Utah Coach Considers Options Amidst Star Quarterback’s Uncertain Recovery

The uncertain injury status of Utah Utes quarterback Cameron Rising remains a significant concern for the team. The 25-year-old quarterback was sidelined during the Utes’ Week 2 victory, and since then, has not returned to the field. His participation in the upcoming Friday showdown against Arizona State remains uncertain. “We’ll see what happens this week, but there is a chance,” Utah’s head coach Kyle Whittingham stated, indicating that the team is cautiously optimistic about his return. “We follow all the medical recommendations. I’m not a doctor. Cam’s not a doctor. We’re not going to go against that,” he added, addressing the lingering questions regarding Rising’s recovery timeline.

Rising’s absence follows an extensive period of rehabilitation after a devastating knee injury during the 2023 Rose Bowl, where he tore three of the four ligaments in his knee. His return was further delayed by a hand injury sustained during a game against Baylor, after being tackled into the Bears’ sideline where he injured his hand. As a result, his health has been a recurring topic of discussion in Salt Lake City over the last 19 months.

In Rising’s absence, the No. 16 Utah has relied on freshman quarterback Isaac Wilson, who has started in the last three games. The younger brother of 2021 No. 2 overall NFL draft pick Zach Wilson, Isaac has had a mix of performances, completing 55.7% of his passes for 830 yards, six touchdowns, and seven interceptions. Rising previously led Utah to consecutive Pac-12 titles and Rose Bowl appearances and has amassed nearly 6,000 career passing yards and over 50 touchdowns.

With Rising’s uncertain future, Whittingham has to weigh his options carefully. The coach deliberated, “Does an 80 percent Cam Rising give us more of an opportunity to win than Isaac Wilson? That’s a coach’s decision and a coach’s call.” While emphasizing player safety, Whittingham stated, “First of all, you don’t want to expose the kid to furthering the injury, but he wouldn’t get cleared if that was the case.”

The 2024 season continues without a definitive status on Rising, leading Whittingham to consider starting Wilson for the remainder of the season. “There is a point,” he remarked when discussing the possibility of continuing with Wilson as the quarterback. “I’m not going to pin ourselves down to an exact, specific time,” he noted, acknowledging that factors such as the conference race could influence the decision.

As Utah prepares to face Arizona State, followed by games against other competitive teams, fans hope for clarity on their star quarterback’s situation. Utah aims to strengthen their record and potentially face top rivals in upcoming matches, including a critical game against conference frontrunner Oregon on November 9.