Mike Norvell provides injury update on availability of Jordan Travis, Johnny Wilson
On Tuesday, Florida State head coach Mike Norvell told ESPN he expects quarterback Jordan Travis and wide receiver Johnny Wilson to play in the Seminoles’ ranked matchup against Duke on Saturday.
“[Jordan Travis] is going to be good to go,” Norvell said. “He had something with his non-throwing hand there in the last game. He’s displayed toughness throughout the season. Playing quarterback can be a daunting task sometimes and Jordan has displayed toughness. He’s played at such a high level doing a great job holding the ball, and then he’s so very productive and what he does.”
Travis seemed to suffer a hand injury in the first half of FSU’s 41-3 win over Syracuse on Saturday. The mild injury didn’t prevent Travis from playing in the second half. In the victory, he tallied 284 passing yards and a touchdown while completing 23-of-his-37 pass attempts.
While Travis was able to play through his injury last weekend, Wilson was not. Wilson left FSU’s Week 6 win over Virginia Tech early in the second half with an injury. Although Wilson seemingly progressed the following week, he was out in the Seminoles’ most recent win over Syracuse. Now, Norvell expects the receiver to return out wide.
“I’m expecting Johnny to play this week,” Norvell said. “He practiced this morning and he looked good, so I expect to have him back and rolling. Definitely excited about getting Johnny back.”
Florida State will need both standouts at full-strength. In six games this season, Travis boasts 1,482 passing yards and 13 touchdowns while only throwing one interception. Meanwhile, Wilson boasts 20 catches for 357 yards and two touchdowns.
Mike Norvell prepares FSU for battle
Duke’s defense is no slouch, either. The Blue Devils allow just 298.5 yards per game, the 16th-least in the nation. Norvell is excited for the challenge.
“We’re playing a really good football team,” Norvell said after the team’s practice on Tuesday. “Duke has had a great year up to this point. They’re one play away from being undefeated. You see just the mindset of how they play, what they do. It’s impressive.
“Now we get a chance to go and compete here this Saturday night. So very excited for our players. You could feel the energy and just the sense of urgency last night in our practice and our meetings. It’s a team that’s excited to get better. We’re seeing some positive strides in that direction.”
FSU will square off against the Blue Devils at 7:30 p.m. ET on Saturday. The game will be broadcast on ABC.