Rams are forced to deal with numerous injuries
FORT COLLINS» Coaches preach the mentality all the time, and Colorado State’s football team will have to see what the next man up can do this week.
In the 27-24 victory over New Mexico, the Rams had a host of players go down with injuries throughout the game, and while some were able to return, the Rams will be without the services of wideout Bisi Johnson and safety Jamal Hicks this week, possibly the remainder of the regular season.
Coach Mike Bobo said Monday that Hicks, a sophomore, will have surgery this week for the broken right forearm he suffered during the win.
Johnson will avoid surgery but has a sprained MCL that will keep him out this week, possibly longer.
“That’s why you practice. That’s why guys get reps,” Bobo said. “We’ve got to get the right guys in the right spots, and we’ve got to figure out how we’re going to put them on the field this week and execute. I don’t know the answer to where everybody is going to be and who everybody is going to play yet.”
Cornerback Shun Johnson and defensive tackle Darnell Thompson both went down during the game and returned, and Bobo expects both to play this week. Linebacker Max McDonald is under concussion protocol, so his status is up in the air, and slot receiver Detrich Clark did not play with a shoulder injury, and his progress will be monitored.
Hicks is fourth on the team with 33 stops and is tied for the team lead with two interceptions. McDonald has started the past four weeks and has 29 tackles for the season.
Senior Jake Schlager is an experienced replacement for Hicks, but depth is a bit of an issue for the Rams at linebacker, though Kiel Robinson returned to the starting lineup last week at strong as the team went with a pair of rush ends for the third week in a row, though it was the first game CSU did not start in a nickel package.
“You lose your starting will linebacker and your starting safety,” Bobo said. “We’re going to have to figure out who’s out there and get those guys ready to play.”