RALEIGH, N.C. – NC State dropped its first game of the 2025 season in Week 4, falling 45-33 to Duke on Saturday.
The Wolfpack defense had a rough outing, hampered early by the absence of defensive end Sabastian Harsh, who was suspended for the first half due to a targeting penalty. Things got worse when standout linebacker Cian Slone exited after just 12 snaps with an injury, leaving the field on a cart and heading to the locker room.
The Update
NC State head coach Dave Doeren shared an update on linebacker Cian Slone ahead of the Week 5 clash with Virginia Tech.
“Cian got dinged up during the game, but we expect to have him this week. The reports have been encouraging, so that’s good news,” Doeren said Monday.
With both Slone and Sabastian Harsh set to reunite on the field, the Wolfpack defense will look to bounce back after a rough outing against Duke. The unit had trouble containing sophomore quarterback Darian Mensah and struggled to slow down the run in key moments.
Doeren admitted the absence of his two premier pass rushers was felt most in the second quarter, when Duke closed the gap and eventually pulled ahead just before halftime. Despite logging only 12 snaps, Slone still earned NC State’s top defensive grade from Pro Football Focus.
“You could really feel the impact of not having Cian and Sabastian in that second quarter,” Doeren said.
Slone and Harsh have been a disruptive force for NC State during the team’s 3-0 start. Across the first four contests, the pair has tallied 30 tackles, eight quarterback pressures, 4.5 tackles for loss, and even an interception. Having both back on the field will be vital as the Wolfpack prepare to contain Virginia Tech’s versatile quarterback, Kyron Drones.
Though the specifics of Slone’s injury remain unclear, Doeren and his staff believe it’s a minor setback. The expectation is that the veteran linebacker will return soon and continue to play a key role for the Wolfpack defense as the season progresses.
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