Injuries Loom Over Temple’s Match Against Army This Weekend

PHILADELPHIA, Pa. — As Temple prepares to face Army on Saturday, injuries could significantly impact the game’s outcome. Two hours before kickoff, the American Athletic Conference will release its Player Availability report, providing insight into which players may be sidelined.

The Owls struggled last week, losing 45-14 to East Carolina, and were missing three starters in their defensive backfield by the end of the first quarter. The availability report may indicate whether these players are “Out,” “Questionable,” or not listed at all.

Head Coach Rod Carey emphasized the importance of transparency regarding player injuries. “Tell me what the rules are, we’re going to play by them,” he said this week. Carey noted past experiences, such as when their kicker missed practice due to a suspected concussion. They listed him to avoid confusion on game day should he not be able to play.

In contrast, some teams in the American Athletic Conference have not adhered strictly to these reporting rules. Temple has averaged 22.4 names on its report during conference play, while the rest of the conference averages just 11.1. No other team has listed more than 18 players as “Out” or “Questionable” in a single game.

The lack of consistency raises concerns. For instance, the week before Temple faced Tulsa, the Golden Hurricane did not include a key player, Cam East, on their availability report despite his absence during the game. Coach Tre Lamb explained this omission, saying they thought East would play.

“It’s difficult to know if other coaches are playing games,” Carey said. “But we’re not going to play any games here. Just be honest.” He added, “I refuse to lose the integrity of our program.” Carey has made clear that they will abide by the policy honestly, which perpeat the spirit of fair competition in the league.

As the Owls prepare for Army, the focus remains on the reported injuries and how they will affect the game plan.