Severity of KU quarterback Jalon Daniels’ shoulder injury is unknown, Leipold says
Kansas football coach Lance Leipold confirmed junior quarterback Jalon Daniels suffered a shoulder injury that kept him sidelined the second half of Saturday’s 38-31 loss to TCU on Saturday at Booth Memorial Stadium.
The severity and exact nature of the injury to the player who’s been mentioned as a 2022 Heisman Trophy candidate remained a mystery, however, after No. 19-ranked KU’s first loss in six games.
The Jayhawks fell to 5-1 (2-1 Big 12), while No. 17 TCU improved to 5-0 (2-0).
“It’s his shoulder. It’s still under evaluation,” Leipold said after the game. “That’s all I was told … he’s done for the day. That’s it. I’m sure the next 48 hours will tell us (more). We’ll go from there.”
Daniels — he completed five of 10 passes for 89 yards and rushed for 6 yards on seven carries — was injured when he was tackled near the KU sideline on a third-and-6 call from the TCU 17 late in the first half.
He headed to the locker room 30 seconds before his teammates, with KU trailing at the break, 10-3.
“I think he’ll bounce back for sure. I’m not going to comment on what (the) specifics are (but) I think he has high hopes,” said Kansas tight end Mason Fairchild, who caught a 12-yard TD pass from backup quarterback Jason Bean, tying the score at 10 early in the third quarter.
“I think he’s optimistic he’ll obviously be back pretty soon. Jalon is never going to be defeated. I don’t think you could ever defeat Jalon Daniels. He’s such a great dude.”
Added Fairchild, “(E)ven in his state, (Daniels) was rallying us on. You always feel that way when one of your guys goes down.”
Bean started nine games a year ago before Daniels took over for the final three contests. And Bean was sensational in throwing for four touchdowns, including two to Quentin Skinner, in the second half.
Bean completed 16 of 24 passes for 262 yards and four touchdowns with one interception. TCU’s Max Duggan hit 23 of 33 passes for 308 yards and three touchdowns with one interception.
Bean brought KU back from a 10-3 halftime deficit, tossing TD passes of 12 yards to Fairchild and 8 yards to Luke Grimm. Bean’s interception led to a five-play, 26-yard drive that had put the Horned Frogs up by a touchdown, but he fired a 38-yard strike to Skinner that erased a 24-17 deficit and tied the game with 1:50 left in the third quarter.
“I’d like to commend him (Bean) the way he’s handled it to be ready,” Leipold said. “If he is asked to be the starter next week I’m very confident he’ll have a very good week of preparation and take advantage of his opportunity to be a starter.”
Bean met with Leipold one-on-one before the start of the second half when Leipold learned Daniels would not be able to return to the game.
“I told him (Bean) before we went back out there … I said, ‘You’ve played well. You’ve prepared well. You’ve handled the situation extremely well, now go out and play,’’’ Leipold said. “I thought he did a nice job. (I was) very impressed again, but not surprised.”
Of the meeting with his coach, Bean said: “I mean, I didn’t need much inspiring coming in a game like this. We talked a little bit and we were ready to go.”
Bean, who had played sparingly in the first five games of his senior season, said he felt comfortable after starting so many games a year ago.
“I was excited to get to play. I was sad he (Daniels) was hurt, grateful for the opportunity to go in there,” said Bean, a 6-foot-3 senior from Mansfield, Texas.
He said he spoke with his buddy Daniels during and after the game.
“We talked. He’s doing good,” Bean said, adding, “Nothing changes. We’re always encouraging each other to do our best, no matter what.”
Asked about Daniels’ status, Bean said: “I’m not really sure yet. If he isn’t (able to play next week), I’m here to support him any way I can.”
KU will meet Oklahoma at 11 a.m. next Saturday in Norman, Okla.
This story was originally published October 8, 2022 at 5:14 PM.
