Virginia Football Injury Report: Tony Muskett Not Expected to Play vs. Duke
Virginia quarterback Tony Muskett is not expected to be available for UVA's game against Duke on Saturday as he continues to recover from an ankle injury suffered against Georgia Tech on November 4th, according to an update from head coach Tony Elliott during his weekly press conference on Tuesday.
"He [Tony Muskett] is still day to day. He's out of the boot, he's walking around. I don't anticipate that he'll be ready to go this week," Elliott said on Tuesday. "More hopeful for trying to get ready to go next week."
This is the second time this season that Virginia will be without its starting quarterback for a multi-week stretch. Muskett missed three games after suffering a shoulder injury in the season opener that will apparently require surgery at the end of the season. Muskett returned to the field and started Virginia's next five games, but went down with an ankle injury early in the Georgia Tech game in week 10.
As Elliott indicated, Muskett is progressing and is now out of the walking boot, but it isn't likely that he'll be ready to play by this weekend and the Cavaliers are instead hopeful that he'll be able to return for the season finale against Virginia Tech. For now, it appears that freshman quarterback Anthony Colandrea will make his fifth start of the season for Virginia against Duke on Saturday.
In other injury news, Elliott reported that sixth year defensive back Coen King is likely out for the rest of the season with an elbow injury suffered in the Louisville game last Thursday.
"He [Coen King] won't be available and unfortunately, I don't know if he'll be available next week either," Elliott said. "It's an unfortunate situation. I know he's had that elbow dislocated before and that's typically a three to four week timetable." King had started each of Virginia's first ten games to start the season.
In more positive news, fifth year safety Antonio Clary has decided to come back for another season at Virginia in 2024. He made that announcement on UVA women's basketball player Sam Brunelle's podcast show on Monday night and Elliott confirmed that news on Tuesday. Clary has missed this entire season with an ankle injury, but he remains one of UVA's key defensive leaders, having appeared in 33 games over his Cavalier career and recording career-highs across the board in the 2022 season. Redshirting this season means Clary has one more year of eligibility and it seems he intends to use it.
In the running back room, Tony Elliott reported that sixth year Perris Jones will remain in Louisville for several weeks as he begins the rehabilitation process after suffering a serious injury from a helmet-to-helmet collision in the Louisville game on Thursday. Jones was carted off the field and taken by ambulance to the University of Louisville Medical Center, where he underwent spinal surgery on Friday and was able to briefly walk on Saturday. Elliott says he did a Zoom call with Jones and reported that Jones was in good spirits and encouraged his teammates to "keep fighting." Jones is expected to remain in Louisville for an extended period as Elliott says Jones should be transferred to the Frazier Rehabilitation Institute after one more week of observation in the ICU.
With Jones out, there is of course some changes to UVA's depth chart at running back, with the Cavaliers now listing Kobe Pace, Mike Hollins, and Amaad Foston as their three running backs, in that order. Sophomore running back Xavier Brown is "still not 100%" according to Elliott with an elbow injury he suffered in fall camp. Brown has appeared on special teams on a few occasions, but isn't expected to get carries out of the backfield.
See UVA's updated week 12 depth chart below:
Virginia Football Depth Chart - Duke Game
Virginia Athletics
Notable changes:
- With Perris Jones out, Virginia is listing Kobe Pace, Mike Hollins, and Amaad Foston as the three running backs in that order.
- There is still an "OR" between Tony Muskett and Anthony Colandrea at quarterback, but Muskett isn't expected to be available for Saturday's game against Duke, so Colandrea appears to be the expected starter.
- There is now an "OR" between Sam Westfall and Malcolm Greene at right corner, but there are no other changes in the UVA secondary.
- There are no changes to Virginia's depth chart at wide receiver, tight end, offensive line, defensive line, linebacker, or special teams.
Virginia (2-8, 1-5 ACC) is set to host Duke (6-4, 3-3 ACC) on Saturday afternoon at Scott Stadium. Kickoff is set for 3pm and the game will be televised on The CW Network.
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