Syracuse QB AJ Long 'highly doubtful' for Duke due to a nerve issue

It is "highly doubtful" that Syracuse starting quarterback AJ Long will play for the Orange against Duke on Saturday, coach Scott Shafer told reporters on Thursday.

According to Shafer, Long injured his throwing arm in the loss to NC State last week but did not release the severity of the injury until Tuesday's practice. What was thought to be tissue damage was then re-diagnosed as nerve damage that could keep Long on the sideline as the Orange, currently at 3-6 overall, fight an uphill battle for bowl eligibility.

Shafer hinted that the nerve damage was caused by a player stepping on Long, according to quotes from the Syracuse Post-Standard.

"I don't know how it happened, but between his neck and his shoulder pads, he's got a footprint," Shafer said. "He's got cleat marks on his back, toward his shoulder on the right side."

Long took over after starting quarterback against Florida State after Terrel Hunt suffered a fractured fibula in a loss to Louisville on Oct. 3. He has completed 56.3 percent of his passes for for 727 yards and four touchdowns with six interceptions in four games of action.

Duke is listed as a 3.5-point favorite against Syracuse for their game on Saturday in the Carrier Dome. There appears to be no major fluctuation given the news that redshirt freshman Austin Wilson, a former three-star prospect from Enola, Pa., may be starting under center for the Orange.