To say that Florida State may be at less than full strength offensively for its next game would be an understatement.
Both running back Karlos Williams and wide receiver Rashad Greene suffered injuries in the win over Wake Forest that puts their respective availabilities for the Syracuse game in doubt. The former suffered an ankle injury while the latter a concussion.
Of the two, it appears Greene has the best chance of being cleared for the Orange game.
“Rashad’s response [Monday] was really good. [He did not have any] lingering effects. He still has to go to protocol and a step process to come back,” head coach Jimbo Fisher said. “He had the symptoms of concussion and now he’ll go through the protocol and our doctor here, we have an expert here and we feel very comfortable with the hands he’s in. He’ll make all of the decisions.”
As for Williams, Fisher said “I would say yes” when asked if the back would be sidelined this weekend.
Williams is far and away the Seminoles’ leading rusher with 353 yards and five touchdowns. He’s also the team’s fourth-leading receiver with 12 catches.
Green has 38 receptions for 576 yards, more than double the team’s No. 2 receiver. He’s also four catches away from breaking the school’s career receptions leader.
In addition to the two skill players’ uncertainty, starting center Austin Barron has already been ruled out of the Week 7 game. Barron suffered a fractured arm in the Wake win and is out indefinitely.
But wait, there’s more.
Backup quarterback Sean McGuire, who started the Clemson win as Jameis Winston served a one-game suspension, will be out for at least the Syracuse game after suffering a hand injury against Wake. Winston’s backup this weekend will be either be redshirt freshman John Franklin or walk-on redshirt freshman Troy Cook, neither of whom have thrown a pass at the collegiate level.
“Sometimes the gods smile on you, sometimes they don’t,” Fisher said of the recent spate of injuries. “That doesn’t mean you still can’t have success. You’ve got to have a plan and everybody has attrition.”