UVA Injury Report: Kam Butler OUT, Tony Muskett Expected to Play at BC

See injury updates on Kam Butler, Tony Muskett, and a few other injured Cavaliers ahead of Saturday's game at Boston College

Virginia will be without its best defensive player for the game at Boston College on Saturday, as sixth year defensive end Kam Butler will be out with a pectoral injury he suffered in the game against NC State. 

"Definitely wouldn't be able to play this week," UVA head coach Tony Elliott said of Butler during his weekly press conference on Tuesday. "We're hoping for the best. I think it might be more pec than a shoulder. So hopefully we get the MRI results and we get good news that it's not season-ending." 

Butler suffered the injury in the second quarter of the game against NC State and did not play in the second half. Through four games, Butler leads the team and is fifth in the ACC with 3.5 sacks and 5.0 tackles for loss. Virginia will turn to junior Bryce Carter to fill in as the starter at defensive end. 

On UVA's ongoing quarterback situation, Elliott said he anticipates that Tony Muskett will be ready to play and that the plan is to have him start at quarterback if that's the case. 

"Each week, Muskett is getting better," Elliott said. "You want to do what's best for Tony. My philosophy is you don't lose your starting job because of injury. Each week, we go into it with Tony being the guy until we get to the game and we really assess what the situation is. I think he's much closer. I anticipate that he'll be ready to play this week and that's how we'll roll." 

Muskett hasn't played since suffering a left shoulder injury late in the season-opening loss to Tennessee. In his stead, freshman Anthony Colandrea has played very well, throwing for nearly 1,000 yards and five touchdowns in three games, but he has also thrown six interceptions, tied for most in the ACC. Elliott added that he needs to be able to evaluate Muskett in a real-game environment in order to fairly and accurately compare him and Colandrea moving forward. 

In other injury news, Virginia will be without at least two more key contributors on the defensive side of the ball, with junior linebacker Lex Long (foot) and graduate defensive end Paul Akere (knee) both expected to miss the game against Boston College. Dave Herard will start at strong safety for Long and freshman Mekhi Buchanan will step in for Akere as the backup to Chico Bennett at Bandit. 

Additionally, Elliott says fifth-year defensive end Ben Smiley is "questionable" with a concussion and fifth year linebacker Josh Ahern is "probable" to play against Boston College. On Virginia's updated depth chart this week, the "WILL" linebacker position is listed as either Josh Ahern or Kam Robinson. 

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