The Syracuse Orange and star QB Garrett Shrader have had a difficult road through the waning stages of September and into October. Truth be told, their Week 8 bye week couldn’t have come at a better time.
Following a trio of losses that culminated with Shrader being pulled from the game against Florida State, when will the ‘Cuse QB make his return?
A ‘Too Weak’ Garrett Shrader Pulled From FSU Game
Though largely ineffective against the Seminoles, Shrader still presents a unique challenge for opponents. His dual-threat ability is documented and he’s been known to give defense fits with his ability to buy time in the pocket and outside of the structure of the offense and dominate with his off-script downfield passing.
Against FSU, however, that was hardly the case.
Shrader was bottled up and threw for just 99 yards with three sacks and -10 rushing yards. Ultimately, he was removed from the game in the second half and did not return.
Syracuse head coach Dino Babers explained his removal from the lineup following the 41-3 loss to FSU. Babers mentioned that Shrader got food poisoning from dinner the night before the game, and the plan was to keep him hydrated and play through the effects.
“It was one of those things where we were trying to keep him going,” Babers said during the postgame press conference. “It just came to a point where he was just getting too weak in the game, and we just needed to make a change.”
Carlos Del Rio-Wilson entered the game for Shrader and didn’t fare any better.
Collectively, the Syracuse QBs threw for just 137 yards and an interception, while FSU held the Orange to just 261 yards of total offense.
When Will Garrett Shrader Return?
With their bye week, it’s apparent Shrader’s removal from the lineup was just a one-off situation, and he’ll be back in action for Week 9. Syracuse sits at 4-3 and 0-3 in ACC play, ranking 13th out of 14 teams.
Despite a promising 4-0 start to the year, their midseason schedule has done them no favors. Babers, however, remains confident that his team will improve against ‘weaker defenses’ down the stretch.
“You’re going to see more time based off of the d-lines you’re playing,” Babers said of the rest of their schedule. “The QBs will be able to make more decisions.”
Syracuse travels to Virginia Tech on October 26 at 7:30 p.m. ET in what appears to be a must-win game for the Orange.