Getting Christopher Vizzina healthy would give Clemson more flexibility behind freshman quarterback Tait Reynolds as the Tigers enter the second half of their schedule.
There is still work to do before Vizzina reaches that point, but Dabo Swinney’s assessment Monday suggested the quarterback is making meaningful progress following several weeks of limitations.
Speaking during his weekly radio show, Swinney pointed to a noticeable improvement in Vizzina’s throwing motion during practice. The left elbow injury he suffered against Georgia Southern had affected his ability to raise his arm and produce the torque needed to put velocity on the football.
Vizzina is now practicing with a sleeve and smaller pad after shedding the larger brace he previously
wore. Swinney indicated that Monday was the most comfortable and effective he has looked since getting hurt.
For the Tigers, the next step is turning that progress into availability. Vizzina was an emergency option against Miami, with Trent Pearman serving as the primary backup to Reynolds. Although Vizzina could have played if necessary, he was still dealing with the injury’s effects.
The open date provided additional recovery time, and Swinney believes it helped Vizzina regain some of the functionality Clemson needs from him.
Swinney also credited the quarterback for staying engaged with the team throughout his recovery. Despite losing playing time, Vizzina has continued showing up with a positive attitude and supporting his teammates, qualities his coach emphasized while discussing his eventual return.
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Vizzina started Clemson’s first two games before Reynolds took over ahead of the North Carolina matchup. In those appearances, he completed 14 of 23 passes for 102 yards with one touchdown and two interceptions.
The Tigers return to action Saturday against Charleston Southern. Kickoff at Memorial Stadium is scheduled for noon on ACC Network.
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This article originally appeared on Clemson Wire: Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney shares injury update on senior quarterback
