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Miami star receiver Malachi Toney has a high ankle sprain and is expected to have surgery, sources told ESPN. Miami said he was injured at Wednesday’s practice; he will miss Saturday’s game against Notre Dame, and the typical recovery timeline for this injury is at least four weeks.
Miami wide receiver Malachi Toney has a high ankle sprain and will have surgery, sources told ESPN’s Pete Thamel on Wednesday, ruling the star sophomore out of Saturday’s game against Notre Dame and leaving his availability for later games uncertain. Miami said Toney was injured during Wednesday’s practice; the typical recovery period for this injury is at least four weeks.
The injury removes a central part of Miami’s offense from a game against Notre Dame, with the Hurricanes unbeaten and ranked No. 1 in the initial College Football Playoff rankings. ESPN reported that Toney is expected to miss Saturday’s matchup and games beyond it. The report did not give a specific date for his return.
Toney, a 5-foot-11, 188-pound sophomore, had 73 catches for 1,027 yards and 13 touchdowns. ESPN reported that his 73 receptions were the most among Power 4 receivers, and that he had surpassed 100 all-purpose yards in six of Miami’s eight games.
Miami is averaging 47.6 points per game, the nation’s highest mark, according to the report. The offense is led by Duke transfer quarterback Darian Mensah and receivers Toney, Cooper Barkate and Daylyn Upshaw. ESPN said that, before the injury news, Toney had the fourth-best Heisman Trophy odds listed by DraftKings at +700.
Miami Loses Its Leading Receiver
Toney’s absence deprives Miami of a receiver who had been a major source of production in an undefeated season. His 13 receiving touchdowns and 1,027 yards account for a substantial share of the offense’s output, making his availability relevant not only against Notre Dame but also as the Hurricanes pursue a playoff berth.
The reported recovery benchmark of at least four weeks means the injury could affect multiple games, though it is not a confirmed timetable for Toney specifically. ESPN reported that six weeks remain until the first round of the College Football Playoff. That interval gives him more time before the playoff than before Saturday’s game, but surgery and the nature of the injury leave his postseason status unresolved.
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Toney’s Breakout Season
Toney had emerged as a Heisman Trophy contender during his sophomore season, according to ESPN’s report. His production placed him among the most productive receivers in major college football, while Miami’s unbeaten record and top position in the first playoff rankings raised the stakes around the team’s remaining schedule.
The Hurricanes’ passing game features Mensah alongside Barkate and Upshaw. With Toney sidelined, those players and the rest of Miami’s offense may need to take on more responsibility. The available report does not detail how the coaching staff plans to adjust the receiver rotation or play-calling.
“Toney has a high ankle sprain and will have surgery.”
— Sources cited by ESPN’s Pete Thamel
Return Date Still Undetermined
Neither a specific return date nor the expected length of Toney’s recovery was provided in the report. The four-week figure is a typical timeline for this type of injury, not a confirmed estimate from his doctors for this case. The report also does not say when the surgery will take place or whether Miami will issue further updates.
It remains unclear how many games Toney will miss, whether he could return during the regular season, and what his status would be if Miami reaches the playoff. The sources cited by ESPN describe the surgery plan, while the public statement from Miami confirms the practice injury; no additional official medical assessment is included in the available information.
Miami Prepares for Notre Dame
Miami’s immediate next game is Saturday against Notre Dame, which Toney will miss, according to ESPN’s report. The team will have to proceed without its leading receiver while it prepares for the matchup. No replacement or revised depth chart was identified in the supplied report.
Further clarity will depend on updates from Miami about the surgery and Toney’s rehabilitation. Until the team provides a player-specific recovery estimate, the typical four-week timeline should not be treated as a confirmed return date. His status for subsequent games and any playoff appearance remains to be determined.
Key Questions
What injury did Malachi Toney suffer?
Sources told ESPN that Toney has a high ankle sprain. Miami said he was injured during Wednesday’s practice.
Will Toney play against Notre Dame?
No. ESPN reported that the injury will sideline him for Saturday’s game against Notre Dame.
When is Toney expected to return?
No individual return date has been reported. The typical recovery timeline for this injury is at least four weeks, but that is not a confirmed estimate for Toney.
How productive was Toney before the injury?
He had 73 receptions, 1,027 receiving yards and 13 touchdowns. ESPN reported that his reception total led Power 4 receivers.
Could Toney return for the College Football Playoff?
That remains unclear. ESPN reported that six weeks remained until the playoff’s first round, but no source gave a player-specific recovery timeline or confirmed his availability.
Source: espn.com
