Jared Shanker, ESPN Staff Writer 9y

ACC morning links

Clemson is off this week before traveling to Wake Forest for a Thursday night game Nov. 6. Might freshman quarterback Deshaun Watson be back for it?

Tigers coach Dabo Swinney said on his teleconference Watson, who was named the starting quarterback in late September, is recovering from the broken finger on his throwing hand and is in a new splint that allows for a greater range of motion.

Watson was undefeated as the starting quarterback and led the country in QBR before suffering the injury against Louisville earlier this month. Former starter and senior Cole Stoudt is filling in for Watson, but the offense has struggled to move the football and score touchdowns without Watson commanding the unit.

In the close win against Syracuse on Saturday, nearly two-thirds of Stoudt's 35 passes were throws behind the line of scrimmage, and Stoudt didn't lead a touchdown drive until the fourth quarter. It should be noted Stoudt is battling a shoulder injury.

With one of the country's best defenses, the Tigers likely won't need Watson to beat Wake Forest. The Tigers are going to need him the following week, though. The Tigers travel to Georgia Tech in their final ACC game, and, as always, then they close with South Carolina. Although the Tigers won't be in the playoff, they still can make it back to the Orange Bowl. They will need Watson healthy to do that.

  • There is no quarterback controversy in Blacksburg, Virginia. The Hokies' Michael Brewer took all the first-team reps.

  • Miami junior running back Duke Johnson said his mother will play a major role in whether he leaves after this season. She says she has been "talking to Duke about staying."

  • Louisville will be relatively healthy when No. 2 Florida State comes to town. Key players Lorenzo Mauldin and James Quick are cleared to play.

  • After racking up 56 yards on just five carries, Georgia Tech B back Matt Connors should see his role increase.

  • Boston College has been saying "no thanks" to extra points this year. The Eagles have struggled at kicking PATs in 2014.

  • NC State's offense has regressed, looking nothing like the unit that torched then-No. 1 Florida State at the end of September.

  • Clemson fans apologized on Twitter for booing an injured Syracuse player Saturday.

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