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Utah’s Kyle Whittingham revealed that Isaac Wilson is playing through injury

Utah’s Kyle Whittingham revealed that Isaac Wilson is playing through injury

Utah Utes head coach Kyle Whittingham discussed the team’s situation Lost 17-14 to Houstonoffering insight into the challenges ahead and his decision to change quarterback mid-game. Whittingham’s comments focused primarily on the quarterback situation, which has become increasingly complex with the Utes’ recent offensive struggles.

During Tuesday’s press conference, Whittingham explained that he replaced Isaac Wilson with Brandon Rose in the third quarter. try to change the dynamics of the game. But he also noted that even if kicker Cole Becker had converted two field goals in the first half, he likely would have made the same decision. Missed field goals contributed to a tight scoreline, but Whittingham suggested his focus was more on adjusting the team’s energy and tactics.

Whittingham appreciated Wilson’s determination, emphasizing that he has been playing with an injury for most of the season. Despite the physical setback, Wilson showed resilience, which Whittingham respects. Wilson performed brilliantly initially when Cam Rising was sidelined with his own injury, providing a much-needed spark to the offense. However, Whittingham admitted that Wilson’s tenure as a starter had its ups and downs, due in part to his difficulty maintaining consistency on the field.

“He’s been pretty banged up this year,” Whittingham told reporters on Tuesday. “He’s a tough kid and wants to be on the field. So if you are there, you have to play with him.”

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Whittingham noted that one of the recurring issues with the offense is the amount of time Wilson has possession of the ball. This led to increased pressure on the offensive line, which struggled to effectively protect him. While he acknowledged that other factors influence the offensive line’s performance, Whittingham pointed out that an area for improvement is the quarterback’s decision-making under pressure.

In preparation for next week high-stakes matchup with No. 9 BYUWhittingham said Wilson and Rose would split the exercise reps evenly. The coaching staff will closely evaluate their performances throughout the week in hopes of finding a more stable solution at the quarterback position that will help the Utes overcome their offensive struggles and be more successful against top-ranked opponents.