Mike Norvell updates Winston Wright, Fabien Lovett injury status

Florida State enters its bye week on a three-game losing streak, coming up short Saturday in a late fourth-quarter rally against No. 5 Clemson. Injuries have hampered the Seminoles, and coach Mike Norvell provided Winston Wright and Fabien Lovett injury updates on Tuesday during the team’s bye week.

Lovett hasn’t played since Week 1 against LSU, appearing in just two games before an injury sidelined him. He appears close to a return, though he couldn’t quite make it back against the Tigers.

“Fabien really tried, I mean it was very limited in practice all the way till Friday,” Norvell said. “Tried to get some work Friday but he wasn’t going to be ready. Wouldn’t have been fair to him or what we’re trying to do, so obviously we held him out there Saturday.”

Wright has yet to play this season and is in the process of recovering from a leg injury suffered in a car accident over the spring.

Both Wright and Lovett have been rehabbing to get back on the field as soon as possible.

“Winston is continuing on his process to get him back,” Norvell said. “There’s still some things he’s working on, but you see him doing more with each week that goes by. His heart and determination, it’s really special.”

Fabien Lovett injury weakened D-line

Lovett was going to be counted on as a significant contributor for Florida State on the defensive line after starting nine games a year ago and earning an honorable mention All-ACC nod in 2021.

The Seminoles were cautious with him against the Tigers, knowing he’d get an additional week of recovery with the bye week on the other side of that contest.

“We knew that this week we’d try to get him a little more individual and then ramp it up as we go to next week,” Norvell said. “But I’m excited about just his work, his leadership. He’s such a key member to this defense and to this football team for who he is, how he plays. It’s been hard with him being out.”

That said, Norvell has been pleased with his replacements to date.

“Guys have stepped up and you’ve seen some good production from younger guys, but not having him, not having (Jarrett Jackson), we were a little thin in there. We moved Dennis Briggs there inside and I thought he did a good job. Dennis played there majority of the time last year and kind of had that flexibility with what we’ve seen from Pat Payton to some of those young ends, how Leonard (Warner)‘s playing out there kind of giving us some flexibility as well. So it’s good seeing them.”