South Carolina football fans have almost gotten numb to injury news this season. The Gamecocks have been one of the country’s most hurt teams, and the offensive line and wide receiver positions have been hit the hardest by the injury bug.
Heading into this Saturday’s must-win game against the Vanderbilt Commodores, South Carolina football coach Shane Beamer has updated his team’s injury report several times. In speaking to the media after the Jacksonville State game last Saturday, during his Sunday teleconference, his Tuesday media availability, and during Thursday night’s Carolina Calls, the Gamecock headman has offered plenty of updates on the status of his guys.
On the offensive line, long-term injuries to Jaylen Nichols, Ryan Brubaker, and Markee Anderson have had them out all season. They will be joined in street clothes this weekend by Trai Jones (who missed last week with an ankle injury suffered against Texas A&M) and Cason Henry (who returned from an eight-week injury last week before exiting the Jacksonville State game).
Wide receiver Juice Wells will not play yet again, and running back DK Joyner is out with an ankle injury he sustained last weekend against JSU. It is unclear if Wells will return this season as he rehabs his injured foot or how severe Joyner’s ankle injury is.
Trey Knox is questionable after dealing with a hamstring issue the past two weeks, but Shane Beamer said twice this week that he expects the tight end to be available this Saturday against Vanderbilt. Versatile offensive linemen Vershon Lee and Jakai Moore are “not 100%” according to Beamer but are available.
Recently-injured players like Xavier Legette (WR), Ahmarean Brown (WR), Mario Anderson (RB), Tree Babalade (OL), Tro Baugh (OL), O’Donnell Fortune (CB), David Spaulding (DB), and Hunter Rogers (LS) are not on the injury report.