On Tuesday, defensive end Robert Welsh said Maryland’s backup wide receivers, who have been thrust into a more significant role due to injuries, are just as good as its starters.

“We’ll see,” Welsh said. “It’s on the D-line to get to the quarterback, hopefully don’t give them a chance to throw.”

Maryland starters Stefon Diggs and Deon Long are both out for the season with leg injuries. Before their injuries, the wide receivers combined for more than 1,000 yards and four touchdowns.

In their place, Milford Academy product Levern Jacobs and sophomore Nigel King will be forced to pick up the slack. Syracuse head coach Scott Shafer said in his weekly press conference on Thursday that the Orange will have to lock down on the wide receivers even though they’re Maryland’s backups.

“I do think they’re a talented bunch of kids,” Shafer said of the backups. “Just haven’t had as many opportunities yet, but they’re getting them now.”

Earlier in the week he watched as one wide receiver caught a pass, took it down the middle and “ran it away from everybody.” He rewound the tape to see the jersey number. It was Jacobs, who the Orange will have to account for this week.

“I was hoping maybe it was one of those guys that wasn’t playing,” Shafer said. “Unfortunately he’s playing. He’s a good player.”