Utah Pass Rusher Suffers Scary Non-Contact Injury

Utah fans had to hold their breath Saturday afternoon when sophomore pass rusher John Henry Daley went down with what looked like a serious non-contact injury early in the first quarter against Kansas State.

It was one of those moments that sucks the air out of a game. Daley didn’t get tangled up, didn’t take a hit, he just went down, and it was clear right away that something wasn’t right. Teammates and trainers came out and helped him off the field, and he never came back.

That’s a brutal blow for Utah, because Daley has been a total menace this season. He came into the game with 9.5 sacks and two forced fumbles, and he’s been one of the most disruptive players in the country off the edge. Every offense Utah has faced has had to scheme around him. He’s been that good.

Losing him in the first quarter against a physical Kansas State team puts Utah’s defense in a tough spot. He’s not just a stat sheet guy; he’s the tone-setter. When he’s on the field, quarterbacks get jittery, and offensive coordinators start second-guessing their play calls. Now, someone else is going to have to step into that role, and those are massive shoes to fill.

There hasn’t been an official update yet, but the fact that it was non-contact and he didn’t even try to walk off under his own power isn’t a great sign. You just hope it’s not something that lingers long-term, because Daley was playing at an All-Big 12 level and looking like a serious NFL prospect down the road.

It’s a tough scene anytime a guy like Daley goes down. He’s been one of the best in the league this fall, and you hate to see a season get derailed like that. All eyes are now on the Utah medical staff and what comes next.