Injuries to Watch – Week 13
Published on Thursday, 11/21/13, at 5:17 p.m. Eastern.
By Brian Edwards
Utah quarterback Travis Wilson is out for the rest of the season and his career could be in jeopardy after he sustained a concussion two weeks ago in a 20-19 home loss to Arizona St. Wilson finished 2013 with a 16/16 touchdown-to-interception ratio. Utes’ sophomore Adam Schulz started in last week’s 44-21 loss at Oregon, completing 13-of-30 passes for 181 yards with one TD and one interception. In four games this year, Schulz has connected on just 35-of-75 throws (46.7%) for 428 yards with a 2/2 TD-INT ratio. Utah is 1.5-point underdog Saturday at Washington St.
Florida QB Tyler Murphy is ‘questionable’ vs. Ga. Southern due to a shoulder injury. Making his first career start and taking his first snap at the collegiate level last week, Sklyer Mornhinweg completed 10-of-13 passes for 107 yards in a 19-14 loss at South Carolina. UF didn’t put too much on his plate with most of his throws consisting of screen passes and short patterns. However, the redshirt freshman should be credited for being accurate and only making one mistake, an interception on the final drive with just over one minute remaining. The Gators are favored by 28 against the Eagles.
Missouri QB James Franklin is expected to start Saturday night at Ole Miss. Franklin (14/3 TD-INT) hasn’t played since separating his shoulder in a 41-26 win at Georgia on Oct. 12. But let’s be clear that Franklin was dressing out and was available as of three weeks ago. Gary Pinkel simply chose not to play him because the Tigers ran out to comfortable leads in the early going in blowout wins vs. Tennessee and at Missouri. Mizzou WR L’Damian Washington (toe) has been upgraded to ‘probable.’
After missing three straight games, Ole Miss RB Jeff Scott returned to the field in last week’s 51-21 win over Troy. Scott ran for 54 yards on 11 totes and he also had two catches for 25 yards. Rebels’ veteran CB Charles Sawyer (leg) and DE Carlos Thompson are both question marks vs. Mizzou. Sawyer’s potential absence could be big since the Tigers have one of the country’s top group of wideouts.
Washington QB Keith Price left last Friday’s 41-31 loss at UCLA in the first half after injuring his shoulder and did not return. According to the Seattle Times, Price (19/4 TD-INT) threw the ball Wednesday and might be able to play Saturday night at Oregon St. If not, redshirt freshman Cyler Miles will get his first career start. I thought Miles acquitted himself well against the Bruins, as he completed 15-of-22 passes for 149 yards and two touchdowns. However, he wasn’t exempt from freshman mistakes with two interceptions, but my point is that he looked composed, has a strong arm and throws a nice ball. As of Thursday afternoon, there was still no line. I made the Beavers four-point favorites if Price can’t play, one-point ‘chalk’ if he can. To be clear, if Price had never been injured, I would’ve made UW a 2.5-point favorite. My thinking is that even if Price plays, he won’t be at 100 percent.
Mississippi St. QBs Tyler Russell (shoulder) and Dak Prescott (stinger) are both ‘questionable’ at Arkansas, so true freshman Damian Williams might get his first career start in Little Rock. Williams replaced Russell in the fourth quarter in Saturday’s 20-7 loss vs. Alabama, with all five of his throws falling incomplete. But he threw two nice passes that were dropped, one of which should’ve been a touchdown on fourth and eight. The Bulldogs have covered the number in back-to-back losses at Texas A&M and vs. ‘Bama in games that were very competitive for 60 minutes.
Boise St. QB Joe Southwick was believed to be out for the rest of the regular season after breaking his ankle in a 34-17 home win over Nevada on Oct. 19. But Southwick practiced Wednesday and will probably be available Saturday at San Diego St. Nevertheless, Grant Hedrick will start for the fourth straight time. Hedrick has played extremely well, rushing for 263 yards and six TDs. He has completed 71.1 percent of his passes for 1,066 yards with a 10/3 TD-INT ratio. The Broncos are favored by 6.5 against the Aztecs.
Oklahoma QB Blake Bell (11/5 TD-INT) is ‘out’ Saturday at Kansas St. after suffering a concussion in a blowout win over Iowa St. RB Damien Williams and WR Lacoltan Bester have both been suspended one game for a violation of team rules. Williams has rushed for a team-high seven TDs, while Bester has 20 receptions for 279 yards and one TD. With Bell out, Trevor Knight (4/3 TD-INT) is expected to make his first start since a 16-7 win over West Va. in Week 2.
Indiana RB Tevin Coleman is ‘doubtful’ Saturday at Ohio St. with a sprained ankle that caused him to miss last week’s blowout loss at Wisconsin. The Hoosiers had scored at least 28 points in their first nine games, but they were held to just three points at Camp Randall without Coleman. He has rushed for 958 yards and 12 TDs.
After sustaining a concussion in a 20-13 loss at Louisville, Houston WR Deontay Greenberry has been upgraded to ‘probable’ Saturday vs. Cincinnati. Greenberry has a team-high 70 receptions for 1,042 yards and nine TDs. The Cougars, who are 9-1 ATS, are favored by 3.5 vs. the Bearcats.
Pitt WR Devin Street is ‘questionable’ at Syracuse due to an ankle injury. Street has made a team-high 49 catches for 847 yards and seven TDs. The Panthers are one-point road favorites at the Carrier Dome.
Alabama RB T.J. Yeldon (1,022 rushing yards & 12 TDs) will probably rest his ankle Saturday vs. UT-Chattanooga. The Crimson Tide is favored by 49 points.
South Carolina’s Mike Davis left last week’s 19-14 win over Florida with an ankle injury. Davis, who has rushed for 1,112 yards and 10 TDs this season, is considered ‘questionable’ vs. Coastal Carolina. With arch-rival Clemson coming to Columbia next weekend, don’t be surprised if Davis and Jadeveon Clowney are in street clothes. The Gamecocks are favored by 35.
