Why Kansas coach Lance Leipold has ‘great hope’ about QB Jalon Daniels’ injury return
Kansas coach Lance Leipold expressed optimism about quarterback Jalon Daniels’ chances to return to play this season following Saturday’s loss to Oklahoma State in Stillwater.
Daniels has missed four games due to a back injury. That included Saturday’s game, a 39-32 loss to Oklahoma State in which the Jayhawks held an eight-point second-half lead.
Kansas will be off next week before returning to action against Oklahoma in Lawrence on Oct. 28 (kickoff time/TV TBA). In theory, Daniels could be available for that game.
Leipold, who covered a number of topics in his postgame press conference, shared an update on Daniels postgame.
“I’ve got great hope, I’ve got great hope,” Leipold said. “We’ve said that from the first time, OK, it’s kind of like last year’s deal. OK, he wasn’t out for the season. And no one has told me that he’s out for the season this year.
“It still stays that (way), and you can see him moving a lot better than he has been. So hope, yeah, I have no reason not to. ... We’ll see what next week brings and then as we head into that Oklahoma week where he’s at.”
Jason Bean has started in place of Daniels in the four games he has missed this season — and for four games last year.
He had possibly the best half of his career to begin Saturday’s game. Bean finished the contest 23-of-34 passing for 410 yards with five touchdowns and two interceptions.
Leipold praised his performance, for the most part.
“I think he struggled a little bit there late in the fourth, obviously,” Leipold said. “But before that, I thought he played outstanding. I thought he made some really nice throws and created some things with his feet. There are some plays, I know, we all wish we had back.”
Daniels, on the other hand, returned to the sideline in Stillwater after he was not with the team to watch last week’s win against UCF.
Leipold said at the time Daniels’ absence was a precaution due to the nature of his injury.
“He’s listening, taking part (in) stuff,” Leipold said of Daniels after the Oklahoma State game. “He’s active on the sideline; he’s talking with (quarterbacks) coach (Jim) Zebrowski and different things. He’s mentally going through the calls in his mind as he sees them.
“All that stuff ... it was was good to have him there.”
This story was originally published October 15, 2023 at 10:35 AM with the headline "Why Kansas coach Lance Leipold has ‘great hope’ about QB Jalon Daniels’ injury return."
