RALEIGH, N.C. — Syracuse outside linebacker Dyshawn Davis sprained his right ankle one minute before the end of the second quarter against North Carolina State and did not return to the game.

Afterward, SU head coach Scott Shafer said Davis expects to play against Georgia Tech next week.

“He’ll be okay,” Shafer said. “He’s got an ankle sprain. It’s something that’s been nagging him all the way back to the summer, but they put him in a boot. He was walking around on it. He said, ‘Coach, I’ll be back. Don’t worry.’ So I feel good about that.”

Davis blitzed up the middle on a 2nd-and-9 from the SU 21 with 1:11 left in the second quarter, but didn’t make it to Wolfpack quarterback Pete Thomas.

As the N.C. State offense celebrated in the end zone, Davis crumpled to the grass and writhed in pain near the 30-yard line.

Davis attempted to get up and walk off the far side of the field, but could only hobble about halfway before lying back down. Davis smacked his hands against his helmet in frustration as medical staff attended to his right ankle.

After about two minutes, Davis was helped up and off the field, keeping most of his weight on his left leg.

Josh Kirkland filled in for Davis and finished with three tackles and one thumping pass breakup. Kirkland leveled Quintin Payton on a crossing route early in the fourth quarter, helping spark the Orange to a 14-0 mark in that frame.

“I’ve slowly been transitioning, sharing time with him and stuff,” Kirkland said. “Coming in it was just like any other game. I just had to play a little bit longer.”

Walking out to the team bus after the game, Davis wore a boot on his right foot, but put normal weight on it. He carried his own backpack and rolled his luggage behind him.

Published on October 12, 2013 at 10:17 pm

Contact Stephen: sebail01@syr.edu | @Stephen_Bailey1