The Louisville football program could be heavily shorthanded when they host Virginia Tech later today.
Cornerback Jarvis Brownlee (foot) will not play against the Hokies, while running back Jawhar Jordan (hamstring), wide receiver Jamari Thrash (wrist), offensive tackle Willie Tyler (unknown), center Bryan Hudson (unknown) are all game-time decisions, according to ESPN's Pete Thamel.
Brownlee has been dealing with a nagging foot injury since the Pitt game. He exited the second half of the game against the Panthers, then played in last week's game vs. the Blue Devils before re-aggravating his foot. Over those two games, he logged just three tackles over 51 defensive snaps.
Jordan played in the first series of the game at Pitt on Oct. 14, logging two carries for eight yards, then exited the game due to a hamstring injury suffered in the week leading up to the game. He was able to go in last week's game vs. Duke, rushing for a career-best 163 yards and two touchdowns.
Thrash has been dealing with an injury to his left wrist since mid-October, even playing in the game at Pitt with his wrist heavily taped up, but has played in Louisville's last two games. He had nine catches for 120 yards at Pitt on Oct. 14, then seven catches for 73 yards last weekend vs. Duke.
Hudson has been dealing with an undisclosed injury that head coach Jeff Brohm said has kept him out of practice for weeks, but hasn't cost him playing time. Tyler started against Duke last week, but did not finish that game due to an undisclosed injury of his own.
Brownlee has been a key component to Louisville's efforts in the secondary. In seven starts and eight appearances, the 6-foot, 190-pound cornerback is third on the team in pass breakups with four, is eighth on the team in tackles with 21, and has also collected a tackle for loss and a fumble recovery.
Jordan has established himself as one of the most explosive and exciting running backs in college football. The 5-foot-10, 185-pound all-purpose back has rushed 110 times for 824 yards and 10 touchdowns, as well as caught 10 passes for 174 yards and a score. His rushing total comes in at No. 14 nationally, while his 998 yards from scrimmage is good for 10th in the FBS.
Thrash is Louisville's clear top option in their passing attack and one of the top wide receivers in the ACC. Starting all eight games, the 6-foot-1, 185-pound wideout has caught 46 passes for 712 yards and six touchdowns. His receptions total tied for No. 32 nationally and his yardage mark placing 20th.
Per Pro Football Focus, Hudson and Tyler are Louisville's two best offensive linemen on the season. Hudson has a grade of 72.5 over 526 snaps, while Tyler has a grade of 68.1 over 495 snaps. Hudson has started all eight games at center, while Tyler has done so at left tackle.
With Brownlee out, expect Storm Duck to start in his place. In the last two contests with Brownlee in and out of the lineup, Duck has taken his place. He logged six tackles and a pass breakup in 35 snaps at Pitt, and one tackle and one pass breakup in 29 snaps vs. Duke.
Expect head coach Jeff Brohm to split carries between Isaac Guerendo and Maurice Turner if Jordan cannot go, with maybe some brief appearances from true freshman Keyjuan Brown. Guerendo has rushed 59 times for 243 yards and three touchdowns, Turner has logged 39 rushes for 183 yards and one touchdown, while Brown has 11 carries for 65 yards and a score.
If Thrash gets ruled out, Louisville will need one of their other top pass catchers to step up in his place, as his season totals are close to matching the combined stat lines of Louisville's four wideouts behind him in terms of production. Chris Bell, Ahmari Huggins-Bruce, Kevin Coleman Jr. and Jimmy Calloway have combined to haul in 56 receptions for 821 yards and five touchdowns.
The offensive line will have to be shuffled even more if the injuries to both Hudson and Tyler will sideline them. Michael Gonzalez would likely slide back to his old spot at left tackle with John Paul Flores taking over at Gonzalez's current spot at left guard. Austin Collins, who was elevated to starting right guard following the season ending injury to Renato Brown, would likely take over at center with Joshua Black sliding in at right guard.
Kickoff vs. the Hokies is set for 3:30 p.m. EST at L&N Stadium.
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