Florida State could be without three offensive starters Saturday when it plays at Syracuse.
Center Austin Barron for sure will miss the game with an arm injury, while tailback Karlos Williams (ankle) and wide receiver Rashad Greene (concussion) could miss the contest.
"If I had to give a percentage, I would say yes (he'll miss the game)," coach Jimbo Fisher said of Williams at his weekly news conference. "But it's how guys heal and where they're at."
Fisher said Greene was having no lingering effects from his concussion, "but he still has to go through a protocol to come back."
Greene, who has been compared to the Pittsburgh Steelers' Antonio Brown by one AFC personnel executive, missed the second half of this past Saturday's win over Wake Forest after suffering the concussion late in the first half.
Redshirt freshman Ryan Hoefeld will replace Barron, who missed part of the second half against Wake with his injury. Sophomore Mario Pender would replace Williams, who has been something of a disappointment this season to scouts. He had his first 100-yard game of the season two weeks ago in a narrow win over North Carolina State.
Greene's replacement is more problematic. Greene is, by far, the team leader in receptions with 37; next-most is the 16 by sophomore wide receiver Jesus "Bobo" Wilson, and no other wide receiver has more than sophomore Kermit Whitfield's seven. Whitfield, senior Scooter Haggins and true freshmen Travis Rudolph and Ermon Lane would see more time with Greene out, with Haggins possibly replacing him in the starting lineup.
Good news for FSU is that the opponent is Syracuse and that trio isn't needed to beat the Orange. Syracuse has been outscored 93-41 points in three games against "Power Five" opponents (Louisville, Maryland and Notre Dame), and starting quarterback Terrel Hunt will miss the game with a leg injury.
Mike Huguenin can be reached at mike.huguenin@nfl.com. You also can follow him on Twitter @MikeHuguenin.
