As Pat Narduzzi’s team gears up to compete in the back end of its 2022 campaign, it will do so without two of its starters on the offensive side of the ball.
During his media availability Monday, Narduzzi announced that redshirt senior left tackle and two-time captain Carter Warren will miss the remainder of the year due to injury.
“Carter Warren, I mean, I can't thank him enough for all the efforts he's made,” Narduzzi said. “It's sad to think that he's played his last ball game, you know, in that Pitt uniform. I don't even want to think about it. He didn't want to think about it. That's why he's tried so hard. He's tried to rehab it, tried to get back. It doesn't feel good enough. And we need to get him prepared for his next journey in the NFL.
“It's only fair for him to be able to do that. So disappointed to hear that. But like I said, he's -- it's been painful for him to even, you know, make that decision. It's, like, ‘Carter, you’ve got to – we’ve got to make a decision here soon. You can't just keep week by week. We need to go get yourself better.’ ”
In his five years at Pitt, Warren appeared in 40 games, starting 39 of them. A 6-foot-5, 325 pound Patterson, New Jersey native, Warren earned All-ACC honors in 2021 with the Panthers, playing a key role in blocking for an offense led by Heisman trophy finalist Kenny Pickett.
With Warren officially out, Narduzzi says Pitt will continue to look toward redshirt sophomore Branson Taylor, who has already been playing in Warren’s place during the few games he missed this fall.
“It'll be him,” Narduzzi said. “I mean, we have a three-man race right now. I mean, you got him, you've got Gabe [Houy] and [Matt] Goncalves. Those are your three guys -- the three-man rotation.”
Narduzzi added that freshman Ryan Baer could also be in the mix.
“He's one play away. We'd like to redshirt him. We think he's going to be really good. He's going to be a lot better next year than he is this year.”
Bradley enters the transfer portal
After announcing it would lose a key member of the offensive line Monday afternoon, a Panthers skill player went public with his decision to leave the program Monday evening.
Sophomore receiver Jaden Bradley, who made his first career start in Pitt’s most recent game against Virginia Tech, took to Twitter to announce he has entered the transfer portal.
“After long and careful consideration, I have made the difficult decision to enter the NCAA Transfer Portal,” Bradley said in a statement. “I would like to thank my teammates, coaches and the Pittsburgh family for your support during the last 2 seasons. As difficult a personal decision as this is, I will remain enrolled in classes throughout the remainder of the semester and intend to pursue my academic and athletic career. I wish you all the best as I begin my new & exciting journey.”
This season, Bradley caught 10 passes for 130 yards and a pair of touchdowns for Pitt.
First Published: October 18, 2022, 12:39 a.m.
