Shane Beamer delivers optimistic injury outlook entering South Carolina’s bye week

Shane Beamer and South Carolina have an open week after a 50-7 win over Akron, giving some injured Gamecocks time to get healthy before hosting high-powered Ole Miss on Oct. 5.

“I think everybody should be fine for Ole Miss,” Beamer said on his weekly teleconference on Sunday, according to the Charleston Post and Courier’s David Cloninger.

That presumably includes running back Rocket Sanders, who was forced to leave with what was reported by Gamecocks play-by-play man Todd Ellis as a “lower-leg injury”. Sanders was seen with a walking boot and eventually was ruled out for the remainder of the contest.

Sanders has 57 carries for 286 yards and 4 touchdowns for the Gamecocks while catching 3 passes for 27 yards. Against Akron, he managed just 1 carry for 1 yards and a 6-yard reception before leaving.

Collectively, it was a terrific performance for the Gamecocks, who scored at least 50 points in a game for just the 4th time in the Beamer era. The task will be much tougher in Week 6 against a Rebels team that has outscored their opponents 220-22.

Shane Beamer teleconference:

"I think everybody should be fine for Ole Miss."

If they had a game this week, questionable for a handful of those guys, with Rocket Sanders the one that would be the most questionable.

But anticipating the extra week will get everyone back.

— David Cloninger (@DCPandC) September 22, 2024

Sydney Hunte

Sydney is an Atlanta-based journalist who has covered everything from SEC and ACC football to MLS, the U.S. men's national soccer team and professional tennis. His work has appeared on such platforms as SB Nation, Cox Media Group and FanSided.