Dabo Swinney: Clemson WR Justyn Ross has battled injury all season

Clemson star receiver Justyn Ross left Saturday’s game against UConn during the first quarter with an injury.

Tigers coach Dabo Swinney revealed Sunday evening that the injury was not a new one.

Ross has been battling a foot injury all season, Swinney said on his Sunday teleconference. His status for Saturday’s game against Wake Forest is still to be determined.

“He’s been pretty amazing,” Swinney said. “Justyn has played with a very, very small stress fracture all year long in his foot and hasn’t missed a beat.”

Ross first suffered the injury during the preseason and has played through it all season, from Game 1 against Georgia to Saturday’s game against UConn. It remains to be seen if he will be able to continue to play with it moving forward.

Ross left the game in the first quarter and went to the locker room. He returned to the sideline just before halftime with a walking boot and crutches.

“He just planted wrong. Something that he’s been battling all year long, since Day 1, since before Georgia he’s been battling this. And really he’s done well. He’s really not had any issues with it after he got through the first week or two,” Swinney said. “We’ll see where he is tomorrow and go from there.”

Other Clemson injury news

Ross was just one of several Tigers players who left Saturday’s game against UConn with an injury.

Swinney said he will know later in the week how other guys are doing, including quarterback Taisun Phommachanh. Phommachanh injured his throwing shoulder during the second quarter and did not return.

Clemson also held out several players, including safety Jalyn Phillips. Will Phillips be able to go Saturday?

“I hope so,” Swinney said. “He looked pretty good today. But again, we’ll see where he is once he gets out there.”

Cornerback Andrew Booth Jr., running backs Will Shipley and Kobe Pace and offensive lineman Will Putnam were also held.

“Hopefully that will pay off for us this week as well,” Swinney said.