Most Important Injuries That Could Impact Week 3 Games

Injuries happen in every sport, and they happen all the time. The most successful teams during a season are not necessarily the ones whose players avoid the injury bug, but the ones who can overcome heightened adversity attributed to depleted rosters.

In this slideshow, I discuss some injuries that could significantly impact the outcomes of Saturday’s games in Week 3. In other words, a win or a loss could hinge on the health of these players.

To limit the player pool in this slideshow, I have only selected players who were injured during their Week 2 games. Therefore, Week 3 would be the first time these teams would play without the players at full strength—or at all, in some cases. This makes the injury more important, because their teams have had less time to account for their injuries when splitting up reps in practice.

Also, I have only included players from teams that are facing like competition in Week 3, which I have decided is games with spreads within approximately two touchdowns (except Alabama at Arkansas). No FBS versus FCS matchups here.

Finally, this list includes only regular starters, as injuries to these players are more important. Players who have not played for disciplinary reasons are also not counted here.

Feel free to bring up any other players whose (possible) absences in Week 3 would really hurt their teams’ chances of winning, in the comments section below.

 

Rankings appear in the following order: No. AP poll/No. USA TODAY poll. Injury information collected from collegeinjuryreport.com and updated through Sept. 13, 2012.

Jalston Fowler (No. 1/1 Alabama)

Depth Chart Position: No. 1 FB

Week 3: at No. 27/NR Arkansas

Injury Status: out for remainder of 2012 season (left knee surgery)

2012 Stats: 11 carries, 85 yards, 7.7 yards per carry; 1 reception, 6 yards, 6.0 yards per reception

 

As a running back, Jalston Fowler was overshadowed by Eddie Lacy and T.J. Yeldon, but Fowler’s versatility allowed Alabama to try some different things on offense in 2012.

According to Ken Rogers of Dothan Eagle:

"

As a fullback in Alabama’s new-look I-formation, he was not only a powerful lead blocker—a role he relished—he could have been asked to run some quick trips or catch the ball like a traditional fullback. Those were plays the Tide had not yet revealed.

"

Head coach Nick Saban also praised Fowler’s contributions on special teams.

Alabama has allowed eight sacks in two games this season, so losing another player capable of helping with blocking could hurt the team.

The Crimson Tide had no problem putting away a solid Michigan squad in Week 1, but Arkansas knows Alabama from the SEC West. With that said, I believe Arkansas will play Alabama closer than they did Michigan, and therefore Fowler’s injury could have a larger impact on this game than you might perceive.

Tevin Mitchel (No. 27/NR Arkansas)

Depth Chart Position: No. 1 CB (Sept. 8)

Week 3: vs. No. 1/1 Alabama

Injury Status: out (gall bladder surgery)

2012 Stats: 14 tackles; 2 passes defended; 2 forced fumbles

 

Arkansas has allowed 319.5 passing yards per game this season, and the Razorbacks have played Jacksonville State (FCS) and Louisiana-Monroe. Neither of these teams compare to Alabama.

Mitchel’s absence will make it that much more difficult for Arkansas to defend the pass in Week 3. The 14 tackles and two forced fumbles suggest Mitchel can hold his own in run coverage, which will be missed against Alabama’s elite running game.

Kody Walker (No. 27/NR Arkansas)

Depth Chart Position: No. 1 FB (Sept. 8)

Week 3: vs. No. 1/1 Alabama

Injury Status: out for remainder of 2012 season (broken leg)

2012 Stats: 1 carry, 1 yard, 1.0 yards per carry; 1 reception, 5 yards, 5.0 yards per reception

 

Arkansas’ I-formation has taken a huge blow in 2012.

Kody Walker was the No. 2 fullback heading into the season, but projected starter Kiero Small has not played yet due to a foot injury.

Just when All-America caliber running back Knile Davis has gotten back from a lost 2011 season, another important facet of the Razorbacks’ running game has gone down.

Alabama has only allowed 57.5 rushing yards per game in 2012 as it is.

Tyler Wilson (No. 27/NR Arkansas)

Depth Chart Position: No. 1 QB (Sept. 8)

Week 3: vs. No. 1/1 Alabama

Injury Status: questionable (head injury)

2012 Stats: 30-for-47 passing, 63.8 completion percentage; 563 passing yards; 5 touchdowns; 1 interception; 195.3 rating

 

If All-America caliber quarterback Tyler Wilson played an outstanding game against Alabama in Week 3, I thought the Razorbacks would have a strong chance to upset the Crimson Tide. Then, the Louisiana-Monroe game happened.

You could argue Arkansas might have overlooked Louisiana-Monroe in Week 2 with Alabama coming to Fayetteville in Week 3, but Wilson’s injury in that game could have been even worse than losing to the Warhawks.

If Wilson plays, Arkansas has a decent chance to upset the No. 1 team in the country. If Wilson does not play, I expect the Crimson Tide to dispose of the Razorbacks like they did to Michigan in Week 1.

Doug Rippy (Colorado)

Depth Chart Position: No. 1 MLB (Aug. 25)

Week 3: at Fresno State

Injury Status: doubtful (left knee)

2012 Stats: 3 tackles

 

As a senior middle linebacker, Doug Rippy is one of the leaders of the Colorado defense. In Week 3, the Buffaloes will need to stop Fresno State quarterback Derek Carr and running back Robbie Rouse—two members of the 2012 Maxwell Award Watch List—without him.

Rippy has struggled to stay 100 percent throughout his career in Boulder, so his back-ups have seen significant time, but that should not make Rippy’s injury any easier to swallow.

Colorado has allowed 382.0 yards per game and 26.0 points per game so far in 2012; both games ended in Buffaloes losses. One such loss came to FCS opponent Sacramento State.

Jelani Jenkins (No. 18/17 Florida)

Depth Chart Position: No. 1 WLB (Sept. 8)

Week 3: at No. 23/29 Tennessee

Injury Status: out (thumb surgery)

2012 Stats: 5 tackles; 1 tackle for loss

 

Jelani Jenkins is arguably Florida’s best all-around linebacker. Jenkins placed No. 3 on the Gators in 2011 with 75 tackles and No. 2 with seven passes defended.

This week, the Florida defense will face Tennessee's Tyler Bray, one of the nation’s elite quarterbacks. Under Bray, the Volunteers have the No. 15 scoring offense in FBS (43.0 points per game), as well as 541.0 yards of total offense per game.

Even without Jenkins, I doubt the Gators will allow the Volunteers to score 43 points, but Jenkins could be missed if this game comes down to the wire.

Cody Riggs (No. 18/17 Florida)

Depth Chart Position: No. 1 S (Sept. 8)

Week 3: at No. 23/29 Tennessee

Injury Status: out (foot fracture)

2012 Stats: 7 tackles; 1 pass defended; 1 forced fumble

 

Cody Riggs could have helped Florida try to stop the Tyler Bray to Justin Hunter connection at Tennessee. The Volunteers do not appear to miss Da’Rick Rogers one bit.

The Gators have allowed 213.0 passing yards per game through Week 2. Expect that number to rise against Tennessee. With Riggs out of the game, Bray and the Volunteers pass offense could put on quite a show in Knoxville.

Tre Roberson (Indiana)

Depth Chart Position: No. 1 QB (Sept. 8)

Week 3: vs. Ball State

Injury Status: out for remainder of 2012 season (broken leg)

2012 Stats: 32-for-49 passing, 65.3 completion percentage, 356 yards, 2 touchdowns, 1 interception, 135.7 rating; 12 carries, 133 yards, 11.1 yards per carry, 3 touchdowns

 

Indiana’s struggles in the Big Ten have become more predictable in 2012 with the season-ending injury to Tre Roberson. In fact, this injury could be enough to make the Hoosiers lose to Ball State in Week 3.

Indiana is 2-0 but has not faced comparable competition to this point. Ball State represents the Hoosiers’ toughest test in 2012 thus far.

New starting quarterback Cameron Coffman threw the ball well against FBS newcomer Massachusetts following Roberson’s injury in Week 2, but Roberson's dual-threat ability really separates the two.

The Hoosiers have not gone bowling since 2007, and with Roberson out for the rest of 2012, I do not expect the program to break the trend.

At least Roberson got Indiana to double its win total from 2011, when the Hoosiers went 1-11.

Elvis Fisher (Missouri)

Depth Chart Position: No. 1 LT (Sept. 8)

Week 3: vs. No. 38/31 Arizona State

Injury Status: out (strained left MCL)

 

The Missouri Tigers have seen their offensive line depth really crumble over the past year.

First, three starters from the 2011 offensive line moved on from college. Next, projected reserve Taylor Chappell tore his ACL. Then, projected starting left guard Travis Ruth received surgery on a torn triceps tendon. Ruth has not returned for the Tigers yet. Next, projected reserve Logan Adkinson was dismissed from the program. Meanwhile, projected starting right guard Jack Meiners has not returned from a knee injury.

In Week 2, left tackle Elvis Fisher caught the injury bug.

Needless to say, Missouri has lost a lot of blocking recently that could have helped in the SEC.

Without a consistently appearing starting five along the offensive line, an entire offense can fall apart.

Missouri scored 20 points on a depleted Georgia defense in Week 2, which means the Tigers likely would have scored less against a fully functioning Bulldogs unit.

Arizona State has turned heads this season with its stellar all-around play under new head coach Todd Graham. Missouri’s makeshift offensive line will face the No. 12 scoring defense in FBS, a defense which held Illinois to 14 points in Week 2.

With Fisher out, protecting quarterback James Franklin’s blind side could get a lot more difficult in Columbia in Week 3.

Zaviar Gooden (Missouri)

Depth Chart Position: No. 1 WLB (Sept. 8)

Week 3: vs. No. 38/31 Arizona State

Injury Status: out (hamstring)

2012 Stats: 14 tackles; 2.0 tackles for loss; 1 interception, 20 yards, 20.0 average, 1 touchdown; 1 pass defended

 

Zaviar Gooden’s injury will complicate Missouri’s ability to stop Arizona State’s high-powered offense in Week 3. The Sun Devils rank No. 7 in FBS in scoring offense (54.0 points per game) and hung 45 points on Illinois in Week 2.

In 2012, Missouri has allowed 289.0 yards of opposing total offense per game as well as 25.5 points per game. The Tigers allowed 41 points to Georgia in Week 2.

Gooden leads Missouri in tackles this season, is tied for second in tackles for loss, and leads in both interception return yards and interception return touchdowns.

Carlos Hyde (No. 12/NR Ohio State)

Depth Chart Position: No. 1 RB (Sept. 8)

Week 3: vs. California

Injury Status: out (sprained right MCL)

2012 Stats: 24 carries, 109 yards, 4.5 yards per carry, 2 touchdowns; 1 reception, 2 yards, 2.0 yards per reception

 

Ohio State is thin at running back heading into Week 3.

Projected reserve Warren Ball is out this season following foot surgery. Another top running back, Jordan Hall, has not played yet this season but is probable for Week 3 against California. Now Carlos Hyde will miss the game.

Columbus has watched the Braxton Miller show in the first two games, but strong quarterback play requires defenses to respect the run. With a depleted running backs corps for the Buckeyes, I expect the Golden Bears to focus in on Miller even more.

Ohio State has dominated its competition so far, but California should be the most talented team the Buckeyes have seen yet.

The Golden Bears have allowed 410.5 yards of opponents’ total offense this season, and they sit at 1-1 with a loss to Nevada. I bet California has looked forward to this game against Ohio State for some time now, though, and I believe the Golden Bears will play better than they have shown so far.

Derek Day (Penn State)

Depth Chart Position: No. 1 RB (Sept. 8)

Week 3: vs. Navy

Injury Status: questionable (shoulder)

2012 Stats: 26 carries, 83 yards, 3.2 yards per carry; 2 receptions, 20 yards, 10.0 yards per reception

 

Derek Day joins Bill Belton on the list of Penn State running backs that are questionable for Week 3 against Navy.

Injuries are not so serious in State College, considering the mass exodus of players in response to the violations imposed on the program by the NCAA stemming from the Sandusky scandal. In short, Penn State continues to lose players.

The Nittany Lions roster has taken so many hits that Navy can steal a win on the road this week. That's right, Navy can win at Beaver Stadium against Penn State in 2012. Who would have thought?

Hubie Graham (Pittsburgh)

Depth Chart Position: No. 1 TE (Sept. 6)

Week 3: vs. No. 13/13 Virginia Tech

Injury Status: questionable (shoulder)

2012 Stats: 5 receptions, 46 yards, 9.2 yards per reception

 

Losing a tight end to injury affects both the running game and the passing game. Pittsburgh has already had enough trouble on offense in 2012, right?

Hubie Graham could have represented a nice option for the Panthers to incorporate on offense in Week 3 against Virginia Tech. Graham’s injury decreases that possibility.

Will a healthy Graham make the difference between a Pittsburgh win or loss in Week 3? I doubt it, but the Panthers cannot afford to lose starters when they are trying to turn their woeful season around. Then again, anything can happen in college football.

Jordan Wynn (Utah)

Depth Chart Position: No. 1 QB (Sept. 7)

Week 3: vs. No. 25/30 BYU

Injury Status: retired from football (left shoulder)

2012 Stats: 25-for-38 passing, 65.8 completion percentage; 247 yards; 2 touchdowns; 1 interception; 132.5 rating

 

Jordan Wynn’s injury-filled college football career has led him to retirement.

Nobody wants to think about the day an athlete retires, especially if that athlete retires in college. Wynn’s decision reminds us that football can allow people to pursue their life’s dreams and goals, but also that football can speed up the deterioration of the human body.

I applaud Wynn for deciding to retire before risking even more injuries. Wynn has allowed himself the chance to have a better quality of life than some other former football players who stretched their limits too far.

Though Wynn’s loss could be troublesome for Utah, at least the Utes can prepare to move forward without wondering when he will return to the field. Sometimes, this waiting game hurts the program more than the injury itself, so all sides should be thankful Utah does not need to head down that path.