Pitt notebook: Panthers likely to be short-handed at wide receiver against Duke

After three consecutive games against high-profile opponents Virginia Tech, Clemson and Miami (and North Carolina looming next Thursday), Pitt must fit Duke into its schedule Saturday in Durham, N.C.

The Blue Devils (3-5, 0-4 ACC) will carry a four-game losing streak into the game, a stretch in which they have been outscored, 162-41.

But Pitt will travel with a serious personnel deficiency that could stretch into the North Carolina game, given the short week of preparation.

Wide receivers Taysir Mack and Jaylon Barden are injured, and Narduzzi said they are “very, very questionable for this weekend.”

Mack was standing on the sideline wearing a sling around his arm in the second half of the Miami game, and he appears to have a shoulder injury.

Narduzzi isn’t counting on them Saturday, and he is not guaranteeing a return for any of the subsequent games. He said there’s “a possibility” they could play again this season.

That’s not encouraging news. In response, Duke might put more heat on Jordan Addison, who faces double teams when Mack is in the game. Those could multiply without him.

Addison played against Miami a week after suffering a concussion in the Clemson game, and he had his best game against an ACC opponent (eight catches for 145 yards).

Mack is Pitt’s third-leading pass catcher (27) behind Addison (47) and Jared Wayne (29), but Mack averages 17.1 yards per catch, nearly the equal of Addison (17.3). Similar to Addison and Wayne, Mack can make contested catches, and that’s what Pitt will miss more than anything.

Nonetheless, quarterback Kenny Pickett said he remains confident in his receivers.

“Jared Wayne, obviously, has taken a huge step this season,” he said.

Pitt has 10 players with double-digit reception totals, so wide receiver is a position that — on paper — can withstand injuries. Barden isn’t one of the 10, but he is averaging 19.3 yards on nine catches.

Pickett mentioned first-year freshman wide receiver Jaden Bradley, who hasn’t played much (44 snaps, 22 against New Hampshire), but he has made his four receptions count for 71 yards.

“I’m really proud of the growth that he’s had since he first got here,” Pickett said. “He’s come a long way.”

Added Narduzzi of Bradley: “He studies the game. That guy’s going to be a future star. We’ve been excited about him all year. He’s a guy who’s going to be in the (Duke) game quite a bit.”

Other side of the ball

When the ball is flipped to the other team, Pitt’s defense must encounter one of the ACC’s best running backs, Blue Devils senior Mataeo Durant.

He has accounted for 1,163 yards, and his 973 rushing yards are second in the ACC. It should be an interesting test of Pitt’s defense, which is No. 1 in the ACC — 15th in the nation — defending the run (104.6 yards per game).

Pitt linebackers coach Ryan Manalac said beware of Durant, who checks in at 6-foot-1, 195 pounds.

“He stands out tremendously, appears to be the heart and soul of what they do,” Manalac said. “He’s the guy, unless he’s fatigued.”

Added Narduzzi: “I think he’s an NFL tailback.”

Durant and quarterback Gunnar Holmberg have accounted for 71.2% of Duke’s rush attempts. Holmberg has completed 69.2% of his passes, but with as many touchdowns as interceptions (six).

Just like every week, Pitt will concentrate on stopping the run.

“The more guys we put in the box, the better chance we have to continue to be a really good run-stopping defense,” Narduzzi said. “But there are times we have to take our chances and keep a guy out of the box. It’s a guessing game.

“The tailback’s good enough to beat you all by himself. We have to be careful.”

Duke has averaged only 10 points over the past four games, but it still stands 28th in the nation and fifth in the ACC in average yards (451.9).