Bob Chesney’s JMU football team is a perfect 2-0, but the Dukes looked sluggish in a 13-6 win over Gardner-Webb. JMU could desperately use the offensive help of a few Dukes currently dealing with injuries.

Chesney vaguely addressed three key offensive injuries at Tuesday’s bye week press conference. JMU is off this week before visiting North Carolina on Sept. 21, giving players additional time to heal before a big showdown with an ACC program. 

Tyshawn Wyatt, OL

A 2024 preseason All-Sun Belt Second Team member, Wyatt has 33 career starts. He’s started at both left tackle and left guard, and he’s one of the most experienced and capable linemen on the Dukes’ roster.

Wyatt hasn’t suited up in either of JMU’s first two games in 2024, as he works his way back from a 2023 season-ending leg injury. He suffered the injury in late October but didn’t have surgery until mid-November last year. Wyatt told JMU Sports News in August he needed to wait two weeks for the swelling to diminish before surgery took place.

He’s still working his way back from injury and has been working out, but his status for the UNC game is to be determined.

“He’s just progressing and trying to figure this out,” Chesney said. “It’s been status quo for him, as he is right now. He’s in a good spot. He feels good. We just got to get full clearance.”

Ayo Adeyi, RB

Adeyi, a North Texas transfer, exited Saturday’s game after just four carries with what appeared to be a left leg injury. He was tackled hard on his left leg late in the first quarter and he began limping about a play later and left the contest.

Chesney didn’t have a status update on Adeyi on Tuesday, but he’ll speak with the media multiple times next week before the UNC game. Chesney said Saturday after the Gardner-Webb game that Adeyi has played with the same injury before.

“It’s something that he had prior, so it’s nothing that he hasn’t played through before,” Chesney said. “We just gotta see how it goes throughout this week.”

It’s quite possible he plays against UNC, despite leaving the Gardner-Webb game early. The early bye week comes at an ideal time for Adeyi.

Taji Hudson, WR

An expected starter in 2024, Hudson hasn’t played a snap yet this season as he battles some sort of unannounced leg injury. He’s dressed for both games, and he’s practicing with the team.

He should make his debut soon, with Chesney saying Tuesday the Dukes are hopeful Hudson will progress well over the next two weeks.

It’s quite possible he plays against North Carolina, given that he’s practicing in some capacity more than a week before the game and wore pads for the first two games. Hudson is close to taking the field. 

Photo courtesy of JMU Athletics Communications