Most Impactful College Football Injuries Heading Into Week 3

College football is heating up as we head into Week 3 of the 2024 season! Unfortunately, we can’t have football without injuries, and the injury bug has arrived in full force. There are a number of key players with major injury concerns as we look ahead to the weekend slate. Here are the most impactful college football injuries heading into Week 3!

Here is everything you need to know regarding the BIGGEST injuries on both sides of the ball. However, injury news happens fast and can change quickly, so for the most up-to-date news and analysis, follow me on X @TheDegenDoc!

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Another Florida Gator lands on the Week 3 college football injury report. Electric Sophomore WR Eugene Wilson picked up an injury last week during the best game of his career. Wilson put up over 140 yards and added a TD in a blow out win over lowly Samford. Unfortunately, it looks like he also picked up an injury along the way.

There have not been much specifics provided on the injury but it is being called a lower body injury. He is listed as questionable on the team’s official injury report. Although Wilson landing on the injury report is not a good sign, there is some hope that he can still suit up. He was able to participate in all three practices this week, but reportedly pretty limited on Tuesday and Wednesday.

This will be an injury we will have to monitor up until kickoff, with huge implications on the game. Despite only being a sophomore, Wilson is by far the most dynamic player on this Gators offense.

Graham Mertz (QB) Florida Gators

Injury: Concussion
Injury Date: 8/31/24
Expected Recovery Timeline: 1-2 weeks
Player Year: Senior

The Florida Gators season kicked off in embarrassing fashion. They were absolutely dominated by their in-state rival the Miami Hurricanes. To make matters worse, their starting QB leads off this Week 3 college football injury report. In the second half of the Miami game, Mertz made an ill advised throw under pressure. Not only did it result in an interception but he also got sandwiched by two Miami defenders, forcing him to leave the game.

Mertz was unable to return to the game and has been diagnosed with a concussion. A concussion refers to a mild traumatic brain injury that leads to disruption in the function of the brain. The brain is vital in processing information and helping players to react quickly. The brain is also a very unique organ, with variability from person to person. A typical recovery time for a concussion is 1-2 weeks, with many players returning to play within a week of injury. However,  that was not the case here as Mertz was sidelined last week. True freshman QB DJ Lagway started his first game as a Gator and put on an impressive show, throwing for over 400 yards in a win against Samford.

The decision for head coach Billy Napier was made for him last week with Mertz unavailable. Heading into the Gators matchup against Texas A&M, this is no longer the case. Quarterback Graham Mertz cleared the concussion protocol and is not on the team’s official injury report. Florida will not be releasing a depth chart this week and Napier is deciding to keep his QB plans close to the vest. The expectation around the team is that both QBs will have a chance to play, but who gets the starting nod remains to be seen. From a health perspective, Mertz enters the game with a slightly elevated injury risk but should not see a dip in production two weeks post concussion.

The Georgia Bulldogs absolutely steam rolled the Clemson Tigers to start the season. The Bulldogs were led by their stifling defense who held the Tigers to only three points. One of the leaders of this defense, junior DE Mykel Williams was on his way to an impressive day with two TFLs before suffering an ankle injury.

The nature of his ankle injury has not been disclosed but after missing last week’s game, Williams heads into Week 3 with a doubtful designation. This all but ensures that Williams will not be out there as Georgia hits the road to take on Kentucky this week. This sounds like much more than a simple low ankle sprain for Williams and possibly a high ankle sprain, making a four to six week recovery the expectation. Its hard to imagine Georgia would need Williams for the game in Lexington this week but next week they head on the road to take on Alabama. Williams’ health status will be much more important in Week 4.

Kadyn Proctor (LT) Alabama Crimson Tide

Injury: Shoulder Injury
Injury Date: 8/31/24
Expected Recovery Timeline: 2-4 weeks
Player Year: Sophomore

Star LT Kadyn Proctor has had quite the eventful offseason. He started it by hitting the transfer portal to head up to Iowa, just to change his mind and transfer back to Alabama. After the brief change in scenery, Proctor suffered an injury in pregame warmups before Week 1. He was seen in a sling after the game and missed the first two weeks of the season. Proctor has a chance to get off the college football injury report in Week 3 however. He has returned to practice this week and head coach Kalen DeBoer spoke to how he appears to have turned a corner.

Proctor would be a welcomed sight for an Alabama offensive line who had their struggles last week against USF. The Crimson Tide head up to Camp Randall to take on Wisconsin in one of the marquee matchups. Stay tuned on this one as it is playing out like a true game time decision.

John Emery Jr. (RB) LSU Tigers

Injury: ACL
Injury Date: 9/4/24
Expected Recovery Timeline: 10-12 months
Player Year: Senior

This next Week 3 college football injury is a reminder of how brutal this sport can be. Senior LSU RB John Emery Jr. tore his right ACL late in the season last year, halting him dreams of the NFL. He decided to return for another year in college and had an impressive recovery as he worked his way back to being ready for Week 1, only 9.5 months after injury. This was an impressive feat to simply make it back to the field so soon, but he actually looked like LSU’s most explosive player last week. With high hopes for the season, unfortunately those dreams came crashing down this week.

