Matt Fortuna, ESPN Staff Writer 9y

ACC morning links

There is cautiously optimistic good news on Clemson's quarterback front, as Deshaun Watson is back throwing a football again.

The freshman signal caller broke a bone in his finger on his right hand Oct. 11 against Louisville and had surgery two days later. The initial diagnosis was that Watson would need a month of recovery time, and that very well may still be the case.

The Tigers have a bye this weekend before traveling to Wake Forest on Thursday. They close their ACC schedule the following Saturday at 6-2 Georgia Tech, which would probably make more sense for a return.

"I think it's still too early to tell that right now. Probably doubtful [at Wake]," Clemson offensive coordinator Chad Morris said, according to the (Charleston) Post and Courier's Aaron Brenner. "Obviously you don't want to rush someone back. He looks good throwing the ball right now, he's gaining the strength back in his hand, but he hasn't been tackled either. When the training and medical staffs feel confident enough, they'll let us know."

Watson led the nation in Total QBR before his injury. Clemson has struggled offensively without him, totaling just 33 points in its last two games, a pair of close wins over Boston College and Syracuse.

Here are the rest of your ACC links:

  • Jonathan Hilliman is coming on strong for BC, Jack McCluskey writes on ESPNBoston.com.

  • Yahoo's Dan Wetzel looks at Jimbo Fisher's climb to the FSU post, and how he's become disliked this season.

  • SI.com's Ted Keith sits down with UNC Athletic Director Bubba Cunningham in light of the Wainstein Report.

  • The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette's Sam Werner previews the Pitt-Duke game with the (Raleigh) News & Observer's Laura Keeley.

  • Scott Shafer was in Chicago on Thursday for a hearing to determine whether the school committed NCAA violations, Chris Carlson writes in the (Syracuse) Post-Standard.

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