The chances of Jalon Daniels returning for the game between Kansas football and UCF are growing slimmer by the day.
Kansas Jayhawks fans were shocked to learn Jalon Daniels would be a late scratch vs. the Texas Longhorns this past week. He reaggravated the back injury that forced him to miss KU’s season opener during pre-game warmups and was unable to suit up.
The attention has now shifted to his status for the upcoming contest against UCF. While there was optimism that he’d be able to return, the Preseason Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year has now missed consecutive practices.
Back injuries can be killers, especially for a player who uses his legs so often. You have to imagine that this is more than just “tightness” like the coaches are describing it because standard tightness doesn’t linger for over two months.
If Daniels cannot take reps in team walkthroughs by tomorrow, the likelihood of him suiting up is far less conceivable than him missing the contest. However, he told the media they view him day-to-day and that there have been no conversations about ruling him out completely for a period of time.
Lance Leipold said Jalon Daniels didn't practice today with the back tightness and is considered day-to-day.
— Henry Greenstein (@HenryGreenstein) October 2, 2023
He was asked if there had been any discussion of shutting him down for a period of time. Answer was a firm no.
Kansas is not the only team in this matchup with a quarterback nursing an injury. UCF signal caller John Rhys Plumlee has been held out since Week 2 due to a severe leg injury. Timmy McClain is filling in for him until he regains his health. For what it’s worth, Daniels seems farther in the healing process than Plumlee.
Both teams would like to have their starters back for Saturday. However, it seems that at least one of them will be held out. Jason Bean still beats out McClain as a backup, though, and Kansas football fans should be confident heading into the game no matter which player is under center.