Mario Cristobal gives Hurricanes injury updates ahead of road game at Pittsburgh
The No. 13 Miami Hurricanes enter their final game of the regular season — a must-win road game at the Pittsburgh Panthers on Saturday (noon, ABC) to keep their College Football Playoff hopes alive — optimistic that most of their remaining sidelined players will suit up.
Hurricanes coach Mario Cristobal, speaking during his weekly Monday morning appearance on WQAM’s The Joe Rose Show, said he feels good about both defensive tackle David Blay Jr. and cornerback OJ Frederique Jr. returning on Saturday. Blay has missed the past two games, while Frederique has been sidelined for four games.
Meanwhile, the coach added that running back Mark Fletcher Jr. and wide receiver CJ Daniels, both of whom played in limited capacity during Miami’s 34-17 win at Virginia Tech on Saturday, should be closer to 100% for the Pittsburgh game. Fletcher played 23 of Miami’s 66 offensive snaps on Saturday, getting six carries for 19 yards and catching three passes for 22 yards and a touchdown after missing two weeks. Daniels played four snaps in his first game action since the Stanford game on Oct. 25.
“At the end of October, we lost I think it was six or seven full-time [players] — not only starters, but team leaders,” Cristobal said, “and we’re getting them back in pieces.”
And speaking postgame after the Virginia Tech game, Cristobal also said he felt good about safety Jakobe Thomas’ status for the Pittsburgh game after he left the win against the Hokies early with an arm injury.
“I think he’s doing good,” Cristobal said of Thomas. “Just took a really good shot there, a helmet right to the arm. You always want to check it to see if there’s any type of fracture, but X-rays were negative. We feel really confident that he’ll be ready to roll next week.”
The only key player Cristobal said will definitely be out is nickel cornerback Keionte Scott, who has missed the past two weeks with an undisclosed lower extremity injury. True freshman Bryce Fitzgerald has started the past two games in Scott’s absence.
This story was originally published November 24, 2025 at 6:49 AM.
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