ACC

Injury update on Clemson running back Phil Mafah after NC State game

Sep 21, 2024; Clemson, South Carolina, USA; Clemson Tigers running back Phil Mafah (7) is examined by trainers and head coach Dabo Swinney after suffering an apparent injury against the North Carolina State Wolfpack during the first quarter at Memorial Stadium.
Sep 21, 2024; Clemson, South Carolina, USA; Clemson Tigers running back Phil Mafah (7) is examined by trainers and head coach Dabo Swinney after suffering an apparent injury against the North Carolina State Wolfpack during the first quarter at Memorial Stadium. Imagn Images

One of Clemson’s top offensive players was injured during Saturday’s game against NC State. But it apparently wasn’t as serious as it looked.

“I’m all good,” running back Phil Mafah said after Clemson’s 59-35 win.

On the No. 21 Tigers’ second offensive drive of the game, Mafah, Clemson’s starter, caught a short pass for 4 yards on the right sideline but was injured after getting tackled by a Wolfpack defender.

Mafah was slow to get up, tried to get up and then ultimately laid back down. He was promptly tended to by trainers and eventually walked off the field under his own power but went straight to the injury tent. He received cheers from the crowd at Memorial Stadium as he left the field.

Mafah left the injury tent after spending about five minutes in it ... then promptly scored a 38-yard rushing touchdown on his first touch since exiting the game and finished with a team-high 107 rushing yards.

Mafah said postgame he’d suffered a shoulder stinger but felt fine.

As for when he fell back down? Mafah said part of his injury wasn’t as dramatic at it seemed: As he started to get up, a Clemson trainer advised him not to try to rush and get up on his own (in case the injury was worse), so he simply laid back down.

“They told me to stay down so I just did it,” Mafah said.

He added of his injury: “I was able to bounce back, so I’m all good.”

Clemson running back Phil Mafah (7) breaks free to score on a 38-yard touchdown run during Clemson’s 59-35 victory at Memorial Stadium in Clemson, S.C., Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024.
Clemson running back Phil Mafah (7) breaks free to score on a 38-yard touchdown run during Clemson’s 59-35 victory at Memorial Stadium in Clemson, S.C., Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024. Ethan Hyman ehyman@newsobserver.com

Next Clemson game

Who: Stanford (2-1, 1-0 ACC) at No. 21 Clemson (2-1, 1-0 ACC)

When: 7 p.m. Sept. 28

Where: Memorial Stadium in Clemson

TV: ESPN

This story was originally published September 21, 2024 at 12:53 PM with the headline "Injury update on Clemson running back Phil Mafah after NC State game."

Related Stories from Hilton Head Island Packet
Chapel Fowler
The State
Chapel Fowler, the NSMA’s 2024 South Carolina Sportswriter of the Year, has covered Clemson football and other topics for The State since summer 2022. His work’s also been honored by the Associated Press Sports Editors, the South Carolina Press Association and the North Carolina Press Association. He’s a Denver, N.C., native, a UNC-Chapel Hill alum and a pickup basketball enthusiast. Support my work with a digital subscription
Get unlimited digital access
#ReadLocal

Try 1 month for $1

CLAIM OFFER