The college football Week 4 injury report has good news for Stanford fans as Bryce Love is back, but Nebraska fans await good news about their hurt QB.
Week four kicks off and with the first quarter of the season completed, injuries are beginning to pile up. A Heisman candidate will return this week and a star SEC receiver hopes to return as well. Here is a look at who is in and who could be out for this week’s injury report.
Quarterbacks
Illinois, A.J. Bush
Bush missed last week’s game against USF with a leg injury and might miss this week’s game against Penn State as well. The Virginia Tech transfer is listed as “questionable” for this week. Bush was named the starter after his performance in fall camp and with injuries mounting for Illinois, having him back would certainly give the team a boost going into Big Ten play.
Kyle Kempt, Iowa State
Kempt was held out of last week’s loss to Oklahoma due to a knee injury that has bothered him for the past two weeks. Coach Matt Campbell mentioned last week he would be a game-time decision, but he ultimately decided to rest him. He is downgraded to “out” for the Cyclones’ game this week against Akron. Zeb Noland will likely start again.
Adrian Martinez, Nebraska
Martinez injured his knee two weeks ago in the loss to Colorado. He is listed as questionable for this week against Michigan. While Scott Frost says he is good to go, the Huskers are preparing to also play Andrew Bunch if need be. Bunch came in in relief of Martinez last week but threw two costly interceptions in the loss to Troy.
Running Backs
Bryce Love, Stanford
After missing last week’s game with an undisclosed injury, Love will be back in full-force this week against Oregon. He sat out the previous week against UC Davis after suffering a knee injury in week two against USC. Getting Love back is a huge boost for the Cardinal offense as they prepare to face the high-powered Ducks.
Khalan Labron, Florida State
Willie Taggart confirmed this week Labron will miss the rest of the season because of a dislocated kneecap. He suffered the injury during the Seminoles’ game on Sept. 8, but it did not seem to be this severe. For a running game that has failed to reach 100 yards in any game so far this season, losing Labron certainly hurts their depth.
Karan Higdon, Michigan
Co-captain Higdon was dressed for last week’s game against SMU but was held out due to an undisclosed lower-body injury. Coach Jim Harbaugh mentioned this week his status is “day-to-day” but most teammates believe he will play. With his backup Chris Evans also dinged up, Michigan’s running game may be a bit depleted heading into this week’s battle against Nebraska.
Wide Receivers
Terry Godwin, Georgia
Godwin wound up playing last week against South Carolina but has continued to be hampered in practice this week by a contusion in his shin. Kirby Smart is optimistic Godwin will play this week against Missouri. With Georgia seeking another berth in the College Football Playoff, having their best receiver healthy is vital.
Ahmmon Richards, Miami
Richards is still bothered by a knee injury he sustained in the Hurricanes’ opening week loss to LSU. He did not play in Miami’s last two games and is “questionable” for this Saturday against Florida International. For a team looking to take the next step as contenders in the ACC, getting Richards back would be a boost for Malik Rosier and this offense.
John Burt, Texas
Burt has missed the Longhorns’ first three games due to a foot injury. Fortunately, the wideout has gone through some drills this week according to coach Tom Herman and is “questionable” for the team’s first conference game against TCU. If Burt can go, it would be a big help for Sam Ehlinger and the passing game.
Tight Ends
Brian Polendey, Miami
As if having Michael Irvin II on the sideline was not bad enough, the Hurricanes have lost another tight end for the season. Mark Richt confirmed this week Polendey will be out for the rest of the season due to a knee injury. He traveled with the team to Toledo but did not play. With Irvin out for at least three more months and Polendey gone for the year, freshmen Brevin Jordan and Will Mallory are the only scholarship tight ends on the roster.
Noah Togiai, Oregon State
Togiai sustained a knee injury in fall camp that kept him out for the first month of the season. Fortunately, he is questionable for this week’s game against Arizona. The Beavers are now 1-2 and getting Pac-12 play, so the fact one of their starting tight ends could be back this week is positive.
Keaton Upshaw, Kentucky
Coach Mark Stoops announced earlier this week Upshaw will miss the rest of 2018 due to a knee injury he suffered in practice last week. The freshman tight end is one of the Wildcats’ best players from the 2018 recruiting class. The team hopes he will make a full recovery for next season to take over for senior C.J. Conrad.
Defensive Stars
Malcolm Roach, Defensive End, Texas
Roach will be out six to eight weeks because of a foot injury. The standout defender fractured his foot last week in Texas’ win over USC. With some key players on offense already set to miss this week’s big game against TCU, the Longhorns will certainly be short-handed this Saturday.
Trayvon Mullen, Cornerback, Clemson
Mullen suffered an ankle injury last week in Clemson’s win over Georgia Southern. The good news for Tiger fans is he is “probable” for this week against Georgia Tech as the team enters conference play. The junior is slowly becoming one of the Tigers’ best defenders.
Casey Toohill, Linebacker, Stanford
Toohill will be out three to four weeks due to an arm injury. David Shaw did not reveal what the injury was, but the linebacker’s arm was immobilized while watching practice earlier this week. Toohill has become the leader of the Cardinal defense, so losing him for an extended period is a huge blow. Expect redshirt sophomore Jordan Fox to start against Oregon.