Clemson enters fall camp in strong shape, with only one long-term injury and a handful of players on a limited basis, head coach Dabo Swinney announced before the first practice. The Tigers are as healthy as they’ve been all year, with most contributors set to participate fully as preseason work begins.
The only long-term absence is freshman linebacker Billy Wilkes, who suffered a torn ACL in the spring game and will be out for an extended period.
Several Tigers are in “green” jerseys as they ramp back up—Jay Haynes (RB), Armon Mason (DL), Ari Watford (DL), and Watson Young (OL). These players are cleared for practice, just without live contact for now. Young is expected to be fully cleared by tomorrow.
A few are in “yellow” for minor short-term injuries: Olsen Patt-Henry (TE) is recovering from a tonsillectomy; Juju Preston (WR) has a hamstring issue; and Peyton Streko (RB) is managing shin pain. All are expected back within days or weeks, with no long-term concerns.
Swinney summed up the mood: “For the first time…we actually get a chance to be a complete team getting out on the field, so that’ll be a lot of fun.”
| Player | Pos | Status/Issue | Expected Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| Billy Wilkes | LB | Torn ACL (spring) | Out for an extended period |
| Jay Haynes | RB | No Live Contact (green jersey) | Full go soon |
| Armon Mason | DL | No Live Contact (green jersey) | Full go soon |
| Ari Watford | DL | No Live Contact (green jersey) | Full go soon |
| Watson Young | OL | No Live Contact (green jersey) | Full go (tomorrow) |
| Olsen Patt-Henry | TE | Tonsil surgery (yellow jersey) | Out for a few days |
| Juju Preston | WR | Hamstring (yellow jersey) | 2 to 6 weeks |
| Peyton Streko | RB | Shin pain (yellow jersey) | 2 to 6 weeks |