CLEMSON, S.C. -- Clemson quarterback Deshaun Watson is expected to undergo surgery on his throwing hand after injuring it in Saturday night's game against Louisville.
The true freshman standout is expected to miss up to five weeks.
Watson sustained the injury while scrambling to his left in the first quarter, when a Louisville tackle along the left sideline prompted Watson to land awkwardly on his upper hand (finger area). Watson remained in the game for two more plays -- including one completed pass -- before heading to the sidelines for good.
The official diagnosis from Clemson coach Dabo Swinney was a broken finger and that his quarterback would miss "several weeks," but now it appears Watson's injury will require surgery on Monday. Scott Keepfer of The Greenville (S.C.) News first reported the upcoming surgery.
With Watson out of the game, the Tigers (4-2, 3-1 in ACC play) held on to win Saturday's game, 23-17, halting the Cardinals on a last-minute, potential game-winning drive at the goal line.
Update: #Clemson QB Deshaun Watson will have surgery on hand Monday and likely to be out 5 weeks
— Scott Keepfer (@ScottKeepfer) October 11, 2014
The injury is a substantial setback for a team that is now riding a three-game winning streak with its only losses of the season coming against current top-15 teams, Georgia and Florida State. Though he did not play for the better part of the Louisville game, Clemson is 3-0 with Watson as its starter. The Gainesville, Ga. native, who supplanted Cole Stoudt as Clemson's quarterback on Sept. 20 (against No. 1 Florida State), had accounted for 1,181 yards passing and 12 TDs entering the Louisville game -- including a 435-yard, six-touchdown gem against North Carolina on Sept. 27.
Clemson's five-week future slate includes Boston College (Oct. 18), Syracuse (Oct. 25), Wake Forest (Nov. 6), Georgia Tech (Nov. 15) and a bye week.
Stoudt, the fifth-year senior who started in Clemson's first three games, will take over the starting quarterback duties in Watson's absence.
