Tight end Josh Parris had surgery to “clean out” his knee on Wednesday, and Syracuse head coach Scott Shafer said Wednesday evening that the junior will probably miss 2-4 weeks.

“I saw him afterward and he’s doing well,” Shafer said. 

With Parris temporarily sidelined, the Orange will most likely look to some combination of sophomore Kendall Moore, freshman Jamal Custis and redshirt sophomore Tyler Provo, with its Aug. 29 opener against Villanova quickly approaching. Custis started training camp as a wide receiver and has since been shifted into working with the tight ends, and has impressed Shafer, offensive coordinator George McDonald and starting quarterback Terrel Hunt throughout camp.

But when asked about the team’s short-term plans at the position, Shafer pushed his answer to opening night.

Said Shafer: “You will find out on the 29th.”

Howard missed Fort Drum trip after missing curfew earlier in camp

On the day SU was set to leave for Fort Drum for four days, Shafer announced that freshman safety Naesean Howard would not make the trip. Shafer said Wednesday that the reason for Howard’s short suspension was for missing curfew.

Howard has since returned to practicing with the team.

“He missed curfew one night. You know we’re demanding that,” Shafer said. “He learned his lesson, he has great parents at home, with support and everything that he’s trying to do.

“It’s just one of those situations where you just got to keep that bar high and the expectations high.”

While Shafer added that learning situations “are uncomfortable,” there was some silver lining in Howard’s case. Howard was able to spend the Fort Drum week in Syracuse with former linebacker and graduate assistant Siriki Diabate — who couldn’t attend the trip due to paperwork, Shafer said.

“It was a time for one of our best leaders in years to spend some time with a freshman,” Shafer said, “and teach him what it is to be playing for the Orange, being at Syracuse, things that will be coming up later in his life.” 

Published on August 20, 2014 at 8:52 pm

Contact Jesse: jcdoug01@syr.edu | @dougherty_jesse