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UNC Football: Injury bug bites Tar Heels in win over ODU

By Zack Pearson

TALLAHASSEE, FL - OCTOBER 01: Head Coach of the North Carolina Tar Heels Larry Fedora talks to an official before the game with the Florida State Seminoles at Doak Campbell Stadium on October 1, 2016 in Tallahassee, Florida. (Photo by Jeff Gammons/Getty Images)
TALLAHASSEE, FL - OCTOBER 01: Head Coach of the North Carolina Tar Heels Larry Fedora talks to an official before the game with the Florida State Seminoles at Doak Campbell Stadium on October 1, 2016 in Tallahassee, Florida. (Photo by Jeff Gammons/Getty Images) /
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UNC got their first win of the season on Saturday but suffered a few key injuries

The North Carolina Tar Heels are finally in the win column as they hope they have turned their season around.

With the win over UNC, the Tar Heels are now 1-2 on the season and 0-1 in conference play. They now have a big conference game against Duke coming up and UNC hopes to keep the momentum going.

Through the first three games, UNC has been bitten by the injury bug.

Prior to the game the News & Observer’s Andrew Carter reported that linebacker Andre Smith did not make the trip to take on Old Dominion. Carter also said Smith could miss a lot of time which would be a big blow to UNC’s defense.

Smith suffered the injury in the loss to Louisville a week ago and it could potentially be a season-changer for the Tar Heels defense.

During Saturday’s win, the Tar Heels suffered a few injuries on the offensive side of the ball.

First it was guard Khaliel Rodgers who went down in the first quarter. The USC transfer went down and had to leave the game as Nick Polino filled in.

Rodgers would return to the game but UNC’s offensive line is already thin.

Wide receiver Thomas Jackson also went down in the first half although his injury might be more serious.

He was being attended to in a trainers tent on the sidelines and didn’t return to the game.

Jackson is one of the Tar Heels top receivers and him missing any time would be bad for the offense moving forward.

He wasn’t the only offensive playmaker that suffered an injury.

Freshman Dazz Newsome also suffered what appeared to be a leg injury in the third quarter of Saturday’s game. He had to be helped off the field with a trainer.

On the defensive side of the ball, defensive back Myles Dorn left the game in the second half with what appeared to be a leg injury.

Then following the game, defensive lineman Jalen Dalton was spotted in a walking boot:

Dalton is one of the best defensive lineman on UNC’s roster and losing him could spell trouble for that unit.  It’s unknown how severe Dalton’s injury is.

Next: UNC runs past ODU

These are all injuries we will keep an eye on and provide an update when available so make sure to check back with Keeping It Heel for more.

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