FAMU football QB Dustin Fletcher dealing with a 'thumb issue'

The quarterback injury bug has bitten Florida A&M football twice in a matter of two weeks.

First, starter Isaiah Knowles’ college career came to an end after a season-ending thumb injury against South Carolina State on Sept. 6. His replacement, Dustin Fletcher, then got hurt on Saturday in the Rattlers’ (1-3) 29-26 loss to the Tennessee State Tigers (1-3) at home, on Ken Riley Field at Bragg Memorial Stadium.

In his second start for FAMU, Fletcher left Saturday’s game in the second quarter and never returned. He was on the sideline throwing passes with a FAMU head trainer, Kenny Lassiter, after returning from a trip to the locker room.

Florida A&M Rattlers wide receiver Corey ‘Deuce’ Petty warms up for an NCAA college football game against the Tennessee State Tigers on Ken Riley Field at Bragg Memorial Stadium in Tallahassee, Florida, Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026.

(Gerald Thomas, III // Tallahassee Democrat, USA TODAY Co.)

Florida A&M Rattlers head coach Quinn Fordham Gray Sr. ahead of an NCAA college football game against the Tennessee State Tigers on Ken Riley Field at Bragg Memorial Stadium in Tallahassee, Florida, Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026.

(Gerald Thomas, III // Tallahassee Democrat, USA TODAY Co.)

Florida A&M Rattlers defensive analyst and assistant special teams coach Orlando McKinley Jr. helps the team warm up for an NCAA college football game against the Tennessee State Tigers on Ken Riley Field at Bragg Memorial Stadium in Tallahassee, Florida, Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026.

(Gerald Thomas, III // Tallahassee Democrat, USA TODAY Co.)

Florida A&M Rattlers quarterback Dustin Fletcher (9) warms up for an NCAA college football game against the Tennessee State Tigers on Ken Riley Field at Bragg Memorial Stadium in Tallahassee, Florida, Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026.

(Gerald Thomas, III // Tallahassee Democrat, USA TODAY Co.)

Florida A&M Rattlers defensive back Wynton Jones Jr. warms up for an NCAA college football game against the Tennessee State Tigers on Ken Riley Field at Bragg Memorial Stadium in Tallahassee, Florida, Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026.

(Gerald Thomas, III // Tallahassee Democrat, USA TODAY Co.)

Florida A&M Rattlers defensive coordinator and linebackers coach Ryan Lewis Sr. surveys the field for an NCAA college football game against the Tennessee State Tigers on Ken Riley Field at Bragg Memorial Stadium in Tallahassee, Florida, Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026.

(Gerald Thomas, III // Tallahassee Democrat, USA TODAY Co.)

Florida A&M Rattlers linebacker Ryan Johnson warms up for an NCAA college football game against the Tennessee State Tigers on Ken Riley Field at Bragg Memorial Stadium in Tallahassee, Florida, Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026.

(Gerald Thomas, III // Tallahassee Democrat, USA TODAY Co.)

Florida A&M Rattlers wide receivers coach and pro scout liaison Ron Dugans Sr. fires the team up for an NCAA college football game against the Tennessee State Tigers on Ken Riley Field at Bragg Memorial Stadium in Tallahassee, Florida, Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026.

(Gerald Thomas, III // Tallahassee Democrat, USA TODAY Co.)

Florida A&M Rattlers linebacker Justice Cross warms up for an NCAA college football game against the Tennessee State Tigers on Ken Riley Field at Bragg Memorial Stadium in Tallahassee, Florida, Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026.

(Gerald Thomas, III // Tallahassee Democrat, USA TODAY Co.)

Tennessee State Tigers cornerback Byron Davis warms up ahead of a NCAA college football game against the Florida A&M Rattlers on Ken Riley Field at Bragg Memorial Stadium in Tallahassee, Florida, Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026.

(Gerald Thomas, III // Tallahassee Democrat, USA TODAY Co.)

Tennessee State Tigers outside linebacker Sammy Taylor warms up ahead of an NCAA college football game against the Florida A&M Rattlers on Ken Riley Field at Bragg Memorial Stadium in Tallahassee, Florida, Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026.

(Gerald Thomas, III // Tallahassee Democrat, USA TODAY Co.)

The Tennessee State Tigers warm up ahead of an NCAA college football game against the Florida A&M Rattlers on Ken Riley Field at Bragg Memorial Stadium in Tallahassee, Florida, Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026.

(Gerald Thomas, III // Tallahassee Democrat, USA TODAY Co.)

