College Football Week 12 injury report: Ian Book returns, Tua will play

Ian Book returns to the starting lineup for Notre Dame and Tua Tagovailoa will play despite concerns he should be rested.

The college football regular season is approaching the home stretch. Several teams are fighting for bowl eligibility, conference championships and a spot in this year’s College Football Playoff. Unfortunately, some teams will have to finish the year with their best players sidelined. Here is a look at key players who show up on the Week 12 injury report.

Quarterbacks

Ian Book, Notre Dame

Book was sidelined last week with a rib injury against Florida State. Brian Kelly was asked earlier this week in his press conference and said he will be ready to play this week. Book suffered the injury against Northwestern two weeks ago and backup Brandon Wimbush led the Irish to a win. With Notre Dame looking to clinch a berth in the playoff, having Book available is big going up against No. 13 Syracuse this week.

Anthony Brown, Boston College

Brown left last week’s game against Clemson with an arm injury after Christian Wilkins fell on him. Steve Addazio says Brown is day-to-day but has not ruled him out for this week’s game against Florida State. If Brown cannot play, expect E.J. Perry to start after filling in for him last week.

Kasim Hill, Maryland

Hill tore his ACL last week and is out for the rest of the season. He twisted his knee in the second quarter of the Indiana loss. Redshirt sophomore Tyrrell Pigrome will start against Ohio State and presumably the rest of this season. Hill finishes the year with 1,083 yards and nine touchdowns.

Tua Tagovailoa, Alabama

The Heisman candidate left Alabama’s win over Mississippi State last week after taking a shot to the front of the knee. He was checked out and Nick Saban said he was okay after the game, but that didn’t stop many questioning whether he should be held out as a precautionary measure against The Citadel. Saban rebuffed those notions and said Tagivailoa will start. Don’t expect him to play much beyond halftime, if at all, though in a game that should be over except for the final score by then.

Running Backs

Kylin Hill, Mississippi State

Hill has dealt with a lower-body injury for the past two games he suffered against LSU. Joe Moorhead said his status is day-to-day and he is “questionable” for Saturday’s game against Arkansas. Hill leads all Bulldog running backs in rushing yards with 583 on the season.

Justice Hill, Oklahoma State

Hill left last week’s game against Oklahoma in the first quarter with a rib injury. While the running back did not return, Mike Gundy said the injury is not serious and he will be available against No. 9 West Virginia. The junior is one of the best backs in the country and is 70 yards shy of his third straight 1,000-yard season.

Zack Moss, Utah

Moss is out for the rest of the season due to a knee injury. Kyle Whittingham said this week the running back aggravated his knee when he was climbing into bed, leading him to believe it was the result of a prior injury. Moss is one of the top backs in the Pac-12 with 1,092 yards and 11 touchdowns this year.

Wide Receivers

Collin Johnson, Texas

Johnson did not play against Texas Tech last week due to a knee injury he suffered during practice the week leading up to Saturday. Tom Herman said he received injections to help the swelling go down, but his status remains doubtful for Iowa State. Johnson is the Longhorns’ second-leading receiver behind Lil’Jordan Humphrey with 675 yards and five touchdowns on the year.

Freddie Swain, Florida

Swain missed last week’s game against South Carolina with a sprained ankle. Fortunately, Dan Mullen said he will likely return this week for Florida’s game against Idaho. Swain is also the team’s punt returner and they will be glad to have him back after his replacement Kadarius Toney muffed one last Saturday.

Darrell Stewart Jr., Michigan State

Stewart suffered an undisclosed injury during last week’s game against Ohio State according to Mark Dantonio. The receiver has been in and out of the lineup with injuries all throughout the season and is “questionable” for this week against Nebraska. While Cody White has returned, the Spartans’ receiving corp is devastated by injuries including Felton Davis III out with a torn Achilles.

Tight Ends

Shaun Beyer, Iowa

Beyer is out indefinitely due to an injury he suffered a few weeks ago. Kirk Ferentz would not elaborate on the injury but does not expect Beyer back anytime soon. While the sophomore has not seen much action this season, this injury hurts the Hawkeyes’ depth.

Albert Okwuegbunam, Missouri

Okwuegbunam will miss this week’s game against Tennessee due to a shoulder injury. The Tigers’ starting tight end suffered the injury in week ten against Florida and missed last week’s game. Barry Odom said he does not need surgery but feels it is best to have him sit out. Okwuegbunam is the team’s third-leading receiver with 466 yards and leads them in receiving touchdowns with six.

Garrett Collingham, Boise State

Collingham did not end up playing last week due to a shoulder injury he suffered against BYU. Bryan Harsin lists him as “questionable” for Fresno State Friday night.

Defensive Stars

Defensive Lineman DaQuan Hawkins-Muckle, Georgia

Hawkins-Muckle will be out of the Bulldogs’ game against Massachusetts with an undisclosed injury. With fellow lineman David Marshall also out with a foot injury, Georgia’s depth has taken a hit this week. Fortunately, with the SEC easy scheduling this time of the year, this is a good week to rest players.

Cornerback Kristian Fulton, LSU

Fulton will not play against Rice this week and is out indefinitely for now. Ed Orgeron explained during his weekly press conference the starting corner got folded up while trying to deflect a pass against Arkansas. Freshman Kelvin Joseph will start in his place despite going through an injury of his own.

Cornerback Mark Fields, Clemson

Fields has dealt with a groin injury this week according to Dabo Swinney. He is “questionable” for Saturday against Duke. The senior has three passes defended on the year and is a leader in the secondary.