Injury update on Clemson running back Phil Mafah after NC State game

One of Clemson’s top offensive players was injured during Saturday’s game against NC State. But it apparently wasn’t as serious as it looked.

“I’m all good,” running back Phil Mafah said after Clemson’s 59-35 win.

On the No. 21 Tigers’ second offensive drive of the game, Mafah, Clemson’s starter, caught a short pass for 4 yards on the right sideline but was injured after getting tackled by a Wolfpack defender.

Mafah was slow to get up, tried to get up and then ultimately laid back down. He was promptly tended to by trainers and eventually walked off the field under his own power but went straight to the injury tent. He received cheers from the crowd at Memorial Stadium as he left the field.

Mafah left the injury tent after spending about five minutes in it ... then promptly scored a 38-yard rushing touchdown on his first touch since exiting the game and finished with a team-high 107 rushing yards.

Mafah said postgame he’d suffered a shoulder stinger but felt fine.

As for when he fell back down? Mafah said part of his injury wasn’t as dramatic at it seemed: As he started to get up, a Clemson trainer advised him not to try to rush and get up on his own (in case the injury was worse), so he simply laid back down.

“They told me to stay down so I just did it,” Mafah said.

He added of his injury: “I was able to bounce back, so I’m all good.”

Next Clemson game

Who: Stanford (2-1, 1-0 ACC) at No. 21 Clemson (2-1, 1-0 ACC)

When: 7 p.m. Sept. 28

Where: Memorial Stadium in Clemson

TV: ESPN