doeren, though, didn’t completely close the door on a return, although he doesn’t sound confident the player will return this year either.
“I hate to see it for M.J., like I do for any player, (he’s) maybe one of the better workers on our football team,” the coach said, with one of teammates, cornerback Juston Burris, saying, “We’re going to miss M.J.; he’s a great player.”
Salahuddin has played in every game since coming to the Wolfpack in 2012, starting five games in 2013. He entered summer camp this year as the unquestioned starter at middle linebacker.
(Photo credit: North Carolina State athletics)