Quick Wednesday injury update

Pitt coach Paul Chryst met with the media today for the final time in advance of Pitt's game at Syracuse Friday. Not a whole lot other than some quick injury updates.

- Chryst said defensive end Jack Lippert will miss this week's game. Lippert didn't play against Gardner-Webb and has been limited in practice the last couple of weeks.

- All of the other guys who sat out against the Runnin' Bulldogs, though, should be ready to go. Notably, that includes defensive tackle Aaron Donald and tight end Hubie Graham. Neither of these guys were worried to be long-term injuries, but it's good for Pitt to have them back nonetheless.

- Freshman running back Rushel Shell has missed some practice time this week, but Chryst said he expects him to be ready to go on Friday.
"We’ll find out more today and tomorrow, but yeah, I think he’ll be fine," Chryst said.

- Chryst also expects linebacker Todd Thomas to make his season debut against the Orange. Thomas has been sidelined since early in camp. He returned to practice the week before Virginia Tech, and Chryst said he was hopeful Thomas would play against Gardner-Webb. That didn't happen, but the extra two weeks should be all the time he needs. Thomas will rotate in at the Sam linebacker spot currently occupied by Eric Williams. Chryst said he didn't have a specific plan for how to rotate the two, and that it depends on the flow of the game and how Thomas looks Friday.
"We’re excited to have him back," Chryst said. "I think you’re always excited to see a guy go what he’s gone through and now has a chance to play. I’m certainly looking forward to watching him play. I think he’s excited and I think the guys are looking forward to having him play too."

That's all for now, folks. Check out my post on Pitt's latest 2013 commitment, WR/ATH Reggie Green below, and join me tomorrow at noon for my weekly Pitt chat (www.post-gazette.com/chat/)before I hit the road for Syracuse.