Weigman still not 100% after foot injury
COLLEGE STATION — More than half a year after a season-ending foot injury, Texas A&M sophomore quarterback Conner Weigman continues a methodical recovery.
“He’s not 100% and he’s not going to be 100% coming out of spring,” new A&M coach Mike Elko said Wednesday in offering an update on his starter during spring drills. “He’s still recovering … but he’s able to go (in practice) … he’s a tough kid and it’s a testament to him that he understands how important it is to get these reps.”
While earning valuable reps Weigman simply is not at full go, as the Aggies held a closed scrimmage on Tuesday. Prior to the start of his first spring practice as A&M’S head coach, Elko said Weigman was his No. 1 quarterback under new offensive coordinator Collin Klein.
“I said (that) and I want to make sure that it’s said the right way, but just because you go into spring as the No. 1 doesn’t really mean anything other than you’re No. 1 going into spring,” Elko emphasized on Wednesday. “Conner had earned that right we felt like from how he had performed (in 2023), but like with every kid in our program, competition is there.
“Conner knows there’s a level of play he needs to reach in order to continue to be No. 1, and be No. 1 when we play Notre Dame.”
Trainers have assured Weigman and the coaches he can practice — just not push it too hard as he continues recovering from the broken (weight-bearing) bone. The former Bridgeland High star has done so, in limiting his running along with leaving room for improvement headed into the Aggies’ opener against the Fighting Irish on Aug. 31 at Kyle Field.
As for Weigman’s toughness in continuing to press on in practice Elko added, “That’s a mindset I’ve been very happy with our kids this spring, that we have guys out there who are nicked up, and understand how important it is to go on the practice field and practice, and so that’s good, and Conner is doing that.
“(But) … it still has to slow down for everybody, him included. I’m a coach so I don’t know how to sugarcoat all this stuff, but it’s not great right now because they’re not comfortable in (the system) yet. That’s part of spring, just learning how the system works and taking more and more reps.”
If Weigman isn’t fully recovered or has not progressed as much as he and the coaching staff hope by August, the Aggies are still in good shape at quarterback based on the performances last season of backups Jaylen Henderson and Marcel Reed.
“They bring something different to the table,” Elko said. “Jaylen Henderson is getting a little bit more and more comfortable functioning within the system, and he’s obviously extremely athletic. He does have the ability to throw the football well, it’s just seeing the game and kind of getting the game to slow down for him a little bit so he can be a little bit more consistent.”
Klein said in particular of the quarterback room he inherited, “I’m getting to know a little better of how the guys tick and how they learn.”
Weigman broke his foot in Week 4 against Auburn and was replaced by Max Johnson, who has since transferred to North Carolina. Henderson started for an injured Johnson in the Aggies’ 10th game of the season, a 51-10 home win over Mississippi State, what also turned out to be coach Jimbo Fisher’s final game at A&M. Fisher was fired the following morning for failing to compete for Southeastern Conference titles.
Henderson accounted for four touchdowns, two passing and two rushing, in the blowout victory over the Bulldogs. He played decently in a 38-10 home win over Abilene Christian and a 42-30 loss at LSU to cap the regular season. Henderson, who will be a junior this season, was hurt early in the Aggies’ 31-23 Texas Bowl loss to Oklahoma State, allowing Reed more playing time than anticipated as a true freshman.
“You kind of saw in the bowl game he has really, really high potential, and it’s very similar (to Henderson) in that can we get it to be out there every single play,” Elko said. “With a few less peaks and valleys and a little bit more consistent execution and operation is kind of what we need from him.”
Reed in just his third college appearance threw for more yards in a game (361) than any A&M quarterback in 2023. He added 29 rushing yards on 10 carries and a rushing touchdown against the Cowboys.