We've got some more injury updates ahead of WVU football's Coal Rush clas with TCU this coming Saturday.
The first of several player availability reports for the game was released late Wednesday night, and it shows that the Mountaineers may be expecting to miss some key players.
One player who has started one game at quarterback and seen critical playing time in several others, including relieving Scotty Fox Jr. after he started the UCF game, headlines the list as redshirt freshman Khalil Wilkins is still listed as questionable. This won't come to any surprise to fans who heard head coach Rich Rodriguez describe him as such earlier this week – he also added during Tuesday's press conference that he doesn't "know if he'll be able to practice all week" which indicates he likely won't be called upon unless there is an emergency situation against the Horned Frogs.
The Mountaineers are also unsure of the status of starting right tackle Ty'Kieast Crawford and starting defensive tackle Hammond Russell IV. Crawford has started every game this season despite criticism regarding the right side of the line's performance, but has left multiple games due to injury issues. Russell, meanwhile, missed the UCF game due to injury but started most of the season, and has recorded 12 tackles and two sacks on the year.
Rodriguez's team has struggled with injuries all season long, and are missing many starters and key rotation pieces for the season at this point, including quarterback Nicco Marchiol, linebacker Ashton Woods, running backs Jahiem White and Tye Edwards, and wide receiver Jaden Bray.
“It seems some years you get lucky and you don’t get anybody hurt, and some years it comes in waves,” Rodriguez said in September regarding the injury issues.