Injury updates on Linkon Cure, Asa Newsom and others from K-State football camp
Kansas State football coach Chris Klieman isn’t giving away any secrets as the Wildcats continue to prepare for their first game of the season against Iowa State on August 23 in Ireland.
For the first time during his seven-year tenure in Manhattan, Klieman hasn’t allowed local reporters to watch a single second of 11-on-11 scrimmages during training camp. K-State players have only stretched and gone through individual drills during both of the viewing windows he has provided to media this preseason.
With that in mind, there is no potential depth chart or progress report to pass along this week.
But several notable K-State football players are currently on the sideline with injuries. Here is an update on that front:
Linkon Cure dealing with a knee injury
Freshman tight end Linkon Cure has only been on campus for a few short months, but he is already one of the biggest names on the K-State football roster.
The former five-star recruit from Goodland has been turning heads at preseason camp, and Klieman said last week that “all the physical tools are there” for him to be an elite playmaker at the college level.
But his progress has been delayed by an undisclosed injury to his right knee. Cure was unable to participate at practice on Tuesday morning as he wore a brace over the injury.
A source said the injury is not considered serious. The expectation is he will return to practice in the near future. He looked close to getting back on the field Tuesday, as he went through agility training with the K-State strength and conditioning staff when he wasn’t watching his teammates go through drills.
He worked out on the sideline along with freshman linebacker Maguire Richman, kicker Leyton Simmering, wide receiver Justin Stephens and cornerback Amarion Fortenberry.
George Fitzpatrick in attendance after “medical situation”
Ohio State transfer George Fitzpatrick was a spectator at practice Tuesday.
That is a good sign for the K-State offensive lineman as he continues to recover from a “medical situation” that forced him away from the team for several weeks at the beginning of training camp.
Fitzpatrick was only watching from the sideline in street clothes, but he was engaged in practice and encouraged his teammates as they went through drills. It remains unclear when he will be healthy enough to suit up for the Wildcats, but this was a step in the right direction.
Two notable defenders weren’t on the field
Gunner Maldonado and Asa Newsom were nowhere to be found during the early portions of K-State football practice on Tuesday.
That is not a positive development for a pair of defensive players who are trying to work their way back from injuries.
Maldonado is an Arizona transfer who is expected to help the Wildcats in the secondary this season. Newsom is a proven linebacker who could provide valuable depth behind Desmond Purnell and Austin Romaine.
K-State linebackers coach Steve Stanard said he is hopeful that Newsom can get healthy in the near future.
“Asa hasn’t played a ton of football in the last two years, because of both knees,” Stanard said. “But his attitude is phenomenal. I can’t imagine a young man having three knee surgeries, two on one and one on the other, and have the positive attitude that he has. He’s a really strong leader for us, and I just hope and pray that he’s going to be able to continue to get healthy and be out there on the field for us.”
Two positive injury updates
Colby McCalister and Antonio Martin were both able to practice Tuesday after missing time earlier in training camp.
McCalister is a junior safety who should play meaningful snaps in the K-State secondary this season. Martin is a junior running back who could help provide depth behind Dylan Edwards.
A name to watch at kicker
No one seems to know who will be first in line to kick field goals for the Wildcats this season. But special teams coach Nate Kaczor says Luis Rodriguez is a name to know at the position. The College of the Canyons transfer is pushing for the job.
“He’s been the most available,” Kaczore said. “He’s gotten the most reps, and he’s done a really nice job establishing himself. Not that he’s won anything yet, but he’s off to a good start.”
This story was originally published August 5, 2025 at 1:45 PM with the headline "Injury updates on Linkon Cure, Asa Newsom and others from K-State football camp."