Duke QB Leonard reinjures ankle in loss to Noles

Andrea Adelson, ESPN Senior WriterOct 21, 2023, 07:58 PM ET

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• ACC press reporter.
• Joined ESPN.com in 2010.
• Graduate of the University of Florida.TALLAHASSEE, Fla.– Duke quarterback Riley Leonard was required to leave Saturday night’s 38-20 loss to Florida State after reinjuring his right ankle in the 3rd quarter.Leonard was hurt on a sack that was later on waved off due to a facemask. He was changed by Henry

  Belin IV on the next play.While Leonard was seen running up and down the sideline in the hopes of returning into the game, he did not

  return.”He wished to come back in, “Duke coach Mike Elko said.” He was pleading me on the sideline to come back in. I didn’t feel comfy with where he was health wise to bring him back and so we didn’t do it.”The No. 16 Blue Devils, led 20-17 when Leonard went down, and failed to score en path to the loss.Editor’s Picks 2 Associated Leonard injured his ankle on the final play versus Notre Dame on Sept. 30, and missed last week’s game against NC State. However after going through pregame warmups

  on his hurt ankle, he got the start against the Seminoles.He played well enough, and made one key scramble that evaluated him. However the essential turning point in the game came on a fourth-and-goal stop on the exact same drive he was injured. Duke could not punch it in, and Florida State went on to score 21 unanswered points.Leonard completed 7-of-16 for 69 lawns with an interception. Belin went 1-of-6 for 7 lawns in relief of Leonard. “The 4th quarter got away from us, “Elko stated. “For 3 quarters, we battled. We held them in check to some degree, but at the end of the day, in those types of games, in those types of atmospheres we’ve got to be more efficient in the throw game. We’ve got to have the ability to execute better. We can’t finish 8 passes and attempt to win a game on the roadway like that.”