College football injury report: Fall camp reports, players on the mend ahead of 2023 season (2024)

Utah Utes — Starting quarterback Cameron Rising, who led his team to consecutive conference championships, remained limited during fall camp due to his surgically-repaired left knee and availability remains unknown for the opener against Florida on Aug. 31. UtesZone's Steve Bartle noted this month that Utah made it a point to get both Brandon Rose and Nate Johnson as many reps as they could this offseason to get them up to speed for this season.

Cal Bears — Ravaged by the injury bug, Justin Wilcox announced at the start of fall camp this month that he would have several players miss extensive time. Running back Byron Cardwell, a transfer from Oregon, will miss 2023 with an unspecified injury and another transfer ballcarrier, Justin Williams-Thomas from Tennessee, won't be available for the start of the season. Collin Gamble, an expected starter in the secondary, will also miss the season.

Oregon State Beavers — Offensive lineman Marco Brewer suffered a major knee injury that will keep him on the sideline for his senior season. He was expected to be a starter up front for the Beavers. Brewer had made 10 starts over the last two seasons for Jonathan Smith's team.

Washington Huskies — Coach Kalen DeBoer announced Tuesday that Huskies' starting running back Cameron Davis will miss the entire 2023 season with an injury. He finished with a team-leading 13 rushing touchdowns last season and also ranked second on the team in total carries (107) and yards (522).

Wake Forest Demon Deacons— Starting wide receiverDonavon Greeneis expected to miss"three to five months" after suffering a non-contact injuryon the first day of fall practice. Greene was the Demon Deacons' top returning pass-catcher after hauling in 37 receptions for 642 yards and six touchdowns last fall.

Duke Blue Devils —Starting wide receiver Eli Pancol will miss "significant time" during the 2023 season after undergoing surgery to correct a lower body injury. The Blue Devils are expected to rely on Sahmir Hagans to fill the production void left by Pancol, who started eight games last fall.

Louisville Cardinals —Louisville lost starting safety MJ Griffin during fall camp. He suffered whatthe program called a "lower leg injury" and will miss the season. Griffin took over at safety midway last season and would have been one of the team's best defensive players.

Miami Hurricanes— Junior defensive linemanAkheem Mesidorand freshman running back Christopher Johnson Jr. are back at practice after dealing with nagging injuries, coachMario Cristobalsaid this week. Mesidor is one of the team's top defenders and earned all-conference honorable mention last fall after accumulating 38 tackles, 10.5 tackles for loss and a team-best seven sacks.

Clemson Tigers — Freshman defensive tackle Vic Burley could miss his team's opener at Duke after suffering what the team called a lower-body injury during Clemson's first scrimmage of fall camp. Burley was progressing well as an early-enrollee and is expected to be in the Tigers' two-deep at defensive tackle this fall.

North Carolina Tar Heels — Defensive back Lejond Cavazos, who started his team's final three games last fall, suffered a lower-body injury earlier this month that will require surgery. He was expected to be a crucial depth piece this fall at the back end for the Tar Heels. Sophom*ore Marcus Allen and transfer addition Alijah Huzzie are expected to start at the cornerback spots.

Oklahoma Sooners — Brent Venables last addressed injuries to open fall camp, sharing details on several players. Missouri transfer wide receiver J.J. Hester missed the first few practices and according to Venables, might not “be available for a little while.” The coaching staff continues to use caution with offensive lineman Jacob Sexton, who injured his ACL in last season's bowl game. He's expected back in a full capacity by mid-September, per Venables. In the secondary, Robert Spears-Jennings is expected back next month, too.

Kansas Jayhawks — Star quarterback Jalon Daniels has missed a good portion of fall camp with a back injury, but says he's "pretty confident" he'll play in the season opener. Daniels said it happened early in camp, but doesn't remember the play that he tweaked his back.

LSU Tigers — Ohio State transfer JK Johnson is expected to be out for an extended period of time after suffering a lower leg fracture early on during camp. Defensive lineman Maason Smith is continuing to progress during his first full month back on the field since tearing his ACL in last season's opener against Florida State. He participated in Saturday's scrimmage, but was no contact and is "battling through some minor nicks and bruises" but is expected to start in the Tigers' first game.

Tennessee Volunteers — Starting center Cooper Mays remains sidelined after a "minor procedure" to correct an upper-body injury during the second week of camp and will be out a few weeks. Tennessee has been exploring other options at center for Mays, a third-year starter with 23 career starts under his belt.

Alabama Crimson Tide — Freshman running back Justice Haynes missed a few days of practice last week and did not play in Saturday's scrimmage with a quad muscle contusion. Jam Miller, another talented player in the Crimson Tide's running back room, has been limited as well with a thigh bruise. He did play in the final scrimmage, but was not 100%, according to Nick Saban.

