Bryant Wesco Announces Return for Clemson's 2026 Season After Scary Injury

Clemson wide receiver Bryant Wesco Jr. is officially back.

After months of uncertainty following one of the most frightening injuries of Clemson's 2025 season, the junior wideout revealed during a recent episode of 2 Right Turns that he has been medically cleared and will return for the Tigers in 2026.

Wesco made the announcement while discussing his offseason rehabilitation process.

"Last year I had my injury, and so I had to go up to a doctor in Pittsburgh for the surgery and everything," Wesco said. "So I was able to go up there in May and get cleared early May."

The news marks a major milestone for both Wesco and the Clemson program after an injury that left teammates, coaches and fans fearing the worst.

Wesco suffered the injury late in Clemson's game against SMU last November when he landed awkwardly on his head after being hit low on a play. After the game, head coach Dabo Swinney described the situation as a "very serious deal" and confirmed Wesco was transported to a local hospital for evaluation.

Two days later, Swinney provided encouraging news on the situation.

"Prayers answered. Just a blessing," Swinney said at the time. "A very, very scary injury. A lot of unknowns, but he's out of the hospital. It's a best-case scenario, but he's done for the year. All indications are that he's going to be okay."

While the injury ended his season, Clemson's staff remained optimistic about his long-term outlook. That optimism has now turned into reality.

During the podcast, Wesco described the challenge of spending months away from football while waiting for his body to heal.

"It was a hard thing to do, you know, sit on the sidelines and watch," Wesco said. "The injury itself, you can't really do much to come back from it. You just got to let time heal."

The Texas native admitted receiving final clearance was a significant moment in his recovery journey.

"Just being able to go up there and get clear, you know, I feel like I would. But just to have it finalized, it's pretty exciting," Wesco said. "I'm just so happy to be back with the team, you know, going up against the defense, just a different level."

Before the injury, Wesco had emerged as one of the Tigers' most explosive weapons. In just seven games, he recorded 31 receptions for 537 yards and six touchdowns, averaging 17.3 yards per catch and 76.7 receiving yards per game. His six touchdown receptions ranked among Clemson's team leaders despite missing nearly half the season.

Several of Clemson's biggest offensive moments in 2025 came through Wesco. He posted 118 yards and two touchdowns against Troy, hauled in 126 yards against Georgia Tech, and scored twice against Syracuse before his season was cut short.

The lengthy rehabilitation process also tested Wesco mentally. He credited teammates and fellow injured players for helping him stay engaged throughout spring practice.

"Really just the people that I have around me at all times," Wesco said. "I got my teammates always around me. They really lift my spirits up at times."

Now fully cleared and back on the field, Wesco is expected to reclaim a prominent role in Clemson's receiving corps alongside returning playmakers T.J. Moore and Tyler Brown. As the Tigers prepare for the 2026 season, the return of one of their most dynamic receivers gives Clemson another proven weapon and adds a feel-good chapter to a story that, just months ago, carried far more uncertainty.

For Wesco, simply being back is a victory, and for Clemson, getting No. 12 back on the field may be one of the biggest offseason additions of all.