FSU football coaches update injury status of several key players going into LSU game
Mike Norvell is always going to be tight-lipped about injuries on his football team.
But on Monday, the Florida State football coach and his coordinators gave some updates on a few of the Seminoles’ most important players as they prepare for Sunday night’s prime-time showdown against LSU in New Orleans.
First and foremost, he said wide receiver Johnny Wilson, “definitely felt better yesterday” at practice.
“And it was one of those things in the game where it was close to see whether (he could keep playing),” Norvell said. “He wanted to get back in there. He was moving around pretty well, but obviously we held him for the rest of the game.
“I’m excited to see how the progression of that goes.”
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Wilson injured his ankle after being tackled following his 51-yard catch in the first half of the Seminoles’ 47-7 win over Duquesne. He stayed in for the next play before exiting the game and not returning.
Starting center Darius Washington left the game after the same play and did not come back either.
While Norvell wasn’t asked about his status on Monday, he was asked about the usual starting center, Maurice Smith, who did not dress for Saturday’s season opener.
Smith, a two-year starter for the Seminoles, wasn’t on the depth chart for the Duquesne game, but was back on it for the LSU game. With an “Or” next to his name alongside Washington for the starting duties.
“We’ll see how that continues to progress,” Norvell said. “Maurice really started moving around more this past week. And he’s got a great mindset. We’re excited about this week for him and what that can be.”
Offensive coordinator/offensive line coach Alex Atkins was also asked about Smith’s availability and what a return to the lineup could mean for him and his unit.
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“Maurice has been hungry to get back,” Atkins said. “He knows the offense. He’s been in it for three years. So, I think he’ll be fired up once he says he’s going to practice. I think he will, so I think that’s a good thing to look forward to.”
*** Full summary of Norvell press conference
*** Summary of coordinators’ press conference
On the defensive side of the ball, the most glaring vacancy from the depth chart was cornerback Omarion Cooper.
He wasn’t dressed for the game on Saturday after suffering an undisclosed injury.
Defensive coordinator Adam Fuller was asked about his availability heading into the game against LSU, which has a bevy of talented pass-catchers.
“If we put him out there, Duke will be ready,” Fuller said. “He was out there last night moving around. Duke did everything he could to play in that game. It hurt him. But I told him, ‘You go, you try to get ready and it’s going to be my decision, not yours.’ And I think that helps him feel like he doesn’t need to do above and beyond.
“And so I trust Duke. He works extremely hard in that training room, on the practice field. He’s very reliable. And I know he’ll give everything he can to be out there this coming up Sunday.”
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