Utah football’s Kyle Whittingham gets brutally honest on Cam Rising’s injury

Head Utah football coach Kyle Whittingham discussed Cam Rising’s injury woes on Tuesday.

The Utah football team has enjoyed a strong start to the 2024 season, remaining undefeated until their first loss to the Arizona Wildcats on September 28. Despite not having starting quarterback Cameron Rising available due to ongoing injury issues, the Utes have managed well. Head coach Kyle Whittingham addressed the situation candidly when discussing Rising’s prolonged absence.

When asked about managing injury reports and the criticism Rising has faced for being sidelined intermittently over the past two years, Whittingham stated, “All I’ll say is Cam Rising wants to play more than anybody. And when he’s able to, he will. It’s not like he can play and isn’t; that’s simply not the case. I’m not sure what you mean by him facing heat. I’m not on social media, so I’m unaware of what’s happening out there. However, I can assure you that he wants to get back on the field. As soon as he receives the green light, he’ll play. We hope that will be for the next game,” Whittingham said, according to Josh Furlong of KSL.com Sports.

Rising missed the entire 2023 season after suffering a serious injury during Utah’s 35-21 loss to Penn State in the 2023 Rose Bowl, which resulted in multiple knee issues. However, he has made a comeback for the 2024 season.

Rising has been sidelined for the Utes since September 7 because of a persistent hand injury he sustained during Week 2 against Baylor. He practiced and was ready to play against Oklahoma State on September 21 but ultimately was removed from the lineup at the last moment. We hope he experiences a smooth and effective recovery.

While Utah has missed Rising’s contributions, they are still benefiting from impressive performances by various players, allowing the team to remain competitive.