Kyron Drones, Collin Schlee injury updates: Brent Pry updates chance QBs playing this week

Injuries have become a major challenge for Virginia Tech Hokies head coach Brent Pry this season. In particular, there are major concerns about the quarterback position going into the final week of the regular season.

Both quarterbacks Kyron Drones and Collin Schlee are battling injuries. For the time being, Brent Pry isn’t sure if either one of them is going to be able to play on Saturday against rival Virginia.

“I don’t have the answer to that right now,” Brent Pry said. “They’re both questionable. I’d say Schlee is a little further along, but I wish I felt better about it today.”

Drones wasn’t available last week against Duke. That’s after he tried to go on his foot injury against Clemson the week before but needed to be replaced by Schlee. Unfortunately, Schlee then left the game against Duke, only to be replaced by Pop Watson.

“Limited [in practice]. To a degree, they may just be watching,” Pry said. “They are in treatment protocol. Both of them.”

Brent Pry was asked, specifically, if Collin Schlee had to go into concussion protocol, though he didn’t get specific about the issues that he’s battling.

“He’s banged up,” Pry said. “He’s been banged up. He took some shots earlier over the course of the last couple of weeks and in that game. He’s got a couple of things he’s gotta get well.”

Kyron Drones came into the season as Virginia Tech’s top quarterback. He’s completed 60.7 percent of his passes for 1,562 yards and 10 touchdowns to six interceptions. He’s also rushed for 336 yards and six touchdowns, both of which are second on the team in rushing. For his part, Collin Schlee is completing 53.1 percent of passes for 346 yards and three touchdowns to an interception.

With the top two quarterbacks questionable, Pop Watson will get the majority of first team reps in practice. A three-star recruit in the Class of 2023, according to the On3 Industry Ranking, Watson played his high school football at Springfield Central in Massachusetts. There, he was the 44th-ranked quarterback that recruiting cycle.

“I think so. Obviously, right now, he’ll get the reps with the 1s in practice today. He needs it. He’ll benefit from it. Collin and Kyron have had a ton of reps all year. Obviously, Kyron for two years. So, Pop getting these significant snaps with the starting group is going to help him. He repped last week a bunch with the second group. It’ll be good to get him this work,” Pry said.

“The other guy that is certainly getting some attention right now in practice is Davi [Belfort]. He’s getting some work. Just like in that game Saturday night, he was one play away from having to lead the offense. Right now we have four quarterbacks we are trying to get ready to play.”

Virginia Tech enters their final game of the season against Virginia needing a win to get to bowl eligibility. That’s the same position the Cavaliers are in. After losing three games in a row, this is a massive game for the Hokies.