Missouri QB Bryant injured in rout of Troy

COLUMBIA, Mo. — The only drama in the second half of Missouri’s 42-10 victory over Troy on Saturday revolved around a player who was in the locker room.

Senior quarterback Kelly Bryant was knocked out of the game late in the first half with an apparent knee injury, and the Tigers’ dreams of contending with the heavyweights of the SEC East hinged on his health.

After the game, coach Barry Odom was cautiously optimistic.

“Kelly is getting checked out now, and I’ll hopefully find out something later tonight,” Odom said after the Tigers improved to 4-1. “He was in great spirits, and our docs seemed like it was good news, but I don’t want to go there until I get it confirmed.”

Multiple Missouri players said they spoke with Bryant and were encouraged.

“I wanted to make sure he was OK, and he is OK,” said wide receiver Jonathan Nance, who had two catches for 81 yards and a touchdown.

After he released a 6-yard touchdown pass to Jalen Knox, Bryant was hit low from behind by Troy defensive tackle Travis Sailo and immediately clutched his left knee. Sailo was penalized for a personal foul on the play. The senior quarterback, a transfer from Clemson, eventually walked to the locker room but didn’t return to the game or the sideline.

Bryant completed 12 of 19 passes for 221 yards and three touchdowns and ran for another touchdown. Taylor Powell, a sophomore, took over at quarterback in the second half and completed 6 of 8 passes for 57 yards but didn’t guide the Tigers to any points. Nance and Albert Okwuegbunam joined Knox with touchdown catches, and Larry Rountree III rushed for a touchdown.

The way Missouri’s defense is scoring, it might not matter who is playing quarterback. Senior linebacker Cale Garrett intercepted passes on consecutive drives in the second quarter and returned the second one 33 yards for a touchdown. Garrett has scored touchdowns in three straight games. The Tigers, who entered the game ranked third nationally in total defense, held Troy (2-3) to 211 total yards.

“His instinctual feeling of how to play is off the charts,” Odom said of Garrett, who also had two tackles for loss in the game. “He’s the heart and soul of our team.”