In the days after leading Wake Forest receiver Michael Campanaro broke his hand against Duke, there was reason for optimism.

Campanaro did not require surgery, and he hoped to return in time for the Clemson game next Thursday night. But coach Jim Grobe said this week that the best-case scenario would have Campanaro returning against Boston College on Nov. 3.

"He's healing," Grobe said. "He's probably not healing as fast as he wants to. He probably would have liked to have been healed for the Maryland game. I would think Clemson would be a stretch. I think probably Boston College is a little bit more realistic."

Campanaro's is just one in a string of injuries that have really hurt Wake Forest this season. Those injuries are now mounting on offense, leaving Grobe with limited options at receiver and offensive line.

Grobe was asked if he had considered how good his team could be this year if everybody had stayed healthy.

"Going into the season, you always have some injuries," Grobe said. "That's just part of the game. The difference for us has been some of our best players have been injured. Camp is arguably the best player on offense. We lost Antonio Ford at Maryland. I think he was our best offensive lineman as far as guards and tackles. Losing (receiver) Matt James, he broke his collarbone, won't be back this season, he's out. (Receiver) Terence Davis separated both shoulders, hasn't had a lot of practice. That's been his biggest problem. A lot of guys that we thought were going to be key guys for us have been out for along period of time or are gone for the season.

"We're not going to get them all back together, but certainly I think getting Campanaro back would be huge for us. If we could stay healthy down the stretch, piecemeal that offensive line back together. We're in a situation right now with (receiver) Sherman Ragland down, Campanaro down, Matt James down, Terence Davis being up and down, we just don't have a lot of options to throw the football. Being a throwing offense, that's not a good thing."