Virginia quarterback Chandler Morris exited Saturday night”s matchup against Wake Forest after sustaining a hit to the head and neck area while attempting to slide during the second quarter. He did not return to the game, which resulted in a 16-9 defeat for the Cavaliers, marking their first loss in the Atlantic Coast Conference this season.
Head coach Tony Elliott mentioned that Morris returned to the sidelines dressed in street clothes during the second half. His availability for next week”s game against Duke remains uncertain. “He came back out and said he was feeling all right,” Elliott stated. “We”ll know more when we get some tests early in the week, on Sunday and then Monday. But any time you get hit in the head or neck, you have to approach that with a lot of caution.”
Morris had been instrumental in leading the Cavaliers to their best start in 35 years, with an overall record of 8-2 and a conference record of 5-1. His injury significantly impacted Virginia”s hopes of reaching the ACC title game. The Cavaliers initially led 3-0 when Morris attempted a run for six yards before sliding at the 14-yard line. He was then hit by two Wake Forest defenders, Travon West and Davaughn Patterson, with West receiving a personal foul penalty but no targeting call.
Morris remained on the ground for several minutes before getting up and walking cautiously to the sideline, eventually heading to the locker room. Backup quarterback Daniel Kaelin took over for Morris, completing 18 of 28 passes for 145 yards and rushing for an additional 49 yards, although he also lost two fumbles. “Experience is big in this game,” Kaelin remarked. “Just being able to, one, be in there and gain experience, but also, starting tomorrow, being able to watch the film and learn from it will definitely be helpful moving forward.”
A transfer from North Texas, Morris has made a significant impact on the Cavaliers through his leadership and athleticism. He previously helped Virginia achieve a school record for total offense in a single game, amassing 700 total yards in an early-season victory over William & Mary.
As the season progresses, the team will be closely monitoring Morris”s condition and making preparations for their upcoming contest.
