Miami Hurricanes wide receiver Malachi Toney is set to undergo surgery to address a high ankle sprain, a critical setback for the team. The injury will keep him off the field for several weeks, with no definitive timeline for his return.
Recovery from a high ankle sprain typically requires at least four weeks, according to ESPN. The Hurricanes' football program confirmed that Toney sustained the injury during practice on Wednesday morning and was undergoing further evaluation. There is hope within the program that Toney might return before the end of the regular season, which includes four remaining games, starting with Notre Dame.
Toney has been a pivotal player for the undefeated Hurricanes, who are ranked No. 1 in the initial College Football Playoff rankings. He has accounted for 35 percent of Miami's receptions, 39 percent of its receiving yards, and 46 percent of its touchdown catches this season. The team leads the nation in scoring, averaging 47.6 points per game.
Earlier in the season, Toney broke school records for receiving yards in a game with 234 against Stanford and for receptions in a game with 16 against Pittsburgh. He had been considered a Heisman Trophy hopeful, accumulating 73 catches for 1,027 yards and 13 touchdowns through eight games, and had not missed any previous time due to injury this season.