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The Kentucky Wildcats have a massive game on Saturday night when they take on the LSU Tigers and look to start the season with a perfect 6-0 record.
However, it looks like they will have to do it without two of their best players.
Matt Jones of Kentucky Sports Radio reported on Tuesday that defensive lineman Marquan McCall will be out at least 5-6 weeks and then re-evaluated. Nick Roush reported earlier in the day that McCall was likely to miss 4-6 weeks.
McCall was injured early in the game against the Florida Gators and was later ruled out for the remainder of the game.
With McCall out, it will mean that Josaih Hayes and fellow sophomore Justin Rogers will be seeing their snap counts rise going forward.
The encouraging part is that Rogers saw a lot more action against the Gators when McCall went down, and the Kentucky defensive line still held Florida in check.
On the offensive side of the ball, Matt Jones is reporting that wide receiver Josh Ali is expected to miss the next two games and hopes to be back when the team travels to face the Mississippi State Bulldogs.
Source tells KSR Marquan McCall will be out at least 5-6 weeks and then re-evaluated
— Matt Jones (@KySportsRadio) October 5, 2021
Josh Ali likely out next 2 games…Miss State is the target for return
So far this season, Ali has hauled in 17 receptions for 248 yards and a touchdown while adding 13 rushing yards and a rushing touchdown.
He’s been the Cats’ No. 2 wide receiver all season, and his absence is going to hurt an offense that has already been struggling in recent weeks.
With Ali out, we should all expect to see more touches for Wan’Dale Robinson. However, it will be important for some of the younger receivers to step up and make plays for this team in Ali’s absence.
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