Jayhawks Dealing With Uncertainty in the Backfield

Kansas head coach Lance Leipold confirmed Monday that Kansas’ starting running back Daniel Hishaw Jr. is dealing with a new injury, ruling out the possibility that this setback is simply a recurrence of what sidelined him previously.

Leipold characterized the issue as “slightly different” than prior ones, adding that “something that had slowed him earlier this year has now kind of magnified itself.” He also acknowledged there is no firm timeline yet for Hishaw’s return.

Hishaw was unavailable Saturday for Kansas’ matchup against Cincinnati after exiting early in the prior week’s game at West Virginia. His absence puts more pressure on KU’s backfield depth just as the Big 12 slate begins to intensify.

This season, Hishaw has totaled 178 rushing yards on 35 carries, an average of 5.1 yards per carry, along with one touchdown. Before his exit in Morgantown, he had already assumed a lead role in the running back rotation.

In his absence, Kansas has turned primarily to Leshon Williams, the Iowa transfer, to carry the bulk of the workload. Williams had 64 yards on 10 carries against Cincinnati. Younger backs like Johnny Thompson Jr. and Harry Stewart III also remain available, but their live-game experience is limited.

The backdrop to this story is Kansas’ broader injury challenges, especially in ball-carrier roles. Hishaw is in his final season of eligibility, and any prolonged absence raises questions about KU’s push through the heart of the Big 12 schedule.

For now, KU is keeping the status quo: monitor progress through the week, hope for clarity in midweek injury reports, and lean on the currently available backs until (and unless) Hishaw is cleared. Knowing how Leipold values balance in his offense, this lingering uncertainty will be one of the more consequential injury storylines to watch as conference play unfolds.