Tayven Jackson injury update: UCF QB leaves Kansas State game without pads on

UCF quarterback Tayven Jackson will not return to Saturday’s matchup against Kansas State. Jackson exited the game in the second quarter after taking a big hit.

He was helped to the medical tent after staying on the field for some time. He was favoring his left arm close to his body while walking to the sideline. When he left the tent, he was seen without his pads on, indicating that his day is over.

Jackson finished the game completing 5-9 of his passing attempts for 18 yards. He was replaced by Jacurri Brown, who threw an interception with his first passing attempt on the day, which Kansas State took advantage of by scoring the first touchdown of the day for either team.

It’s unclear what the extent of Jackson’s injury is, but it’s likely he was escorted to the locker room for further evaluation. There was no instant update on his status as the second quarter dwindled. Though, he later popped up back on the sideline with his left arm in a sling, as well as in a sweat suit before halftime.

After this, UCF turned some heads. Brown would turn the interception on his previous thrown and turn it into the complete opposite outcome on his second attempt. Brown connected to WR DJ Black for an 82-yard strike to cut the lead to three.

UCF will hope to have its starting quarterback back sooner rather than later. Jackson is in his first season with the Knights after spending the past two seasons with the Indiana Hoosiers. He transferred to the program this offseason and has two years (including this season) of eligibility remaining.

Jackson appeared in 13 games over the past two years in Bloomington, starting five as a redshirt freshman in 2023. He ends his career at Indiana with 1,263 yards passing and six touchdowns to six interceptions. 

Coming into Saturday’s matchup against the Knights, Jackson had thrown for 694 yards and three touchdowns. He added three additional touchdowns on the ground, taking 20 carries for 72 yards.

Before college, Jackson was a one-time commit to Tennessee as a four-star prospect out of the 2022 class before transferring the Indiana after one year with the Vols. He ranked as the No. 186 overall player and No. 11 quarterback in the cycle according to the On3 Industry Ranking, a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies.