Injured Kansas Jayhawks QB Jalon Daniels ‘doubtful’ for Saturday’s game at Oklahoma
Kansas junior quarterback Jalon Daniels, who was injured late in the first half of KU’s 38-31 loss to TCU on Saturday at Booth Memorial Stadium, is listed “in the doubtful area” for this Saturday’s 11 a.m. Big 12 battle at Oklahoma, KU coach Lance Leipold said Tuesday.
Daniels — he completed 5 of 10 passes for 89 yards and rushed for 6 yards on 7 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. Leipold said after the game Daniels had suffered a “shoulder” injury.
“Jalon did not practice today. I would) probably put him in the doubtful area,” Leipold said Tuesday at his weekly news conference. “Again (we’re) looking at it day-to-day. (That’s) probably the extent I’ll comment at this time.”
Senior Jason Bean, who threw for four touchdowns and one interception in the second half of the TCU game, will take over as the Jayhawks’ starter if Daniels is out Saturday and/or beyond.
“You always are going to tweak (the offense) to somebody’s strengths,” Leipold said. “The call sheet is the call sheet. We’ll continue to do what we can to be as multiple as possible.
“It’s really a credit to him (that he played as well as he did vs. TCU). I think we all recognize that as well. I stood here (in interview room) a lot in August and talked about him playing well. It wasn’t just to appease him or take something off Jalon (pressure wise). We’ve found in our program now we’ve got a lot of guys who want to play, can play, and sometimes you’ve got to make sure you are recognizing their efforts even though the snaps may not show up all the time.
“I’m happy for him,” Leipold added. “If he ends up being there (at QB) for a while, I’m sure there will be things he’s more comfortable with than plays that Jalon runs or something. That hasn’t been a heavy does of conversation yet.”
Wilson has practiced the last two days
Kansas wide receiver Trevor Wilson is back and practicing with the team following Friday’s courtroom decision of judge Stacey Donovan at a preliminary hearing to dismiss Wilson’s case.
Wilson, a 5-11 junior from Tallahassee, Florida, was arrested in late August on suspicion of aggravated assault and use of a deadly weapon.
An official in the Douglas County District Attorney office told The Star the judge “found no probable cause to bind the case over or trial, effectively dismissing the case.”
Wilson caught 27 passes for 364 yards and a touchdown a year ago for the Jayhawks. He is a transfer from Buffalo.
“We look forward to getting him back here. It’s unfortunate it took that long,” Leipold said after Saturday’s loss to TCU.
On Tuesday, Leipold said Wilson had practiced the last two days.
“I think initially, right now he has very fresh legs,” Leipold said. “Trevor has always been one who has taken training very seriously. He looks to be in very good shape. You still have to probably get yourself acclimated to everything. The biggest thing will be retention. Of course things have been added as we’ve progressed with the offense. We’ll see if he’s part of this week’s traveling (party).”
KU (5-1, 2-1 Big 12) will meet Oklahoma (3-3, 0-3) at 11 a.m. Saturday in Norman, Oklahoma.
