Pitt RB Desmond Reid, DEs Blaine Spires, Zach Crothers listed as out vs. Boston College
Pitt will play another game without its most dynamic offensive player, as tailback Desmond Reid has been ruled out of Saturday’s contest vs. Boston College at Acrisure Stadium.
The Panthers listed Reid as out on their final weekly player availability report, released at 10 a.m. Saturday. Pitt (2-2, 0-1 ACC) hosts the Eagles (1-3, 0-2 ACC) at noon.
Defensive ends Blaine Spires and Zach Crothers are also out, as is long snapper Nilay Upadhyayula and reserve offensive lineman Jackson Brown.
Cornerback Tamon Lynum and safety Javon McIntyre are listed as game-time decisions.
Pitt also is making a major change at quarterback, with true freshman Mason Heintschel expected to start over Eli Holstein.
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Reid last played Sept. 13 in the first quarter of the Backyard Brawl, when he left the game with an ankle injury in Pitt’s 31-24 overtime loss to West Virginia.
Reid missed last week’s game vs. Louisville and, though coach Pat Narduzzi indicated Reid was close to playing, he’ll again cede responsibilities to redshirt freshman Juelz Goff and true freshman Ja’Kyrian Turner.
Reid has rushed 24 times for 148 yards and a score and added six catches for 71 yards while also returning punts for Pitt.
In his absence, receiver Kenny Johnson has taken his place on the punt return unit.
Losing Spires and Crothers, mainstays at defensive end, is another blow for Pitt.
Spires, a starter this season along with Jimmy Scott, has 4.5 tackles for loss and a pair of sacks, while Crothers’ stock had risen in previous weeks as a part of the Panthers’ rotation at defensive end.
He’s contributed 15 tackles (3 for loss) as well as 1.5 sacks.
Without them, Nate Temple and Maverick Gracio should be in line for more action.
McIntyre, another full-time starter, was replaced by Kavir Bains-Marquez early vs. Louisville due to an apparent injury.
McIntyre managed some special teams reps shortly after leaving the defensive backfield, but Bains-Marquez and true freshman Allen Bryant handled free safety duties for most of the afternoon.
Lynum has not played since Sept. 6 against Central Michigan, leading to opportunities at corner for true freshman Shawn Lee.
Justin Guerriero is a TribLive reporter covering the Penguins, Pirates and college sports. A Pittsburgh native, he is a Central Catholic and University of Colorado graduate. He joined the Trib in 2022 after covering the Colorado Buffaloes for Rivals and freelancing for the Denver Post. He can be reached at jguerriero@triblive.com.
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