Miami escaped North Carolina with a win, but not a clean bill of health.
The Hurricane most seriously injured in Thursday night’s 27-23 win over the Tar Heels was junior wide receiver Phillip Dorsett. He is expected to miss four to six weeks with a partial MCL tear in his left knee, coach Al Golden said Friday.
“We’re all grateful, to be honest with you,” Golden said. “It did not look good last night.”
The prognosis is better for star tailback Duke Johnson, safeties Kacy Rodgers II, Deon Bush and Rayshawn Jenkins, and fullback Walter Tucker, none of whom is expected to miss No. 10 Miami’s next game, next Saturday against Wake Forest.
Johnson left Thursday’s game midway through the first quarter with a head injury, opening the door for backup Dallas Crawford to score two fourth-quarter touchdowns and set career highs in rushing yards (137) and carries (33).
Golden said UM is evaluating whether Johnson, who took a knee to the head, has a low-grade concussion or the blow triggered a migraine headache. According to Golden, Johnson has a history of migraines. He has been tested at least twice for concussions after taking hits to the head during games this season.
Those suffering from post-concussion syndrome often have sensitivity to light and lethargy. Golden said Johnson worked out Friday at UM and was “in great spirits and doing well.”
“I think we’ve dodged a bullet there,” Golden said.
Dorsett took a helmet to the knee and left the game with 1:32 left in the first quarter. He returned to the sideline on crutches. Barring a setback, he could return Nov. 23 against Virginia at the earliest.
Rodgers (ankle), Jenkins and Bush (thigh contusions) are expected back next week. Same goes for Tucker, who turned his ankle last week in practice and didn’t travel to UNC.
Good news for UM's offense: Golden said junior receiver Rashawn Scott has been cleared for game action. Scott missed five games after suffering an injury to his shoulder/collarbone area in UM's Aug. 30 season-opener against Florida Atlantic.
Miami (6-0, 2-0 ACC) continued its best start since 2004 despite quarterback play senior Stephen Morris deemed the “worst of (his) career.” Morris threw four interceptions for the first time in 29 games as a Hurricane. He finished 19-of-35 for 322 yards with no touchdown passes.
“Obviously, everything went terribly wrong for me offensively,” Morris said.
Golden said Morris, despite his mistakes, had the support of his teammates. He was at his best on the game’s final series, going 3-for-3 for 34 yards on a 13-play, 90-yard drive that ended in Crawford’s winning TD with 16 seconds left. Before that drive, Golden briefly joined the huddle and saw the quarterback in total command.
“He didn’t need to convince me,” Golden said. “I saw that look.”
Asked if the bruised right ankle Morris suffered last month still affects him, Golden pointed to the nearly two weeks of practice Morris has missed. “There’s been nothing (consistent) in his routine, his preparation, his motion over the last month,” Golden said.
Golden said Morris, who appeared to be throwing off his left foot at times, wasn’t shifting his weight or comfortable with his mechanics. Golden said the third-quarter sack Morris took showed his lack of mobility.
“He got sacked when he was kind of rolling out of the pocket,” Golden said. “He generally doesn’t get sacked like that. He usually is able to run away from that.”
Golden said Morris reported no day-after pain, giving the coach hope “we can close this chapter.” However, that has been the hope for weeks.
“It’s really been difficult for what he’s had to fight through here with his ankle,” Golden said.
“I’m proud of the way he’s fought through it, but we’ve got to make sure he’s making good decisions on the field and protecting the football better. Nobody can turn the ball over that many times. We’ve got to make sure we get that cleaned up.”
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