Pitt to be shorthanded once again at Stanford, with several players sidelined by injury

Pitt’s final ACC player availability report was submitted ahead of kickoff Saturday afternoon at Stanford.

Once again, the Panthers (6-2, 4-1 ACC) will be shorthanded, specifically on defense, as they aim for their fifth straight win.

Linebackers Rasheem Biles and Nick Lapi were ruled out on Friday night’s report, along with left tackle Jeff Persi, safety Cruce Brookins and defensive end Blaine Spires.

On Saturday, All-American linebacker Kyle Louis was listed as a game-time decision, but ESPN reported he was expected to play after missing last weekend’s contest vs. N.C. State.

Tailback Desmond Reid and receiver Kenny Johnson, two key members of the offense, are also game-time decisions.

Biles was having an all-conference-caliber campaign, leading Pitt in tackles (53) and tackles for loss (8.5), but will now miss his third straight game due to injury.

Lapi, one of Pitt’s primary backups at linebacker who earned his first career start Oct. 18 at Syracuse, when Biles was unavailable and Louis left due to injury, will miss his second straight game.

Brookins’ health has fluctuated in recent weeks, causing him to miss Pitt’s road game at Florida State on Oct. 11.

Reid has struggled to stay at full health since suffering an injury Sept. 13 at West Virginia.

Most recently, he left last Saturday’s game against the Wolfpack in the third quarter. Johnson was injured in the same game lunging into the end zone near halftime.

He posted seven catches for 112 yards in the first half but did not return to the game, which Pitt won 53-34.