What a difference a couple of days can make.
When UNC's initial availability report was released earlier this week, there was legitimate concern that the Tar Heels could be extremely shorthanded for Saturday night's matchup with Syracuse.
That concern has eased significantly.
All six Tar Heels starters who were originally listed as questionable have been upgraded to probable on the latest ACC availability report, providing Bill Belichick and the Tar Heels with some very encouraging news less than 24 hours before kickoff.
Wide receiver Jordan Shipp, defensive backs Kaleb Cost and Peyton Waters, running back Benjamin Hall, offensive lineman Jordan Hall, and kicker Aeron Burrell are all now listed as probable for Saturday night's game.
Considering where things stood earlier this week, that's about as positive an update as the UNC football program could've asked for.
The latest injury report trends in favor of the Tar Heels
While they won't be fully healthy, with eight players out against the Orange, including Tre Miller, Belichick and the Tar Heels will be very pleased to have the previously listed questionable players essentially all able to play.
Cost has been sidelined since suffering a lower-body injury during UNC's victory over Pittsburgh, and based on how the injury looked, it seemed like the senior defensive back would be sidelined much longer. With Miller and Weatherspoon already ruled out, bringing Cost back would provide much-needed help to a secondary forced to rely heavily on its depth.
The same can be said for Waters, who left the first quarter of last weekend's victory over Duke with an apparent shoulder injury.
Having both defensive backs available would be a welcome development for a North Carolina secondary preparing to face Syracuse wide receiver Umari Hatcher, one of the ACC's most productive pass-catchers.
There is also encouraging news on the offensive side of the ball.
Hall exited North Carolina's victory over Duke after suffering a hamstring injury on the Tar Heels' opening drive and did not return. Despite the early exit, the running back has progressed enough throughout the week to earn a probable designation.
His potential return would give North Carolina another option alongside Jaylen McGill, who stepped up in a major way after Hall went down against Duke.
Shipp's status is equally important.
The Tar Heels' leading receiver caught seven passes for 75 yards and a touchdown against the Blue Devils and has emerged as one of Billy Edwards Jr.'s most reliable weapons this season.
Then there's Jordan Hall, whose return could further boost the offensive line. Hall has been sidelined since September 19, but he appears ready to return and help pave the way for the offense up front.
Of course, probable doesn't guarantee that all six will ultimately play, but it surely is a good sign leading up to Saturday night's 7:30 PM kickoff.
The ACC will release its final availability report two hours before the game, confirming who will (and will not) play. For now, the injury news is trending in UNC's favor, as the hope is that it will remain that way, avoiding any last-minute setbacks.
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