Top Clemson receiver in COVID protocol, to miss Pitt game
Clemson junior receiver Joseph Ngata is in COVID protocol and will miss Saturday’s game at Pitt, The State confirmed Friday morning.
Rivals’ Larry Williams first reported the news. It wasn’t immediately known if any other Clemson players would miss the game because of COVID protocol or other reasons.
Ngata leads the team with 18 catches for 352 yards. He was slated to start against the Panthers, so now his absence likely clears the way for his backup, sophomore Ajou Ajou, to get more snaps. Beaux Collins and Dacari Collins, who is behind Ajou on the depth chart, could also play more Saturday.
The Tigers already had depth concerns heading into the crucial ACC game with the Panthers. EJ Williams (knee) and Frank Ladson (groin) were no locks to play Saturday.
Ngata and Clemson quarterback DJ Uiagalelei were developing good chemistry of late. The receiver just had his first touchdown of the season a week ago against Syracuse following a season-high 111 receiving yards against Boston College two weeks prior.
Pitt was a 3.5 point favorite in the game (3:30 p.m., ESPN) as of Friday morning.
This story was originally published October 22, 2021 at 9:37 AM with the headline "Top Clemson receiver in COVID protocol, to miss Pitt game."
