The Clemson vs. Syracuse game was shaping up as a stroll for the Orange. They were cruising comfortably with a strong lead and an effective offense energized by Syracuse’s standout QB, Steve Angeli. Angeli, one of the nation’s top passers, racked up 244 yards and two touchdowns by the third quarter. Even as a 17.5-point underdog on the road, it seemed like a statement win was in the works. However, midway through the third quarter, Angeli rolled out on a scramble and suddenly went down with a non-contact leg injury.

He immediately grabbed the back of his left leg in obvious pain, unable to put weight on it, and was quickly helped off the field on crutches. The moment instantly turned the mood from excitement to concern. Despite the scare, backup Rickie Collins stepped in and threw a touchdown to Justus Ross-Simmons, extending Syracuse’s lead to 34-14. Still, the question lingers. Will the heart of their offense, Steve Angeli, be able to return, or whether this injury alter Syracuse’s trajectory this season?

But there’s a reason why things got really serious within the blink of an eye. Angeli needed crutches just to walk off the field. That’s a glaring red flag for something potentially major. Fans are buzzing online, and the speculation right now is an Achilles’ tear. An Achilles tear for a quarterback such as Angeli typically signifies that his season may be prematurely ended. The Achilles tendon, connecting calf muscles to the heel, is crucial for the explosiveness, balance, and mobility a QB needs. When that tendon tears, it’s a serious injury requiring surgery or extensive rehab, with an average recovery timeline stretching from four to six months or longer.

For example, NFL stars like Aaron Rodgers and Kirk Cousins both tore their Achilles and missed their entire seasons, undergoing long rehab with uncertain return dates. And it’s a particularly tough blow for a guy like Angeli, who’s a Notre Dame transfer trying to carve out his place as the Syracuse starter. Taking over as a starter in the 2023 Sun Bowl for the Irish, he threw three touchdowns and dazzled with over 230 passing yards. Throughout his time with the Fighting Irish, he completed 34-for-44 passes with seven touchdowns and earned a solid efficiency rating. And Angeli was carrying that momentum forward at Syracuse this season.

So far in 2025, he’s been the heartbeat of the Orange offense. In the last game against Colgate, Angeli threw five touchdown passes, including a 43-yard bomb, racking up 382 yards. He even added a rushing touchdown of his own for 21 yards, proving he’s not just a pocket passer but a dual-threat weapon. His connection with receivers like Justus Ross-Simmons, highlighted by a pinpoint 53-yard touchdown pass against UConn, has been one of the season’s bright spots for Syracuse. Against UConn in the week 2 matchup, Angeli gathered 416 passing yards with 2 touchdowns and 1 interception. That is actually good for an athlete still finding his footing in a new program.

A performance like this makes a massive impact. It fuels Syracuse’s offense and gives the team real hope in ACC play. But with Angeli sidelined and no clear return timeline, Syracuse faces a serious threat to its season’s momentum. Sure, Rickie Collins has talent, but he can’t instantly replace the chemistry and experience Angeli brings.

Fans rally behind Steve Angeli’s sudden fall

Fans’ reactions to Steve Angeli’s non-contact injury have been a mix of sympathy, frustration, and heartbreak. “Didn’t look good, hoping for the best for Steve,” a fan writes. Seeing Angeli limp off the field on crutches after a non-contact injury is a chilling moment. You see, there’s something about a player going down without contact that instantly sets off alarm bells. Achilles tears or severe muscle/tendon injuries often happen this way. The sudden inability to put weight on the leg and immediate use of crutches tells you it’s serious.

“For sure. Nothing against Rickie (Collins), but the nation’s leader in passing yards being on crutches sucks,” a fan chimed in. This hits the mood shift for the team and fans. Angeli was leading the nation in passing yards, lighting up every game with impressive stats (like 416 yards and multiple touchdowns against UConn, and five touchdowns versus Colgate). And losing a starting QB performing at that level is like ripping out a critical engine in a finely tuned machine. Backup Rickie Collins might be talented, and his stats so far in 2025 give some context to that.

Through one game played as a backup this year, Collins completed 4 of 6 passes for 65 yards, one touchdown, and one interception. He has a quarterback rating of 136.4. A fan writes, “Poor kid was playing so well and getting national attention.”

After transferring from Notre Dame, he was not just adjusting but thriving. His standout games this year had fans and analysts talking. Lastly, a fan writes, “We go one year with no QB injury now right back to the bug.” It sums up the brutal reality of football—injuries happen, sometimes crushingly so, and Syracuse had just been fortunate to avoid such a key injury last year. The team and its fans now confront the harsh cycle again.