Despite taking some big hits in the early parts of the 2026 season, Syracuse football fifth-year quarterback Steve Angeli says he's good to go for the Orange's road game against Pittsburgh on Thursday night, and head coach Fran Brown also confirmed this earlier in the week.
The 6-foot-3, 215-pound Angeli was pressured a lot last Saturday at home when California came back to defeat the 'Cuse, 21-18. He struggled with his accuracy, completing fewer than 50 percent of his passes while throwing three interceptions, including a pick-six. Angeli also seemed to be walking around with a slight limp.
Things likely won't get any easier on Thursday, as the Panthers have owned Syracuse football in recent years, and they intercepted former Orange record-setting quarterback Kyle McCord five times in 2024, a 41-13 drubbing by Pitt at home over the 'Cuse.
Yes, Angeli needs to improve his accuracy and decision-making against the Panthers (2-0 overall), but to be fair, SU's offensive line absolutely has to up its game, too, if the Orange (1-1 overall) wants to knock off Pittsburgh on the road.
"I’m all healthy," Angeli, who missed much of the 2025 campaign due to an Achilles injury, said. “I feel like I’m as mobile as I can be. I feel healthy enough to go out and play."
Brown added: "Can’t let our quarterback get hit as much as he was hit. We’ve just got to continue to get better and play better."
Fran Brown gives an update on Syracuse football wide receiver Calvin Russell III.
The 6-foot-5, 205-pound Russell, who has yet to play this season as a freshman while rehabbing a torn Achilles tendon that he suffered in late March, is listed as doubtful for the Pittsburgh game, according to SU's availability report submitted to the Atlantic Coast Conference on Tuesday night.
However, Brown said via his weekly radio show on Tuesday evening that he believes Russell will be medically cleared for Syracuse football's road game against Connecticut on Saturday, Oct. 3. Assuming he does play then, that's pretty remarkable, considering that the usual recovery timeline for a torn Achilles tendon is typically six to 12 months, reports have indicated.
After the Pitt game on Thursday, the 'Cuse will have a bye week before heading to the Huskies. "I know for sure he’ll be cleared in regard to playing the first game of October," Brown said on his weekly radio show. "Can’t wait to get him out there. In the same sense, you want to make sure he can protect himself."
To be medically cleared, there are various testing requirements that Russell, who hails from the Miami area, will have to pass, including testing the strength in his calves. Russell, rated five stars and No. 31 nationally in the 2026 class by 247Sports, is the Orange's highest-ranked signee in more than two decades.
It's unclear how much of an impact Russell could have once he does return, especially early on, but his presence would provide more depth to a Syracuse wide receivers room that is a bit uneven at present. Fifth-year wide receiver Justus Ross-Simmons was great against Cal, but his long-term eligibility remains up in the air as he fights the NCAA in court.
Sixth-year wide receiver Umari Hatcher has proven terrific through two games, hauling in a combined 224 receiving yards and two scores. But, save for Ross-Simmons, Hatcher and sophomore tight end Daunte Bacheyie, the rest of the Orange's receivers room needs to step up more, and that includes returnees from 2025 and college transfers.
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