NC State quarterback Devin Leary taking things ‘day by day’ after season-ending injury
When N.C. State quarterback Devin Leary was injured in early October, the first question was whether he’d be able to return this season.
Surgery for a pectoral tear soon answered that – no, he would not.
Now the pressing question is whether Leary will return to N.C. State next season?
Leary, speaking to the media Tuesday, said no decision had been made about next season and that his only priority is in getting healthy. He said a projected timetable for his rehabilitation following his surgery was three to four months to heal the pectoral injury and another month or two before he can begin throwing a football.
“For me, it’s day by day,” he said. “I just need to get healthy. Obviously, this isn’t ideal. This isn’t what I wanted to happen. But the priority for me is get healthy. The priority for me is to help this team.
“For me, I can’t make any kind of decision without being healthy, without knowing when I’m going to throw again. My every single day is about attacking rehab so I can get better.”
The NFL combine is scheduled for Feb. 28 to March 6 in Indianapolis and NFL scouts will later attend pro days at college campuses — N.C. State’s 2022 pro day was in late March. Leary was asked how long he might wait until making a decision on next season.
“It’s hard to say,” Leary said. “Hopefully I’ll be able to figure it out when that time comes. I truly have taken this day by day. I truly don’t know what’s in store for me with my future, what’s to come. ... Once that time comes, I’ll have to make a decision.”
After the 2021 season, when Leary threw for 35 touchdowns as the Pack went 9-3, the assumption was that he might leave for the NFL after this season. Leary was named the 2022 ACC preseason player of the year and had some guessing how high the redshirt junior might be picked in the draft.
That changed Oct. 8 at Carter-Finley Stadium, in N.C State’s sixth game. With the Wolfpack facing Florida State, Leary was hit in the pocket getting off a pass in the third quarter and had to be helped off the field, painfully rubbing his right shoulder.
Leary later returned to the sideline with his right arm in a sling as Jack Chambers, a graduate transfer, helped the Pack rally for a 19-17 win over the Seminoles.
“Originally I did not think it was season-ending,” Leary said of the injury. “I tried to get up and felt a shooting pain in my chest. I thought it was maybe with my shoulder.
“When they went in to get X-rays everything came back clean. I started to get more positive hope, but as the doctors continued to move my arm around I knew something wasn’t right. I couldn’t move my arm above my head. The next day I got the MRI and the doctors told me it was a torn pec ... and I got the feeling that would end the season.”
It wasn’t until two hours before game time Oct. 15 at Syracuse that NCSU announced Leary would undergo surgery for the season-ending pectoral injury. Chambers was the starter in the Pack’s 24-9 loss.
The surgery was performed by Dr. James Andrews and Leary is expected to make a full recovery. NCSU coach Dave Doeren said there was no structural damage to the shoulder and that the injury should not affect his passing ability or arm strength.
After surgery Leary was on the Wolfpack sideline at Syracuse and again last Thursday in the Pack’s game against Virginia Tech. Chambers again started but freshman MJ Morris spurred a second-half comeback with three touchdown passes as the Pack rallied for a 22-21 victory at Carter-Finley.
Morris, named the ACC rookie of the week, will be starter Saturday in the ACC game against Wake Forest.
“I was super proud of MJ,” Leary said. “As soon as he got here we all knew how special he was going to be. It was really just a matter of time before he got his shot, his opportunity.”
Both Chambers and Morris credited Leary with being helpful — during practices, video work and during the games. He has offered them advice on play execution and in dissecting defensive coverages, doing what he can to give the QBs an extra set of eyes and encouragement.
“I’m embracing it, trying to be the best teammate I can be,” Leary said.
This story was originally published November 2, 2022 at 6:10 AM.
