Speaking on Monday following a 66-3 season-opening win against New Hampshire, Syracuse football head coach Fran Brown had some interesting injury updates on freshmen standouts Calvin Russell III and Tedarius Hughes.

As noted by Chris Carlson of Syracuse.com, Brown said that he thinks Russell is just a few weeks away from playing despite tearing his Achilles tendon in March. This is in line with what Brown estimated back in early April about a possible return to play for Russell, who was injured during spring practice.

Typically, that is an injury that requires close to a full year of recovery from, but Russell might make it back in six or seven months. Remember, Syracuse quarterback Steve Angeli tore his Achilles in September of last season, and we weren't even sure he was 100 percent until the summer. Boston Celtics star Jayson Tatum tore his Achilles in May of 2025 and didn't return to the basketball court until March of 2026 (10 months). Tyrese Haliburton of the Indiana Pacers tore his in June of 2025 and didn't play in the entirety of the 2025-26 NBA season.

Brown also indicated that Hughes is only a few weeks away as well.

Here's more of what you need to know:

A standout wide receiver from Florida, Russell is one of the best recruits in Syracuse football history, and he was scheduled to be an integral part of the SU football program immediately in 2026. He graduated high school early, enrolled in Syracuse for the second semester, and immediately joined the basketball team at the end of 2025. He has planned on being a two-sport athlete all along. He appeared in one basketball game, joining the football program at the conclusion of the hoops season.

We've had questions about the depth in the wide receiver room, and Russell would immediately help answer those questions.

Hughes, a Miami Southwestern (Fla.) product actually played with Russell in high school. A four-star defensive back who originally committed to Florida State, he committed to Syracuse in November of 2025.

He's 6-foot-3 and has been nursing a knee issue.

Because of the NCAA's new "age-based eligibility model," there are no more redshirts. Each player gets five years to play five seasons. So if Russell or Hughes are healthy enough to play, there's no eligibility reason to sit them out.

While Syracuse will wait the returns of these two players, the Orange are also in preparation for a big game on Saturday against Cal.

The Golden Bears, who lost their opening game to UCLA, will represent a big test for Syracuse in the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) opener.

Kickoff is Saturday at 3:30 p.m. ET.