Arizona State plays host to UCLA in a big Pac-12 South showdown on Sept. 25, but each school's starting quarterback was hurt Saturday, potentially changing the tenor of the game.
Arizona State's Taylor Kelly suffered an injury to his right foot in the Sun Devils' win over Colorado, while UCLA's Brett Hundley sustained an injury to his left (non-throwing) shoulder in the Bruins' victory over Texas. While there has been no definitive word from either school about the severity of the injuries, reports have Kelly missing the Sept. 25 game and Hundley being able to play.
ESPN reported that Kelly won't play again until Oct. 4 against USC, meaning he would miss only the UCLA game. Fox Sports reported that Hundley has a hyperextended elbow and should be able to return to practice late this week.
Kelly is one of the most underrated quarterbacks nationally, and his dual-threat ability would be missed against the Bruins. He has accounted for eight TDs this season (six passing, two running) and threw 28 TD passes and ran for nine scores last season. His backup is junior Mike Bercovici, who has thrown 24 passes in his career; half of those attempts came against FCS foe Weber State in this season's opener.
Hundley is a Heisman candidate and one of the best quarterback prospects in the nation. Backup Jerry Neuheisel filled in capably in the win over Texas, leading the Bruins on a game-winning drive late in the fourth quarter. Still, Hundley is a far more effective runner and a more polished passer than Neuheisel.
In other injury updates:
» Utah State QB Chuckie Keeton missed seven games last season with a torn ACL in his left knee, and he missed the second half of the Aggies' win over Wake Forest with an injury to the same knee. Utah State head coach Matt Wells announced on Monday that Keeton will miss this week's game against Arkansas State, too. Wells said Keeton did not suffer any structural damage to the knee and is just "banged up." Utah State will rest Keeton this week and next week and reevaluate him heading into an Oct. 3 game against BYU (the Cougars have a bye next week). Darell Garretson was 6-1 as the starter after Keeton was injured last season, and he'll take over while Keeton is out.
» Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops says leading rusher Keith Ford (5-foot-11, 206 pounds) will be out at least two weeks and perhaps as many as three with a fractured foot suffered in the win over Tennessee. The Sooners have three tailbacks with at least 20 carries, but Ford, a sophomore, has been the most productive, with 194 yards and five rushing TDs. He also has a receiving TD. Oklahoma plays at West Virginia on Saturday, and true freshman Samaje Perine (5-11, 243) seems likely to get the start at tailback. Sophomore Alex Ross (6-1, 221) also will see time.
» Oregon's banged-up offensive line suffered another injury this past Saturday when starting left tackle Jake Fisher had to leave the victory over Wyoming in the first quarter with what appeared to be a knee injury. Though Oregon provides no injury updates, Fisher had a brace on his knee afterward. Fisher was set to start at right tackle this season but moved to the left side after star Tyler Johnstone was lost for the season to a torn ACL suffered in fall camp. Andre Yruretagoyena, Fisher's replacement at right tackle, is out indefinitely after suffering a foot injury during the Ducks' win over Michigan State. True freshman Tyrell Crosby made his first start in place of Yruretagoyena against Wyoming, while junior walk-on Matt Pierson replaced Fisher at left tackle during the game.
» Minnesota could be without two starters when it plays host to San Jose State this Saturday. QB Mitch Leidner played with his left knee in a brace in this past Saturday's loss to TCU and the Minneapolis Star Tribune reported that Leidner suffered a toe injury against TCU that led to him wearing a boot after the game. Zac Epping, who is one of the best guards in the Big Ten, has a high ankle sprain, and coach Jerry Kill expressed concern about either playing against San Jose State.
Mike Huguenin can be reached at mike.huguenin@nfl.com. You also can follow him on Twitter @MikeHuguenin.
