Dabo Swinney offers injury update on Clemson running back Will Shipley
Clemson veteran tailback Will Shipley delivered a highlight moment Friday that played a big role in Clemson’s 38-35 Gator Bowl win. Shipley returned a Kentucky kickoff 60 yards in the fourth quarter to set up a 52-yard field goal that gave the Tigers a brief 30-28 lead in an eventual shootout win.
The play unfortunately ended with Shipley favoring his left leg and needing to be carted off and to the locker room. He later appeared on the field after the win in good spirits but using crutches.
In the postgame press conference, Clemson coach Dabo Swinney delivered an update on the junior.
“We’ll do an MRI” as soon as Saturday or Sunday, Swinney said. “We’ll wait and see. Initial reports are encouraging but you never know until you do the MRI.”
Swinney added later: “It was a knee ... they felt like it was best case scenario.”
Shipley finished the 2023 season with 827 rushing yards and five touchdowns, adding 31 catches for 244 yards and two more scores. He has not indicated whether he’ll return to Clemson for another season or turn pro.
Shipley, a junior, has already been involved in one scary in-game moment this game. He was hit in the head/neck area against N.C. State and missed a game while in concussion protocol.
On Friday, Swinney described Shipley’s run as a “huge” and that “we needed every inch of that kick return.” The Weitz 52-yarder just cleared the uprights.
This story was originally published December 29, 2023 at 4:52 PM.
