Kansas football: Jayhawks coaching staff must play it safe with Jalon Daniels during Week 1

A lingering back injury hampered the participation of Kansas football quarterback Jalon Daniels in Jayhawks fall camp. 

The status of the face of the Kansas Jayhawks has been a substantial talking point during the offseason.

Jalon Daniels is no stranger to injury, missing multiple contests in 2022 after suffering a shoulder injury against TCU. And sometime in Kansas football fall camp, he began feeling tightness in his back, forcing him to be limited or out altogether during practice.

In a more important outing, the California native would likely opt into playing the full game. However, head coach Lance Leipold has time to ease him in for what should be a figurative bye week.

The Jayhawks’ Week 1 opponent, Missouri State, is a middling FCS program that lost former Louisville head coach Bobby Petrino to Texas A&M. They finished 5-6 last season and 3-5 in conference play.

Wide receiver Craig Burt Jr. — who was the top projected wideout on the Bears’ depth chart — stepped away from the program permanently last week. Quarterback Chase Brewster also departed from the program, and it is unknown who they will place under center a week from today.

READ: KU receives clarity on Week 2 matchup vs. Illinois

Daniels will almost certainly be active for the contest and be listed as the starter. However, he will need periodic breaks on the sideline, and it shouldn’t take long before the game score becomes outlandish in KU’s favor.

Although he claimed last week that he could play in a game right now if need be, the KU coaching staff cannot take any risks with their superstar signal caller. Backup quarterback Jason Bean is more than capable of filling in and should receive the majority of snaps in Week 1. Third-stringer Ben Easters could also see the field during garbage time.

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