South Carolina football news: Dylan Stewart back at practice, but when will he return?

South Carolina has one of the best pass rushers in football back on the practice field. Star EDGE and top NFL draft prospect Dylan Stewart , along with starting offensive tackle Jacarius Peak, are both back at practice after missing the season opener , a 57-0 blowout of Kent State, with an injury. But when will we actually see these two return in a game ?

"The Mississippi State game on Sept. 19 remains the early target date for South Carolina offensive tackle Jacarius Peak and EDGE Dylan Stewart to return. They returned to the practice field this week," On3′ Peter Nakos reported Thursday.

This makes total sense, as there is no strategic reason that Stewart or Peak needs to be on the field for the Gamecocks' first two matchups. They already beat Kent State by eight touchdowns, and that seems like the score floor against Towson, an FCS school that has already lost to Maine and fell to Navy by 27.

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Stewart is dealing with a back issue that has lingered from last season. As a key to South Carolina football 's playoff hopes and possibly the first defensive player off the board in the 2027 NFL Draft, both the Gamecocks and Stewart himself need to be exceedingly cautious about making sure he is fully fit.

Peak is also working his way back from a long-term injury. He hurt his knee back in February. The NC State transfer did it while joining his teammates in an offseason pickup basketball game.

The Mississippi State game kicks off the team's SEC run, which includes games against (12) Alabama, (18) Tennessee, (11) Oklahoma, (10) Texas A&M, and (2) Georgia in a 56-day stretch.