Duke QB Riley Leonard suffered an ankle injury in the final moments of his team’s Week 5 loss against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish. What’s the latest on his status, and is he on track to return to the field soon?
Will Riley Leonard Play This Week?
According to Duke Blue Devils head coach Mike Elko, via ESPN staff writer David Hale, Leonard is “day-to-day” leading into the team’s Week 7 prime-time matchup against the NC State Wolfpack.
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While it’s unclear at the moment if Leonard will suit up for his team in the immediate timeline, Elko expressed optimism for Leonard’s ongoing progress, saying, “The outlook for him the rest of the season is really positive.”
Leonard injured his ankle late in the game against Notre Dame in late September and was later seen on crutches. The image of Leonard on crutches stoked fear that his injury might be a long-term one, but it was revealed to be a mere high ankle sprain.
The Blue Devils enjoyed a bye week in Week 6, and Leonard was able to use that time to expedite his recovery.
If Leonard can’t go in Week 7, redshirt freshman Henry Belin IV is the next man up. Regardless, the Blue Devils should have Leonard back for the team’s big-ticket matchup against top-five-ranked Florida State in Week 8.
Leonard’s Quick Recovery Reinvigorates His 2024 NFL Draft Stock
Leonard, a true junior, was seen by some as a potential early-round challenger in the 2024 NFL Draft ahead of the season. In 2022, Leonard completed 250 of 392 passes (63.8%) for 2,967 yards, 20 touchdowns, and six interceptions, and he also ran for 699 yards and 13 scores.
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So far in 2023, Leonard has had his flashes — the highlight of which was his upset win over Clemson in Week 1. His competitive toughness, as well as his natural running ability, stands out.
However, while Leonard has awed with his athleticism, his growth as a passer has stagnated somewhat. Over-arching consistency with accuracy is still a concern, and while his receivers share the blame, the passing game hasn’t taken off like many hoped it would.
The initial reaction to Leonard’s injury was that he might not get a chance to sustain growth over the latter half of the 2023 season. Now, however, it appears as though he’s poised to return to the field, either this week or next.
If the season were to end today, Leonard would likely be a mid-round prospect at best. But if he can shore up his mechanics and accuracy and build on the glimpses of elite situational precision that he’s shown, he can move up the board with the time he has left.