FSU injury updates: Pete Thamel reveals status of Darius Washington, Cam Riley, others vs. Cal

Florida State has received some positive injury news ahead of Saturday night’s game against Cal. The Seminoles are getting back several key players as they attempt to win their first game of the season, per ESPN insider Pete Thamel.

“Sources: Florida State will get some key players back for the Cal game. LT Darius Washington will return after a freak pre-game injury before Memphis,” Thamel posted on Twitter. “S Shyheim Brown and WR Jalen Brown will also both play. LB Cam Riley is a game-time decision and RT Jeremiah Byers will be out.”

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Even with Riley being a game-time decision and Byers being out, overall that is positive news for Florida State.

Darius Washington started 10 games last season and the first two games of 2024, prior to missing the Memphis matchup.

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Shyheim Brown is the leading tackler for Florida State with 21, despite missing the Memphis game. He started the first two games of the year.

Jalen Brown has five catches for 25 yards on the season. He started the first three games of 2024.

Cam Riley is the second-leading tackler for Florida State with 19. He has come off the bench in all three games this season.

As for Jeremiah Byers, who is out, he started the season opener against Georgia Tech for FSU, but he missed games against Boston College and Memphis.

Florida State desperately needs a win against Cal on Saturday to try to get its season on track.

Mike Norvell emphasizes the need for Florida State to respond after slow start

After recording an undefeated regular season record last season and winning the ACC Championship, Florida State is 0-3 in the 2024 campaign. Understandably, it’s been a frustrating stretch for the Seminoles. However, head coach Mike Norvell won’t allow his team to give up.

“We don’t have a choice,” Norvell said. “We found a situation nobody wants to be in. That’s pretty evident. But we still all have desires of who we want to be and what we want it to look like, and so we get to make the choice of that.

“If we’re just driven by circumstance, and when it’s all good, then, ‘Oh, now I’m going to work hard.’ No, that’s not right. We got knocked on our butt three times. We haven’t played good. We haven’t done the things necessary. But, we got the opportunity for today.”

Florida State entered the season as the No. 10 team in the country. Disaster struck the Seminoles immediately when they fell to an unranked Georgia Tech team in Week 0 in Ireland.

With millions of eyes watching the Seminoles fall apart in the Emerald Isle, the pressure was on for FSU to perform in their follow-up game. They failed to do so, losing by an even larger margin to Boston College.

With an 0-2 record against ACC opponents, Florida State hosted Group of Five school Memphis with hopes of having a bounce-back game. The Tigers pounced on the Seminoles and escaped with a convincing 20-12 victory.