Tennessee State Tigers inside linebacker Matthew Wilson warms up ahead of an NCAA college football game against the Florida A&M Rattlers on Ken Riley Field at Bragg Memorial Stadium in Tallahassee, Florida, Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026.

(Gerald Thomas, III // Tallahassee Democrat, USA TODAY Co.)

Florida A&M Rattlers quarterback Armond Parker (8) warms up for an NCAA college football game against the Tennessee State Tigers on Ken Riley Field at Bragg Memorial Stadium in Tallahassee, Florida, Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026.

(Gerald Thomas, III // Tallahassee Democrat, USA TODAY Co.)

Tennessee State Tigers quarterback Daylin Lee warms up ahead of an NCAA college football game against the Florida A&M Rattlers on Ken Riley Field at Bragg Memorial Stadium in Tallahassee, Florida, Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026.

(Gerald Thomas, III // Tallahassee Democrat, USA TODAY Co.)

HBCU GO broadcasts the Florida A&M Rattlers NCAA college football game against the Tennessee State Tigers on Ken Riley Field at Bragg Memorial Stadium in Tallahassee, Florida, Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026.

(Gerald Thomas, III // Tallahassee Democrat, USA TODAY Co.)

Florida A&M Rattlers safety Andre Powell Jr. warms up for an NCAA college football game against the Tennessee State Tigers on Ken Riley Field at Bragg Memorial Stadium in Tallahassee, Florida, Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026.

(Gerald Thomas, III // Tallahassee Democrat, USA TODAY Co.)

The Florida A&M Rattlers warm up for an NCAA college football game against the Tennessee State Tigers on Ken Riley Field at Bragg Memorial Stadium in Tallahassee, Florida, Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026.

(Gerald Thomas, III // Tallahassee Democrat, USA TODAY Co.)

Tennessee State Tigers head coach Reggie Barlow surveys the field as his team prepares to face the Florida A&M Rattlers on Ken Riley Field at Bragg Memorial Stadium in Tallahassee, Florida, Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026.

(Gerald Thomas, III // Tallahassee Democrat, USA TODAY Co.)

Freshman quarterback Armond Parker finished the game for the Rattlers.

“He had a thumb issue,” FAMU head coach Quinn Fordham Gray Sr. provided an update on Fletcher after the Tennessee State game. “I don’t know the status of that as of right now. I do know there’s a situation where he probably could have went back in and not been able to be himself. So we decided to stay with Armond Parker.”

Fletcher had the FAMU offense rolling in his two quarters of action. He went a perfect 4-for-4 on the game’s opening drive and capped it off with a five-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Maliek Denmark.

Fletcher finished his appearance going 6-for-11 for 48 yards and a touchdown. He also rushed for 28 yards, which led the team at the time of his exit.

In relief duty, Parker went 14-for-25 for 267 yards, threw two touchdown passes, and threw an interception, which was a pick six to TSU cornerback Jalen LaBranche for 65 yards.

FAMU’s next game opens its Southwestern Athletic Conference slate when Alabama A&M visits Tallahassee on Sept. 26.

Florida A&M football scores and full 2026 schedule

Current record: 1-3

All times are Eastern

Sunday, Sept. 6 (Orange Blossom Classic): South Carolina State 31, FAMU 13
Thursday, Sept. 10: Miami 77, FAMU 7
Saturday, Sept. 19: Tennessee State 29, FAMU 26
Saturday, Sept. 26: vs. Alabama A&M (SWAC), 7 p.m., SWAC TV
Saturday, Oct. 10: at Alabama State (SWAC), 3 p.m., HBCU GO
Saturday, Oct. 24: vs. Arkansas-Pine Bluff (SWAC/Homecoming), 3 p.m., HBCU GO
Saturday, Oct. 31: vs. Southern (SWAC), 3 p.m., HBCU GO
Saturday, Nov. 14: vs. Mississippi Valley State (SWAC), 3 p.m., SWAC TV
Saturday, Nov. 21: vs. Bethune-Cookman (SWAC/Florida Classic), 3:30 p.m., ESPN+

Gerald Thomas, III, is a multi-time national award-winning reporter for his coverage of the Florida A&M Rattlers at the Tallahassee Democrat under the USA TODAY Network.

Follow his award-winning coverage on RattlerNews.com and contact him via email at GDThomas@Tallahassee.com or on the app formerly known as Twitter @3peatgee.

This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: FAMU football QB Dustin Fletcher dealing with a ‘thumb issue’

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