Miami’s Tyler Van Dyke returns to lineup, but reinjures shoulder on first drive vs. Pitt

Tyler Van Dyke’s return to the Miami Hurricanes’ starting lineup didn’t last long.

After missing back-to-back games with a right shoulder injury, Van Dyke lasted only one drive Saturday against the Pittsburgh Panthers, exiting after he took a hard hit and threw an interception in the red zone.

The quarterback went into the medical tent and spent the rest of the quarter there before finally emerging shortly after the start of the second. Jacurri Brown took over, but he only lasted one drive, too. After Brown threw an interception of his own, fellow quarterback Jake Garcia took over.

Van Dyke has now left his last three games due to injury. He initially injured his shoulder last month in Miami’s loss to the Duke Blue Devils, then returned two weeks later in the Hurricanes’ loss to the Florida State Seminoles on Nov. 4, only to reaggravate his injury in the first half. After missing two more games, Van Dyke tried to return once again this weekend before again sustaining an injury.

In all, he missed three of the last four games before this week. The sophomore continued to travel with the team while he was injured, providing support to Brown and Garcia, both of whom made starts while he was out.

Miami did not officially rule out Van Dyke.

Van Dyke, who was the Atlantic Coast Conference Rookie of the Year last season, went 4 of 8 for 83 yards and an interception before exiting with 12:19 left in the first quarter.

The Hurricanes needed a victory to become bowl eligible. Miami hasn’t failed to qualify for a bowl game since 2007.

“He’s been getting better and better,’’ coach Mario Cristobal told WQAM on Monday. “Certainly, he’s a guy that is sorely missed, right? We started off OK and then we had some lumps, and then he really got hot for two games before he got hurt.

“It would be great to have him back and he’s got a great chance to be back, and we’re monitoring that daily.”

Cristobal praised Van Dyke for persevering in his recovery and never quitting on the season or his teammates.

“Tyler is a great example of a guy who is a competitor, and wants to do the very best he can by his teammates and his program,’’ he said.

Miami won 2 of 3 without Van Dyke, but also lost to Duke and Florida State in games he left early.

Miami loses linemen to injury

Offensive linemen John Campbell Jr. and Laurance Seymore both went out with injuries in the first quarter, forcing the Hurricanes to play backup quarterbacks behind an offensive linemen riddled with backups.

Campbell, who has started every game at left tackle this year with star tackle Zion Nelson out for the season, was replaced by offensive lineman Michael McLaughlin. Seymore, who was filling in for injured offensive lineman Jalen Rivers at left guard, was replaced by offensive lineman Logan Sagapolu.

Both linemen are questionable to return, WQAM reported.

Mallory ties tight end record

Will Mallory’s garbage-time touchdown in the fourth quarter put him in the Miami record book.

The senior’s 14th touchdown tied former tight end Clive Walford career record for a Hurricanes tight end. The tight end finishes the year as Miami’s leading receiver after catching nine passes for 103 yards in his final game.

His 1,544 career receiving yards are also tied for second most by a tight end in Hurricanes history.