Clemson football’s heartbreaking defeat to Louisville came with the added setback of losing star defensive lineman Peter Woods to injury.
Early in the second quarter, Woods took a hard blow to the head during a kickout block and was quickly escorted to the locker room. Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney shared that Woods didn’t feel right after the hit, which he described as “dangerous.” The coach explained that the Louisville player “kind of hit him kind of high,” and Woods’ symptoms forced him to remain sidelined for the remainder of the game.
Despite the injury, Swinney remains hopeful about Woods’ recovery. “He’s progressing pretty good,” Swinney said, adding that Woods remains day-to-day as the team prepares for its upcoming game at Virginia Tech. This season, Woods has been a key player for Clemson with 14 tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss, and a sack to his name. His sophomore campaign has already been a significant step forward after earning freshman All-American honors last year, following a solid debut with 27 tackles and 10 quarterback pressures.
Woods’ injury adds to Clemson’s growing list of challenges as they look to bounce back from a tough loss, but his determination and early success this season have offered some hope for the team as they navigate the rest of the year.