Kansas QB Michael Cummings to have knee surgery after spring-game injury

Kansas quarterback Michael Cummings’ injured left knee will require surgery, KU coach David Beaty said on Monday morning.

In a statement, Beaty did not disclose the specific injury, which occurred during Saturday’s spring game. He also did not provide a timetable for recovery.

“Michael sustained a left knee injury that is going to require surgery,” Beaty said. “Following his surgery he will work diligently, alongside our medical staff, to get back to the field as quickly as possible.”

Cummings was injured Saturday after being hit low during the second quarter of the Jayhawks’ spring game. While scrambling downfield, Cummings absorbed a blow from walk-on safety Michael Glatczak. Cummings was helped off the field and limped to the locker room under his own power.

Beaty characterized the injury as a “freak accident.”

“I have reviewed the film from Saturday and Michael Glatczak was being blocked down the field and had his back to the action for almost the entire play,” Beaty said. “At the last second he turned to make the tackle without having any idea who was carrying the ball. He is a great kid, a great teammate and again it was just a very unfortunate accident.”

This spring, Cummings was part of an open quarterback competition that also featured juniors Montell Cozart and T.J. Millweard. This summer, Kansas will also add true freshman quarterbacks Ryan Willis, a Bishop Miege graduate, and Carter Stanley of Vero Beach, Ga.

“I’m excited that this is an actual competition,” Cummings said earlier this month. “That’s something that I think our position group is excited about.”

Cummings, a native of Killeen, Texas, threw for 1,715 yards and nine touchdowns in 2014, stirring a passing attack that had plodded along for the better part of three seasons. His measurable success was relative, of course. While starting the last seven games, he completed 56.8 percent of his passes. He threw for nine touchdowns and also tossed six interceptions. The Jayhawks finished 3-9, with Cummings leading the Jayhawks to their only Big 12 victory, against Iowa State.

This story was originally published April 27, 2015 at 12:17 PM with the headline "Kansas QB Michael Cummings to have knee surgery after spring-game injury."