LONDON — Arizona State is down another football player for the foreseeable future.
The latest casualty is junior offensive lineman Wade Helton, who was injured early in the Sun Devils' 48-20 loss to Texas A&M at Kyle Field in College Station, Texas, on Sept. 12.
Helton, who started the first two games at right guard, had to be helped off and was unable to put any pressure on his right leg. He left the stadium on crutches and with his foot in a boot.
"He will be out for a few weeks," coach Kenny Dillingham said after the team wrapped up practice in London Tuesday, Sept. 15.
The Sun Devils have already lost three players for the season: linebacker Zyrus Fiaseu, defensive lineman My'Keil Gardner, and cornerback Nigel Pringle. Fiaseu was the No. 3 linebacker,
while Gardner likely would have been part of the defensive line rotation.
Helton is an important figure up front. He is not only a starter at guard, but he was also the backup center for Tana Alo-Tupuola.
Helton is in his second year in the ASU program. He transferred from Iowa State and played in 10 games in 2025, starting seven of them. He was thrust into the offensive line mix when Ben Coleman suffered a season-ending injury.
Helton's 422 snaps at center were the eighth-most among centers designated as true or redshirt freshmen in the FBS last season and second among Power Four freshmen.
Helton will be replaced in the lineup by sophomore Rob Lapuaho, who went in for Helton after the injury.
"He's got to step up," Dillingham said of Lapuaho. "He's got to play in a mature fashion, which he did in the Duke game (last season). He's just got to be ready for his number to be called, and it's being called."
This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Arizona State down key starter vs. Kansas in Union Jack Classic
