Why Dakereon Joyner didn’t play for South Carolina on Saturday
South Carolina knew it would be without one wide receiver Saturday because of an injury. Another key player missed the game as well.
Senior Dakereon Joyner was dealing with a calf injury, head coach Shane Beamer revealed after the game. That’s why he didn’t play in the 35-14 win over Georgia State. The Gamecocks were hopeful Joyner would feel well enough to play.
“He ended up not going,” Beamer said. “We felt like he was going to be able to. Really felt like he could’ve played. We just got out there and he didn’t feel great.”
Joyner missed four games because of injury in the 2019 season but has largely been healthy since. His absence Saturday broke his personal streak of 23 straight games played — the last time out being his MVP performance at quarterback in the Duke’s Mayo Bowl win over North Carolina.
“Be back better than ever,” Joyner posted to Twitter after Saturday’s game.
Wide receiver Corey Rucker (foot) was announced earlier in the week as being out. Running back Christian Beal-Smith (foot) also didn’t play. Rucker was spotted pregame on crutches and his left ankle in a boot.
Three players were injured in Saturday’s game. Senior safety RJ Roderick left the game early with an “arm issue.” Offensive lineman Jaylen Nichols and defensive back Darius Rush left the game later for various issues but should be fine, Beamer said.
“We’ll see. ... We’ll evaluate it as we go,” Beamer said of Roderick.
This story was originally published September 3, 2022 at 11:43 PM.