Emery Jr. tore his left ACL in practice last week and will be OUT for the season. The ACL is a major stabilizing ligament of the knee and requires surgery to be repaired. This then comes with a lengthy 10-12 month recovery timeline. This is just an awful turn of events but the research does show an elevated injury risk when returning from a major injury such as an ACL tear.

With Emery Jr. out for the season, LSU will need to rely on backs Josh Williams and Kaleb Jackson to step up. This is a big blow to the offense who heads on the road for their first conference game against South Carolina.

 

Some BIG College Football Injury News 🤕

LSU RB John Emery tore his L ACL today & is OUT for the season. Emery tore his R ACL on November 11th last season & had worked his way back with an impressive recovery timeline. Absolute BRUTAL for the dynamic RB 👎

Gators QB1 Graham… pic.twitter.com/QxLw3Vhsox

— Sebastian Fearon DPT, CSCS, OCS (@TheDegenDoc) September 5, 2024

Tahj Brooks (RB) Texas Tech Red raiders

Injury: Arm Injury
Injury Date: 8/31/24
Expected Recovery Timeline: ??
Player Year: Senior

This next Week 3 college football injury kept us on the edge of our seat last week. After being a game time decision last week, Brooks ultimately did not play.

As we turn the page to this week, Texas Tech’s leading rusher from last season and one of their best overall players is questionable heading into a Week 3 matchup against a scrappy North Texas team. Senior RB Tahj Brooks injured his arm in Week 1 during an impressive 150+ yard rushing performance. There was a chance he could suit up last week but ultimately was ruled out.

With Brooks being close last week, he has a great chance to be active Week 3 and is trending that way. Brooks is probable for the matchup this weekend and will be a huge boost to an offense that was lackluster last week.

Riley Leonard (QB) Notre Dame Fighting Irish

Injury: Shoulder Injury
Injury Date: 9/7/2024
Expected Recovery Timeline: 2-4 weeks
Player Year: Senior

Notre Dame is coming off one of the worst losses in program history. One week after an impressive road win against Texas A&M, the Fighting Irish fell to Northern Illinois. To make matters worse, their starting QB Riley Leonard picked up a shoulder injury.

The good news here is that the injury is on his non-throwing shoulder. It is being reported as an injury to his labrum, which will be painful but can be played through. The labrum refers to cartilage that cushions the shoulder joint and helps with stability. Although Leonard is slated to start against Purdue this week, I think this injury will cause him to think twice about using his legs. Mobility is a huge part of Leonard’s game but he is going to want to avoid some hits to that shoulder that would elevate the pain and potentially cause more damage.

Jaydn Ott (RB) California Golden Bears

Injury: Low Ankle Sprain
Injury Date: 8/31/24
Expected Recovery Timeline: 1-2 weeks
Player Year: Sophomore

This next college football injury is a huge difference maker in an interesting Week 3 matchup. Cal hosts San Diego State this week for an in-state matchup. As the Golden Bears look for their first 3-0 start since 2019, they hope that their best player is back to his normal self. During their first game, sophomore stud RB Jaydn Ott limped off the field after rolling his ankle. Thankfully it appears he only suffered a mild low ankle sprain which comes with a short recovery timeline.

Low ankle sprains refer to damage to the lateral ligaments of the ankle due to the foot rolling inward. This is a fairly common injury that comes with a short recovery timeline. In minor cases such as this one, most players play the following week without much negative effect.

Ott did play last week, but did not look like his normal explosive self. He averaged just over one yard a carry and had an uninspiring day despite Cal pulling off the upset over Auburn. He’s currently labelled as day to day with his ankle injury but I am much more optimistic for this week. He not only has an extra week of healing time but faces a more favorable matchup.

Cam Rising (QB) Utah Utes

Injury: ACL Tear
Injury Date: 1/2/2023
Expected Recovery Timeline: 10-12 months
Time from injury to Week 1, 2024: 20 months
Player Year: RS Senior

Surprise, surprise. Utah Utes star fifth year senior QB Cam Rising is back on the college football injury report for Week 3. After having an impressive debut, as expected, off his ACL tear from two years ago, it only took two games for Rising to pick up another injury. Rising was carving up the Baylor Bears defense last week and unfortunately Baylor called in their secret weapon. The Utah QB was scrambling out of the pocket and got ran out of bounds and run right into the Gatorade coolers on the sidelines.

There was some immediate concern for the oft-injured quarterback as he went into the locker room early and came back out in street clothes. Thankfully, he seems to have dodged a major bullet. Rising injured a finger on his throwing hand but there is no fracture or season injury.

It appears Utah has decided to play it safe and rest their star QB against Utah State this week. They want him to heal up and feel close to 100% for their big time matchup against Oklahoma State next week. That means true freshman QB Isaac Wilson, who happens to be the brother of former BYU QB Zach Wilson, will get the start this week. Utah is also playing their former backup QB Bryson Barnes in this in-state rivalry.