Kentucky Football Injury Updates Ahead of 2021 Season Opener

Kentucky will kick off the 2021 football season Saturday, Sept. 4 against Louisiana-Monroe. Before the BBN flocks to Kroger Field, Mark Stoops shared Kentucky football injury updates on a few noteworthy Wildcats.

JJ Weaver

The sophomore edge rusher was listed on Kentucky’s first depth chart of the season. Weaver is still recovering from a season-ending ACL injury he suffered in the penultimate game of the regular season against Florida. Stoops said Weaver has participated in full contact practice, but he will be used sparingly on Saturday as they ease him back into action.

“He’s getting better. He’s been out there.” Stoops added, “He’s getting close. He has practiced without a red (no-contact) jersey on, so that tells you, to us, he’s full-go. But that doesn’t mean he’s at 100%. He’s gotta continue to get confidence in himself and get some plays under his belt. We will see and bring him along.”

Dekel Crowdus

Freshman Dekel Crowdus was on a path to solidifying a spot on the two-deep depth chart this preseason. Unfortunately, fate had different plans. Initially feared to be a season-ending injury, the speedy wide receiver will return this fall. As of today, he’s still going through rehab. Stoops did not provide an exact timetable, but it feels like Crowdus is at least a month or so away from returning to the gridiron.

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Naasir Watkins

Fifth-year offensive tackle Naasir Watkins was sidelined by a knee injury for almost the entirety of the 2020 football season. He has returned to practice and is 100% healthy, but he will be suspended for the first four games of the season.

Watkins was a valuable reserve for Kentucky in 2018 and ’19. He played in every single game of both seasons, backing up both the right and left tackles. Deondre Buford will spell Dare Rosenthal at left tackle and Jeremy Flax will back up Darian Kinnard at right tackle.

Wilson Berry

For the last of the Kentucky football injury updates, we head to the specialists. Kentucky’s next great Australian punter may not show off his skills Saturday. Stoops said Wilson Berry was “dinged up” throughout the preseason with a back injury. He will practice Monday. If the back injury does not improve, Colin Goodfellow’s number will be called. Goodfellow was the Wildcats’ starter last year against Vanderbilt and Alabama, averaging 47.7 yards on 10 punts.