Tristan Leigh injury update: Dabo Swinney provides timeline for Clemson OL

The Clemson Tigers got a scare over the weekend with the Troy Trojans putting them on upset alert early in the game. In the end, head coach Dabo Swinney saw his Tigers pull the game out. However, it’s a game where the Tigers definitely want to find a way to improve upon.

It was a game where Clemson was without Tristan Leigh, one of their most experienced offensive lineman. After the game, Dabo Swinney shared a little bit about the situation for Leigh. Luckily, it’s not an injury issue that should keep him out long term. At the same time, it’s clear the offense missed him in their 27-point and 316-yard performance.

“Not long,” Dabo Swinney said. “I mean, it’s short-term.”

Dabo Swinney didn’t expand beyond that point, regarding exactly what the injury is or how long he’ll be out, except that it’s for a short term issue. Obviously, setting exact dates when players are rehabbing can be tricky. However, Swinney did also confirm that Tristan Leigh initially got dinged up during the LSU game in Week 1.

Injuries have become an issue for Leigh that have popped up more than once recently. Last offseason, Leigh had a procedure to help deal with an ankle injury. For some time during the spring, he’d be forced to use a scooter because of that. It’s unclear if that injury was related to the issue he has now, but he was seen using a walking boot ahead of the Troy game.

Tristan Leigh is an experienced graduate senior who was a five-star recruit in the Class of 2021. In that cycle, he was the 24th-ranked player nationally and the sixth-ranked offensive tackle. He has spent his entire career with the Tigers.

Leigh took over as a starter in 2023. Since then, he’s accumulated 24 career starts in 33 games. In the process, he’s become a vital member of the Clemson offensive line. That’s a unit that has allowed three sacks through two games and is gaining just 75.5 yards per game rushing. That’s tied for 128th nationally in rushing offense through two games.

Swinney knows he needs his offense to improve moving forward if Clemson wants to both be competitive in the ACC and for the College Football Playoff. In a 12-game season, there are still only so many opportunities to stumble, even after the CFP expanded. So, now 1-1, the Tigers will look to get healthy and build on their first win of the season. In particular, with ACC play opening against a tough Georgia Tech team.