Clemson Freshman OL Brayden Jacobs Lost for the Season After Freak Celebration Injury
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Clemson suffered an unexpected setback on Sunday when head coach Dabo Swinney announced that freshman offensive lineman Brayden Jacobs will miss the remainder of the season after suffering a foot injury — one that didn’t even occur during the game itself.
“Really kind of funky, unusual injury, but Brayden Jacobs has got a foot injury, and that’s going to pretty much put him down for the remainder of the season as well with just a couple of games left,” Swinney said. “It really wasn’t a part of the game. I think it was just him celebrating after the game out on the field, and I think he just kind of came down on his foot wrong, and so he’ll be out.”
Jacobs, a massive and athletic freshman who had already shown the potential to help Clemson at multiple spots, played a significant role this year and was positioned to continue contributing down the stretch. Swinney said the injury is disappointing but not long-term.
“I hate that for Brayden, but the positive for him is that he should be ready to go for spring and all that,” Swinney said. “He did have an opportunity, as we all know, to play a huge role, to become a starter, and to play really, really well at two positions this season, so that’s a positive and something that he can take with him as he goes into his offseason and gets himself back ready to go.”
The nature of the injury — occurring during postgame celebration — prompted a follow-up question during the teleconference. Swinney said it’s unusual, but not unheard of during his coaching career.
“We’ve had that before,” he said. “Heck, we’ve had a guy. I lost a receiver one year running down the hill. Gene Pate from my wideouts when I was the receiver coach, he was out for the year, so I’ve been a part of it, but that was kind of crazy, and I think he just jumped up in jubilation or something and just kind of came down awkward. Didn’t really see it, but that’s what he said, and unfortunate, just, again, just enough of an injury that’s going to put him out for the remainder of the season.”
Jacobs’ loss, paired with the season-ending injury to senior captain Walker Parks, leaves Clemson down two key offensive linemen heading into the final stretch.
Swinney emphasized that Jacobs’ future remains bright and that his freshman season still offered plenty for him to build on once he returns in the spring.
