Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney announced during his weekly Tuesday press conference that the Tigers will be without this leader on defense for this weekend’s game.

Swinney said starting safety R.J. Mickens had his appendix taken out on Monday and will miss Saturday’s game at NC State.

“Mickens is going to be out… They had to take his appendix out yesterday,” Swinney said. “Stomach ache and hurting. He had appendicitis. So, he’ll be fine, but you’ve got to heal up from getting that taken out… It’s a tough break for us there for sure.”

Swinney later added that “it may be two weeks, three weeks” for how long Mickens is out.

Mickens has started all seven of Clemson’s games so far this season.

The senior ranks third on the team with 37 total tackles. He has 2.5 tackles for loss, three pass breakups, two quarterback pressures and a fumble recovery.

Saturday’s game against the Wolfpack at Carter-Finley Stadium in Raleigh is set for a 2 p.m. kickoff on The CW Network.

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