Riley Leonard remains day-to-day

DURHAM – Riley Leonard missed a game, made his return this past weekend, and left that game with an injury of the same ankle that cost him that missed game.

Through it all, he remains day-to-day.

“I think after talking to the doctors and everyone that Riley is going to be day-to-day,” coach Mike Elko said of his quarterback on Monday afternoon. “That’s kind of where we’re at with that.”

That’s the same place Duke has been for the past few weeks, leaving his status up in the air when No. 20 Duke heads to No. 18 Louisville for a game on Saturday that’ll go a long way in determining the pecking order atop the ACC standings.

Leonard was injured about midway through the third quarter when he was sacked by Braden Fiske, who was also flagged for a facemask penalty that moved Duke to Florida State’s 11-yard line.

It was the same right ankle that was injured on Duke’s final play against Notre Dame on Sept. 30. Leonard missed the Blue Devils’ win over N.C. State and played against FSU with the ankle taped.

The TV broadcast showed Leonard lobbying Elko to return to the game after FSU’s 96-yard drive to take its first lead of the game. Elko said after the game that it was his call to not allow his QB to return.

“I didn’t feel comfortable with where he was, health wise, to bring him back,” Elko said after the 38-20 loss.

Henry Belin IV completed 1 of 6 passes for the rest of the game. Duke’s ensuing possession went backward 9 yards for a three-and-out, and the following one was a turnover on downs. The Blue Devils picked up 38 yards — all rushing — on the final drive, after the outcome had been decided.