Duke Football achieved something last Friday by beating (down) Virginia Tech on the Hokies' home field by five touchdowns. This week the Blue Devils open a two game home stand by hosting Pittsburgh on Saturday.

And while there's a fair amount of momentum for the team going forward, on Tuesday head coach David Cutcliffe revealed that one key piece of the offensive unit will be sidelined for the rest of the season.

While most of the team is healthy and preparing to face the Panthers, junior running back Brittain Brown appears to be headed toward yet another extended absence.

According Cutcliffe the oft-injured Brown has continued to deal with a shoulder injury that could very well sideline him for the rest of the 2019 season.

"We're at the point with the shoulder that we've got to make a decision," said Cutcliffe at Tuesday's media availability. "We may go ahead and make the decision to get him repaired. Just in his best interest, certainly that's what you want to do."

Should Duke and Brown make the decision to undergo surgery - and it appears that is where this is headed - it would mark the second straight season in which the 6-foot-1, 205 pound Georgia product would miss significant time. Last year he was limited to nine appearances.

During his freshman season in 2017 Brown led the team in rushing with 701 yards, averaging 5.4 yards per carry. He entered last year as the projected starter before a myriad of injuries forced him to the sidelines for extended periods.

He was expected to be first or second on the depth chart this season and was listed as a co-starter when camp broke in August. However, he's missed significant amounts of the first third of the year, playing just 42 snaps in four games while missing one game - against Middle Tennessee State in Week Three - entirely.

Without Brown last season the Blue Devils got a boost from Deon Jackson who had a breakout season and won the starting job heading into this year. As Brown presumably moves out of the depth chart once again, sophomore Mataeo Durant appears ready to shoulder more responsibility in the Duke ground game.

Through four games Durant has carried the ball 37 times for 122 yards and a touchdowns. He's also factored into the passing game with nine catches for 108 yards.

In addition to Jackson and Durant, Duke has utilized starting quarterback Quentin Harris' ability to run with the Blue Devil signal caller topping 100 yards rushing in back to back games against Middle Tennessee State and Virginia Tech.

Moving forward Duke will look to allocate some additional carries to third string back Jaylen Coleman who has already appeared in two games. Given the new redshirting rules, Coleman can appear twice more without burning his fifth year of eligibility.