Miami adds another dynamic offensive player to laundry list of injuries ahead of Duke
DeeJay Dallas isn’t the only starting skill position player the Miami Hurricanes could be without when they face the Duke Blue Devils on Saturday. Add Jeff Thomas to Miami’s growing list of injured offensive weapons for the final week of the regular season.
The wide receiver, who has started seven games this season and served a two-game suspension earlier this year, was limited in practice this week in Coral Gables by a back injury, Manny Diaz said, and his status is questionable for the regular-season finale in Durham, North Carolina.
“Jeff’s been limited with a back deal,” the coach said, “so that’s kind of what he’s been working through.”
If Thomas can’t play, the Hurricanes (6-5, 4-3) will be without two usual offensive starters. Dallas, who has started 10 games and missed one with a lower extremity injury, will also be sidelined this weekend. The running back dislocated his elbow in Miami’s 30-24 loss to the FIU Panthers on Saturday, Diaz said, and will be out for the rest of the season, including a bowl game next month.
The absence of those two would mean the absence of 1,254 yards of total offense this season. Dallas leads the Hurricanes with 694 rushing yards and eight touchdowns on 116 carries this year and, has another 140 receiving yards on 14 catches with two more touchdowns — a team-high 834 yards from scrimmage. Thomas has 31 catches for 379 yards and three touchdowns, and seven carries for 41 yards — a total of 420 yards from scrimmage.
Both players are eligible to enter the 2020 NFL Draft after this season, meaning it’s realistic Dallas has played his final game at Miami — and possibly Thomas, too, if his injury lingers.
The Hurricanes, however, will get a major boost at another skill position. Diaz said Brevin Jordan will play Saturday at Wallace Wade Stadium after he missed the last two games with a lower left leg injury. The star tight end wore a boot on his left foot and didn’t dress for Miami’s win against the Louisville Cardinals on Nov. 9 at Hard Rock Stadium, then dressed but didn’t play against FIU on Saturday at Marlins Park.
“Brevin practiced today. Really good,” Diaz said. “He’s good to go.”
On Monday, the sophomore was named a finalist for the John Mackey Award, handed out to the top tight end in the country. He leads the Hurricanes with 495 receiving yards on 35 catches this year and has two touchdowns.
