Clemson received good news on Sunday night, announcing that injured quarterback Deshaun Watson and offensive lineman David Beasley did not suffer major injuries in the Tigers’ 28-6 loss to AP No. 17 Georgia Tech on Sunday and could return this season. Watson was diagnosed with a sprained LCL and a bone bruise, while Beasley was tagged with Patellar tendon inflammation.
“We received some great news tonight,” head coach Dabo Swinney said in a statement. “Both players are not seriously injured, something we feared Saturday. They are listed day-to-day and their status will be evaluated later this week.”
Watson left the game after being tackled on a seven-yard run late in the first quarter. He completed 5-of-7 passes for 27 yards and rushed seven times for 40 yards before his exit. The bad news for Clemson was that he finished the game as the Tigers’ leading passer and second-leading rusher despite missing the final three quarters. Clemson gained only 190 yards as replacement Cole Stoudt completed 3-of-11 passes for 19 yards and three interceptions.
Watson ranks second nationally in passing efficiency with 1,197 yards and 12 touchdowns on 79-of-118 passing. He also leads the nation in yards per attempt among quarterbacks with at least 100 attempts.
Beasley, a senior, has started for most of the past three seasons.
The loss dropped the Tigers out of the AP Top 25 and also out of pole position for obtaining the ACC’s Orange Bowl berth assuming Florida State reaches the College Football Playoff.
Watson’s return would, however, significantly increase Clemson’s chances of accomplishing the only thing it has left to play for: beating South Carolina for the first time since 2008.