As Duke looks to begin a season at 6-1 or better for just the fifth time in the last 70 years, the Blue Devils will enter their seventh game healthier than they’ve been in several weeks.
On the weekly injury report released Thursday morning, starting defensive end Dezmond Johnson and key backup running back Shaquille Powell are listed as probable for Saturday’s game against Virginia. Both are suffering from unspecified leg injuries.
Johnson has missed the past three games because of the injury after starting the first three games of the year. He’s played in 45 games the past three-plus seasons, so the Blue Devils would be getting a veteran and experienced piece of their defensive line rotation back.
Powell is current third on the team in rushing yards with 200. He did not play in the win over Georgia Tech last Saturday because of the injury.
A trio of reserves who have missed the past couple of weeks have also been ruled out this week: tight end Dan Beilinson (upper body), cornerback Johnathan Lloyd (lower body) offensive lineman Trip McNeill (lower body) and defensive tackle Jamal Wallace (lower body).
