What is the story about?
If
you were holding your breath watching guys get banged up against Alabama, we finally have some clarity on the injury front as the team turns the page to Texas A&M.
Here is the latest rundown from Will Stein on key personnel heading into Saturday night’s Texas A&M road clash:
- Teryhon Nichols: A late scratch this past weekend, Nichols was available and practicing all week before the medical staff decided to hold him out Friday night out of an abundance of caution. The great news? He took every single rep in Monday’s practice. He was running fast, had a hop in his step, and is fully expected to play against the Aggies.
- CJ Baxter: CJ battled through a nasty hand issue on Saturday. According to Stein, his finger actually popped out three separate times during the game, which forced him to the sideline during a critical third-and-one. The injury happened on an errant throw by Kenny Minchey, and Baxter’s finger was clipped. Despite the obvious pain, his hand is taped up, and he hasn’t missed a beat, taking every single rep in practice this week.
- Jovantae Barnes: If you were wondering why Jovantae Barnes only saw three carries for two yards. Stein clarified that this isn’t a knock on his ability; it’s simply a matter of knocking the rust off for a guy who has missed a lot of game time. He was just cleared to play last week after being out for almost a year. Getting live game reps and a full week of practice under his belt will be huge for adding necessary depth to the running back room.
- Malachi Wood: Adjusting to game speed takes time. Malachi Wood missed the season opener with a lower-body tweak and was thrown straight into the fire against elite edge rushers last weekend. He is completely healthy, but Stein noted that adjusting to live game speed versus practice speed is a hurdle he is actively working through. And one he will have to work through quickly.
All in all, Kentucky is pretty healthy for week 3.