Per Bama247,Saban said that “the key to the drill is keeping them healthy so that they can continue to develop and progress and complement each other,” referencing all four running backs, inJase McClellan,Roydell Williams, Millerand Haynes.

Ole Miss Rebels — UTSA transfer Zakhari Franklin still hasn't practiced after undergoing a knee scope to open camp.

South Carolina Gameco*cks— Veteran left tackleJaylen Nicholssuffered a "pretty significant injury" according toShane Beamerduring the opening series of the spring game and isn't expected to be available for much of the 2023 season. Nichols is a redshirt senior and could use his medical redshirt this season if the injury causes a prolonged absence.

There are a few players dealing with injuries during fall camp, including Arkansas transfer tight endTrey Knox(knee) and No. 1 wideoutAntwane Wells(lower body). Wells has not practiced in full-contact parameters this fall, but could play in the opener against UNC. Wells is the Gameco*cks' top returning weapon after registering 68 catches for 928 yards and six scores last fall.

“It’s not DEFCON 3 like supposedly it’s been on social media the last couple of days about some injuries out there. It’s football, fellas. There are injuries," Beamer said after his team's first scrimmage, noting the Wells situation. "There are things that happen in practice. They come back. They’re tough. It’s called football. I like where we are, there’s toughness, mental and physical.”

Auburn Tigers —There are some nagging injuries hindering the Tigers’ depth in the receiving corps, but Auburn is most concerned about three potential starters in the front seven. Ole Miss transfer Austin Keys (shoulder) has been Auburn’s best middle linebacker; App State transfer Jalen McLeod (ankle) is easily the team’s top pass-rusher; and 247Sports preseason Freshman All-American Keldric Faulk (hand) has been in contention for a starting job at defensive end.

All three missed the team’s second scrimmage over the weekend and Hugh Freeze knows their collective health is of the utmost importance as the season approaches: "Now it's time for us to get a lot of those guys out of those yellow jerseys, hopefully, and get them healthy with two weeks to go. We were without some guys that we’re counting on (in the scrimmage) for sure."

Georgia Bulldogs— TailbackKendall Miltonhas dealt with a hamstring situation throughout fall practice and did not play in Saturday's scrimmage. However,Kirby Smartsaid his ballcarrier "was close" in the aftermath. Another running back,Branson Robinson,is out for the season after rupturing his patella tendon according to Kirby Smart.

Georgia's primary injury worry right now is starting linebackerSmael Mondon, whose return from a foot injury has been slower than expected. He's one of two All-American candidates at the position this fall for the two-time defending national champions, joiningJamon Dumas-Johnson.

“Smael is running really fast. He’s exercising,” Smart said over the weekend. “He’s not practicing. He’ll be able to do some drill work Monday. He’s come along very well. He’s very passionate about getting back. He’s not sure. He’s running. The first test of that foot is how much soreness comes when he runs and he’s been great.”

Starting cornerbackKamari Lassiterhas a foot injury that has caused him to be limited, but it does not seem as serious as Mondon's situation.

Michigan Wolverines — Jim Harbaugh confirmed last week that sophom*ore wide receiver Logan Forbes, who is a former walk-on and showed impressive development this spring, has an MRI scheduled that will determine his availability for the 2023 season. Forbes was going to be used primarily on special teams. Sophom*ore cornerback Amorion Walker is battling a lower-body injury, but it's not considered serious, according to Harbaugh.

Penn State Nittany Lions — Projected starting left guard Landon Tengwall is dealing with “bumps and bruises,” sources tell 247Sports and has not been present at media access the last few weeks. Tengwall started the first five games of 2022, but missed the final eight contests with an undisclosed injury. He was back for spring ball and the start of preseason camp. Second-year JUCO product JB Nelson will play in that spot if Tengwall is not available for the opener. Old Dominion defensive tackle transfer Alonzo Ford is out for the season due to a lower leg injury. He was going to be a rotational piece up front for the Nittany Lions.

Wisconsin Badgers — Luke Fickell revealed over the weekend that starting center Jake Renfro and tight end Riley Nowakowski are both dealing with foot injuries and will miss the season opener. Renfro, a transfer from Cincinnati, missed the 2022 season with a knee injury after earning all-conference accolades in 2021. Fickell said he hopes Renfro is back in "three or four weeks" and Nowakowski's availability could be longer. Wisconsin is ranked inside the preseason AP Poll ahead of Fickell's first season in Madison.

Illinois Fighting Illini —Illinois starting safety Matthew Bailey, expected to be a star this season, is likely sidelined for the first two weeks due to a foot injury.