Injury toll: Florida State's Derwin James, Notre Dame's Shaun Crawford

Florida State's Derwin James, a Paste BN Sports preseason All-American at safety, was knocked out of the Seminoles' game Saturday with a left knee injury.

James was carted off the field in the third quarter and did not return. Coach Jimbo Fisher said after the game James would have an MRI in the next two days.

When asked why James was still playing late in a blowout, Fisher said because he wanted to see improvement in his defense.

“We said we were going to play them two series and get out,” Fisher said. “That’s what our plan was. Because we had busted a coverage in the first (half). We’re tying to play efficient and wanted our guys to come back out in that situation.

“You can second-guess yourself all day, but (injuries) can happen walking down the street.”

Also Saturday: In the first quarter of Notre Dame’s game against Nevada, the Irish's Shaun Crawford tore his left Achilles tendon.

It's the second consecutive year Crawford has been knocked out with a serious knee injury.