Quarterback may miss spring ball with injury
Stanford quarterback K.J. Costello might miss full spring-practice drills because of a hip injury, Sports Illustrated reported. If so, the Cardinal might have a serious problem at the position in the spring.
It was not known how serious Costello’s injury is — and when it occurred. A school spokesman declined to comment on the report.
In 2017, Costello won the job from Keller Chryst midway through his redshirt freshman season and guided the Cardinal to the Pac-12 North title. He completed 59 percent of his passes and threw for 1,573 yards and 14 touchdowns.
But for the time being, Stanford faces an acute manpower shortage. Chryst is transferring, and head coach David Shaw said recently that freshman Davis Mills won’t play in the spring. He apparently had a setback on his injured knee in the fall.
The only other quarterback on the roster is sophomore Jack Richardson, a walk-on from Palma-Salinas.
Wide receiver Jay Tyler passed for 6,528 yards as a high school quarterback in Louisiana, so he could be enlisted on an emergency basis.
In the summer, Stanford will add freshman Jack West, who presumably would redshirt if Mills backs up Costello. Another recent recruit, Tanner McKee, won’t enter school until 2020 after an LDS Church mission.
The first of two spring practice sessions begins Feb. 26. The Cardinal & White spring game is April 14 at Stanford Stadium.