Mario Cristobal unsure if Zion Nelson will play in 2022

Miami coach Mario Cristobal has provided at least a half dozen Zion Nelson injury updates this season, with local reporters constantly wondering when the starting tackle might rejoin the action with the Hurricanes currently struggling.

Nelson hasn’t played since the Texas A&M game on Sept. 17, still dealing with the after-effects of an offseason knee surgery. He’s been listed as a game-time decision for multiple games this year without playing, but now Cristobal seems to be striking a more somber tone on whether he’ll be able to return at all in 2022.

“I’d like to say yes but I don’t know,” Cristobal said Monday. “I feel like we’ve gone back and forth thinking he’s going to be ready, thinking he’s not. Obviously he’s a great player. Obviously he’s missed tremendously, but we’re still going to put health at the forefront and right now he’s just not ready. He’s just not.”

Nelson started all 12 games for Miami at left tackle in 2021 and was viewed as a staple on the offensive line coming into the season. He had 32 career starts going into 2022.

So far, he hasn’t been able to play. Now the ‘Canes are potentially down starting quarterback Tyler Van Dyke, too, with the sophomore quarterback injured in a 45-21 loss to Duke over the weekend.

Cristobal said he hoped to have more on Nelson’s status shortly.

“I’ll do this. I’ll have a better, a more tangible answer for you here in the next couple days,” Cristobal said. “But right now we’ve just put him on ice and let him get well.”

While Zion Nelson’s injury recovery continues, ‘Canes turn to backup QB Jake Garcia

Unfortunately for Miami, life goes on with or without Zion Nelson. To that end, Cristobal confirmed backup quarterback Jake Garcia will start Saturday in a game at Virginia if Van Dyke is unable to play.

Cristobal did not provide an update on Van Dyke’s injury status on Monday.

“It would be Jake first,” Cristobal said. “It would be Jake first.”

After entering the Duke game for Van Dyke on Saturday, the backup quarterback finished 13-of-21 passing for 198 yards and two touchdowns, but he also threw three interceptions and fumbled twice in the loss.

On the season, Garcia has gone 32-of-49 passing for 470 yards and two touchdowns, with three interceptions. Saturday’s outing against Duke was his largest workload, though he also threw 19 passes in a loss against MTSU.