Duke Lost Salas and Schaper for Season

Duke football players Cosme Salas and Elliott Schaper will miss the remainder of the 2026 season due to injuries.

Updated on Oct. 12, 2026 in Soccer

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Duke football players Cosme Salas and Elliott Schaper are sidelined for the rest of the 2026 season due to injuries sustained during practice. Freshman Gavin Strange has taken over as the team's primary kicker.

Why it matters

The loss of two key players disrupts Duke's roster depth as the team prepares for their upcoming home game against UNC.

Freshman kicker Gavin Strange recorded a 65-yard average on five kickoffs against Georgia Tech and converted a 35-yard field goal. Elliott Schaper appeared in 23 snaps this season, including three tackles in the 62-7 win over William & Mary.

The players

Cosme Salas

He is a Duke football player who served as the team kicker before his season-ending injury.

Elliott Schaper

He is a Duke football player who sustained a lower-leg injury that ended his 2026 campaign.

Gavin Strange

He is a freshman kicker for Duke who replaced the injured Salas in the starting lineup.

The details

Both players suffered their injuries during team practice sessions. Schaper previously missed the end of the 2025 season due to injury, while Strange has already begun stepping into the kicking role by converting two extra points against Georgia Tech.

September 28, 2026: Schaper recorded three tackles during the win over William & Mary.
October 7, 2026: Schaper was officially listed as out on the team injury report.
October 8, 2026: Salas was initially listed as questionable.
October 9, 2026: Salas was downgraded to out on the team injury report.
October 17, 2026: Duke is scheduled to play against UNC at home.

Season Trajectory

The loss of two contributors forces Duke to rely on younger talent like Gavin Strange as they approach critical games on the schedule. These roster changes shift the team's depth chart during a pivotal stretch of the 2026 season.

Fantasy football managers should note that Gavin Strange is now the primary kicker for Duke following the injury to Salas. His performance against Georgia Tech serves as a benchmark for his accuracy in field goal and extra point attempts.

The takeaway

Sudden injury reports require teams to quickly adjust their personnel and rely on depth players to maintain performance. Coaches must balance short-term replacement strategies with the long-term goal of player recovery.