Mark Stoops provides injury update on Jager Burton
After starting in 19 consecutive games, Jager Burton was unavailable in Kentucky’s 38-21 loss to Missouri. Following the loss, a reporter asked head coach Mark Stoops if Burton would be out for much longer.
“I hope not,” Stoops said. “He wanted to try to play desperately but he could not go.”
Kentucky needs the sophomore offensive lineman back as soon as possible. The ‘Cats are in a downward spiral after dropping their second-straight game on Saturday night. Burton’s absence was obvious in the loss as Kentucky’s front five gave up four sacks.
Burton is a cornerstone in the Big Blue Wall. Last season, the Kentucky native was the first Wildcat offensive linemen to earn Freshman All-SEC honors since Logan Stenberg in 2016. Burton switched to the right side of the line this season after starting all 13 games last year at left guard.
While Burton is valuable, he isn’t without his faults. In Kentucky’s 51-13 loss to Georgia, Burton shot Kentucky in its foot, picking up a holding call and an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty. The latter penalty was particularly egregious.
After successfully tossing a Georgia defender to the ground, Burton hopped on top of the downed player. The WWE-style move received a 15-yard penalty. Stoops berated Burton on the sideline following the penalty. After the game, Stoops recalled his message to Burton.
“The message was right during the game that it was completely unacceptable,” Stoops said. “There was zero excuses for both of ’em. On the first one, the hold, he had him blocked. The player logged himself. He was going to come under the guard. Jager had him logged.
“There was no need whatsoever to try to sling him to the ground. None. He had him blocked.”
Kentucky has more worries than Jager Burton
In fairness, Burton isn’t the only lacking discipline for Kentucky. In the team’s loss to Mizzou, the Wildcats committed a whopping 14 penalties for a total loss of 122 yards. For reference, Kentucky only recorded 120 passing yards in the contest.
After the defeat, Stoops firmly addressed the issue.
“We need to get to this off week and take a good look at ourself and improve in a lot of areas, starting with the discipline of this team,” Stoops said. “The lack of discipline is really something that’s standing out and bothering me.
“We have not been perfect over the years by any stretch, but we’ve had more discipline than we had right now and that is something that is inexcusable. We have to take care of the football and we have to eliminate penalties.”