Grant, Lambert reportedly done for season with injuries

The image of Janarion Grant writhing in pain Saturday after his right leg slammed into the turf had coaches, players and fans gasping and fearing the worst.

It appears those fears have been realized.

According to a Sunday report by NJ Advance Media, Rutgers’ star playmaker will miss the remainder of the season with an undisclosed injury he sustained in the Knights’ 14-7 loss to Iowa. It is unclear at this time if he will be eligible for a medical redshirt.

Grant, a senior, has accounted for 35.1 percent of Rutgers’ all-purpose yards this season. With one kickoff return touchdown and one punt return touchdown in 2016, he is currently tied for an FBS record with eight career return touchdowns.

As a receiver and rusher, Grant tallied 438 yards on 36 touches in four games.

Grant suffered the injury at the end of a 76-yard bubble screen reception. Desmond King, last season’s Jim Thorpe Award winner for the nation’s top defensive back, tried to strip Grant from behind and tackled him over the left shoulder, inadvertently stepping on Grant’s right ankle as his knee hit the turf.

“It sucks to have one of our keys players out and for him to not be able to be out there on the field,” wide receiver Andre Patton said postgame. “But that means we just have to step our game up to another level. Because we don’t have a key player like him on the field, we need other guys to step up in his position and make plays.”

Jawuan Harris, a 5-foot9, 192-pound redshirt freshman who also plays for the Rutgers baseball team, filled Grant’s role against Iowa with snaps in the slot and split backs formations. But offensive coordinator Drew Mehringer acknowledged how difficult it would be to replace Grant’s gamechanging ability.