As the Blue Devils look to win their second straight ACC game against Virginia Saturday at 12:30 p.m. at Wallace Wade Stadium, Duke released its weekly injury report. We look at who will be missing Saturday's game and the implications going forward:
PROBABLE
DE Dezmond Johnson (leg)
RB Shaquille Powell (leg)
OUT
TE Dan Beilinson (upper body)
CB Johnathan Lloyd (lower body)
OL Trip McNeill (lower body)
DT Jamal Wallace (lower body)
OUT FOR SEASON
LB Kelby Brown (leg)
TE Braxton Deaver (leg)
DE Taariq Shabazz (leg)
Breakdown: The Blue Devils definitely used the week to get healthy, as they will return two key players who sat out the Georgia Tech game with injuries. Shaquille Powell returns after sustaining a leg injury in the Sept. 27 contest against Miami. Powell did not play last week against Georgia Tech, but running backs Josh Snead, Joseph Ajeigbe and Shaun Wilson still managed to contribute to Duke's 242-yard rushing effort Saturday. Look for Powell, who has been Duke's most reliable back, to get the start Saturday, but we will still also see the other three running backs in the mix for carries Saturday.
Dezmond Johnson finally returns after injuring his leg Sept. 20 against Tulane, as he missed the team's last two ACC games. Johnson, a fifth-year senior, should provide a boost to a defensive line that showed potential in stopping the Yellow Jacket spread-option attack last week. However, the line will be missing Jamal Wallace, who is out for the second straight game with a lower body injury. Look for reserve defensive linemen Jonathan Jones, Kyler Brown, Mike Ramsay and A.J. Wolf to step in and make contributions against a Virginia running game that has averaged more than 200 yards in its past three games.
Be sure to check the Blue Zone Thursday, Oct. 30 for the weekly injury report prior to Duke's matchup at Pittsburgh Nov. 1.
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