College football has some exciting matches lined up for this weekend. Two ACC rivals are set to clash on the football field. While one aims to stay in contention for the conference championship. The other, after giving up its undefeated status, seeks to avoid a second league defeat that might turn costly. Anticipation is rushing through the roof as No. 20 Duke travels to face No. 18 Louisville this Saturday. But all is not well on the Duke’s end. 

An old wound has resurfaced, quite literally, for Duke’s star quarterback Riley Leonard. An injury he had sustained weeks before has been aggravated following an illegal hit on him during their match against Florida State last Saturday. The injury that sent him limping off the field has catapulted into a graver concern- will he be able to perform this Saturday? 

Leonard limps off the field 

Leonard initially suffered the critical ankle injury a few weeks ago during the closing moments of a loss to Notre Dame. The quarterback landed awkwardly under the weight of a tackle, moments after losing a fumble. This translated to the Duke’s final offensive play of the game following Notre Dame’s score, that allowed them to take the lead minutes earlier. Unfortunately, it was exacerbated due to an illegal hit by Florida State lineman Braden Fiske last Saturday.

The hit left Leonard, limping off the field. The coaching staff, who thought it best for him to nurse his injury and recover in time for the team’s next crucial match, denied his desire to return to the match. Duke was leading the match against the Seminoles initially, but ultimately lost the game, giving up 21 points in the fourth quarter. They have dropped to a dismal 5-2 record for the season. However, as game day approaches, will the young quarterback manage to perform?

Will Riley Leonard play against Louisville this Saturday?

The final decision is up to head coach Mike Elko, who will take the final call after testing Leonard’s recovery on the field during warm-up practice ahead of their matchup against Louisville. Leonard’s performance has been integral to Duke’s initial 4-0 winning streak, where the young athlete amassed 981 yards and completed 60.6 percent of his pass. 

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In the upcoming ACC showdown on Saturday, there are significant injury updates for both the competing teams. While Duke’s quarterback, Leonard, is expected to return, star Louisville tailback Jawhar Jordan is also set to make a comeback after being sidelined due to a hamstring injury during the Pitt game. Jordan boasts an impressive 7.4 yards per carry, the highest among ACC tailbacks. He also happens to be the ACC’s second-leading rusher with 661 yards.

Both Riley Leonard and Jordan play crucial roles for their respective teams, and their return is eagerly anticipated by both Duke (5-2 overall, 2-1 ACC) and Louisville (6-1, 3-1). The teams are eyeing a spot in the ACC title game, trailing behind Florida State (7-0, 5-0 ACC). The game on Saturday holds significant importance in their pursuit of enhancing their positions in the league this season.

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