Injuries Loom Over Pitt's Week 3 Depth Chart

Potential long-term injuries loom over the Pitt Panthers' Week 2 depth chart.

Author:
Stephen Thompson
Sep 12, 2022 1:26 PM EDT

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PITTSBURGH -- The Pitt Panthers took a bludgeoning in their Week 2 loss to the Tennessee Volunteers. They not only took an emotionally-draining 34-27 loss in overtime, but they sustained multiple injuries to key starters. Those injuries are now looming over Pitt's Week 3 depth chart and this weekend's game against Western Michigan.

The quarterback order remains the same for Pitt despite the fact that starter Kedon Slovis exited the loss to Tennessee in the second quarter after taking a brutal sack. His replacement, back-up Nick Patti, got banged up as well. He hurt his ankle running for a touchdown in the fourth quarter but stayed in the game.

Head coach Pat Narduzzi refused to update local media on the health of his two signal-callers during his Monday press conference.

Rodney Hammond was upgraded to co-starter alongside Israel Abanikanda in last week's depth chart and held on to that spot this week. He was not spotted on the sidelines when Pitt played Tennessee, in all likelihood due to a leg injury from the tail end of the Backyard Brawl, but Narduzzi said he was at the game.

There is movement at defensive end, with former second-teamer John Morgan being elevated to co-starter alongside Deslin Alexandre, who hurt his wrist and left midway through the opener against West Virginia. He didn't play against Tennessee and Morgan has played well in his absence.

On the interior of the defensive line, Devin Danielson is still listed as the co-starter with David Green. He left the Tennessee game early with a lower body injury and didn't return. He was spotted on the sidelines wearing street clothes later on.

Right tackle Matt Goncalves, who had been listed as the second-stringer behind Gabe Houy despite starting the first two games of the season, was elevated to co-starter alongside Houy. Houy had been working his way back from an achilles injury throughout fall training camp. He dressed and went through warm-ups before both the West Virginia and Tennessee games, but didn't play. He ditched his pads for street clothes when the Panthers came out for kickoff this past weekend.

Owen Drexel is still the starter at center. He went down holding his right leg in the fourth quarter against Tennesee. He was assisted off the field by Pitt training staff and did not play again. Redshirt freshman Terrance Moore took his place.

The Panthers' full Week 3 two-deep is below.