Kansas football could have and should have come out of Tempe with its first conference win of the campaign, but the defense allowed three touchdowns in the fourth quarter and collapsed at the end. KU dropped to a 1-5 record, already surpassing last year's loss total of four in what has been a disappointing season.
In addition to the outcome of the game not being favorable, a handful of players were banged up. Senior cornerback Cobee Bryant landed awkwardly on his leg and had to be helped off the field by trainers. Considering he could not put weight on his foot, the injury looked very concerning, and Lance Leipold's update after the game did not provide the Jayhawks with much more optimism:
Leipold on Cobee Bryant injury: I don't have anything; the little bit I've heard is two different things, so I don't want to say. #kufball
— Shreyas Laddha (@shre98) October 6, 2024
Cobee Bryant's injury severity still uncertain after ASU loss
Leipold could not further comment on the severity of Bryant's injury, leaving his status unknown for next week. The Preseason All-Big 12 First Team is one of the most important pieces on the defense. He has recorded 20 tackles, one tackle for loss, four passes defended, and one interception so far.
Still, Bryant has not played very well this season. He has made several mental errors in critical situations, such as when he surrendered a wide-open touchdown at the end of the first half vs. UNLV. The Alabama native also made two costly penalties at the end of the first half yesterday, allowing the Sun Devils to find paydirt.
Kansas does not have secondary depth, meaning the loss of Bryant could be detrimental to an already struggling defensive unit. Aside from his counterpart Mello Dotson, there are no other corners with much in-game experience on the roster. The next player up would likely be former LSU Tiger Damarius McGhee.
Bryant might recover just fine, and Leipold’s cautious remarks could be masking a trivial injury. Still, the image of him wincing as his knee buckled was concerning. In his final year with Kansas, fans are crossing their fingers that he can return to the field soon.