Syracuse Orange football fans heard news they did not want to hear on Thursday. Head Coach Fran Brown confirmed on his radio Thursday night that quarterbacks Amari Odom and Malachi Nelson had surgery. Odom underwent shoulder surgery and is out for the season. Nelson underwent tight rope surgery for a high ankle sprain and will miss a few weeks.
Fran Brown says on his radio show that Malachi Nelson had tight-rope surgery for a high ankle sprain and will miss a few weeks. Amari Odom is out for the season after undergoing shoulder surgery. Steve Angeli is the guy again.
— Javon Edmonds (@javonedmonds45) October 22, 2026
Odom transferred to the Orange from Kennesaw State. He saw backup action in two games before earning a starting nod for Syracuse against UConn. Odom threw for 335 yards and five touchdowns in the Oranges’ 42-41 overtime win over the Huskies. However, Odom immediately missed Syracuse’s two games against Virginia and Louisville with the shoulder injury that would eventually end his season.
Nelson, the former No. 1 overall recruit by ESPN in his high school class, only played late against New Hampshire before making his first start for the Orange. He started against Virginia and Louisville. Nelson failed to finish both games. Brown stated that Nelson had a collarbone issue after the Virginia game and was questionable for the Louisville game. Nelson threw for a combined 532 yards and three touchdowns in his two games.
One might think that Syracuse would return to Steve Angeli to start at quarterback, but his status is also up in the air for the Orange. He is still listed as questionable on the latest Syracuse injury report.
Angeli has missed Syracuse’s last two games after receiving a platelet-rich plasma shot for the Achilles that he tore last season. Angeli has thrown for 731 yards and four touchdowns in three games. However, he threw a combined five interceptions in his last two appearances against Cal and Pitt. Angeli was available but did not play in Syracuse’s win over UConn.
If Angeli cannot play this weekend, the Orange would turn to Georgetown transfer Danny Lauter. He filled in for Nelson when he went down with injury in the Virginia and Louisville games. Lauter has thrown for 74 yards and a touchdown on 5-11 passing in his cameo appearances for the Orange so far this season.
Syracuse is looking to snap an 11-game ACC losing streak dating back to last season. The Orange travel to Chapel Hill to take on North Carolina at Kenan Stadium. Kickoff is set for 7:30 pm on Saturday, October 24. The game will be aired on ACC Network.