David Cutcliffe hopeful QB Thomas Sirk will be ready for opener

Duke quarterback Thomas Sirk tore his Achilles during offseason workouts but coach David Cutcliffe is hopeful Sirk will be ready to play in the season opener.Duke coach David Cutcliffe has maintained for the last month that injured starting quarterback Thomas Sirk is ahead of schedule in his rehab from a torn Achilles tendon.

On Wednesday at the ACC spring meetings, Cutcliffe went a step further, saying he was "absolutely" hopeful Sirk would be ready to play in the season opener against N.C. Central on Sept. 3 -- just seven months after the injury.

"That's where we are in our thoughts," Cutcliffe said. "He's a great athlete. He heals a lot faster than I do. So I'm hopeful that we have a shot."

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