Kansas State safety Cincere Mason shares ‘heartbroken’ injury update ahead of KU game
.jpg "Kansas State safety Kobe Savage, right, pulls down a Baylor intersection while safety Cincere Mason, left, looks on in the first half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Nov.12, 2022, in Waco, Texas. (Rod Aydelotte/Waco Tribune-Herald via AP)")
Injuries are beginning to add up for the Kansas State football team.
A week after the Wildcats had to find creative ways to replace star defensive back Kobe Savage against West Virginia, it now appears as though they will also be without Cincere Mason when Kansas visits Bill Snyder Family Stadium at 7 p.m. on Saturday for the Sunflower Showdown.
Mason, a senior safety who began his college career at Kennesaw State, shared a discouraging injury update on social media this week after he was unable to finish the West Virginia game with a lower-body injury. He used the word “heartbroken” at the beginning of his post.
“Heartbroken to share the news,” Mason said. “I sustained an injury on Saturday. (I don’t know) man, I did everything right. I’m lost for words. A lot of emotions, grateful for every opportunity. I may not understand it, so with positive thinking I stand in faith and know there is a purpose for my pain.”
Though he didn’t provide any details on his injury or a timetable for how long he will be out, it certainly seems like he may miss the remainder of the season.
K-State football coach Chris Klieman confirmed as much at his weekly news conference on Tuesday.
“Cincere is out for the year as well,” Klieman said. “It’s a tough blow. I feel awful for him. It makes us pretty thin back there, for sure. But that’s late November football and it happens. We have to get the next guy ready to go.”
The injury comes at an unfortunate time for Mason. He was promoted into an important role on K-State’s defense with Savage also out for the season with a lower-body injury. It appeared as though he was up for the challenge when he intercepted a pass against the Mountaineers and returned it for a touchdown over the weekend.
But he may not be able to build on that highlight play. Mason has made 31 tackles and three interceptions this season.
K-State will likely lean more on T.J. Smith, VJ Payne, Drake Cheatum and other defensive backs in the secondary moving forward.
This story was originally published November 22, 2022 at 10:02 AM with the headline "Kansas State safety Cincere Mason shares ‘heartbroken’ injury update ahead of KU game."