Injury update on Clemson quarterback Cade Klubnik after Florida State game

Clemson quarterback Cade Klubnik got another win on Saturday night.

He also left a game with injury for the first time this season.

During the No. 15 Tigers’ 29-13 win over Florida State in Tallahassee, Klubnik exited the game for one snap in the first quarter after getting hit on a run and being slow to get up near the Clemson sideline with 52 seconds remaining in the period.

Clemson called a timeout to allow Klubnik to compose himself, but backup QB Christopher Vizzina still ultimately subbed in for Klubnik for one snap.

After Vizzina threw incomplete, Klubnik subbed back in and threw a touchdown two plays later to put Clemson up 17-0.

Klubnik and Clemson coach Dabo Swinney both addressed the moment postgame and indicated it wasn’t a serious situation, though they declined to give specifics.

“Yeah, I was just little slow to get up,” Klubnik said. “I think the refs just kind of thought I needed to come out for a play. I was all good.”

What happened on the play?

“I don’t know,” Klubnik said. “They just said I was slow to get up so I had to come out for a play.”

Swinney said the same.

“Just got shook up,” he said of his starting quarterback. “He just got shook up, and they made him come out to make sure he was OK.”

Klubnik finished the game 19 of 33 for 235 yards, two touchdowns and zero interceptions. He added 11 carries for 62 yards on the ground, including a 27-yarder as well as the 14-yard run that prompted him to miss a play in the first quarter.

With Clemson leading 10-0 in the first quarter, Klubnik took off on second-and-10 from Clemson’s 50 and picked up the first down before colliding with a defender.

The ESPN broadcast game of the game showed Klubnik and Florida State defensive back K.J. Kirkland both lowering their shoulders before making contact with one another on the play before Kirkland brought Klubnik to the ground.

Klubnik’s head hit the grass and, as he started to raise his head, the ESPN broadcast showed Clemson offensive lineman Tristan Leigh accidentally making contact with Klubnik’s head again.

As Leigh, Clemson’s starting left tackle, trailed the play, Leigh’s right knee clipped Klubnik on the head and made the quarterback’s head hit the grass again. Klubnik was slow to get up after that sequence.

ESPN announcer Mark Jones described Klubnik as “a little wobbly and slow.”

“Just a little shaken up, it looked like,” announcer Roddy Jones added.

ESPN’s rules analyst for the game said the hit was clean and didn’t warrant a targeting call since Klubnik was advancing the ball and not a defensive player in the moment. Kirkland’s hit on Klubnik was also clean and to the shoulder area versus Klubnik’s head, the analyst said.

Klubnik seemed to gesture to a Clemson trainer that he was fine, even after being slow to get up. He was evaluated on the sidelines by multiple trainers during the Tigers’ ensuing timeout and while Vizzina took a snap in his place. Klubnik returned and didn’t miss another snap as Clemson won a fourth straight game.

Swinney said postgame he didn’t mind Klubnik staying up and taking that hit (as opposed to sliding) because Klubnik slid instead of picking up a first down in a critical moment during the Tigers’ last game against Stanford on Sept. 28.

The issue popped up last year, too.

“I think he needs to go get a few of those, you know?” Swinney said. “I mean, we’re gonna need him. So he’s gotta be smart, but he’s also gotta lead his team. That was a good play, but he bounced back.”

Next Clemson game

Who: No. 15 Clemson (4-1, 3-0 ACC) at Wake Forest (2-3, 1-1 ACC)

When: Noon Saturday, Oct. 12

Where: Allegacy Federal Credit Union Stadium in Winston-Salem, NC

TV: ESPN