Jack Kelly BYU Injury Update
Jack Kelly’s first-half injury during BYU’s 38-24 win over West Virginia cast a bit of a cloud over what should've been pure celebration because, let’s be real, when Kelly is suddenly not on the field, BYU fans get nervous. He went down hard and immediately signaled for the trainers, clutching his arm and barely able to move it, a sight that had more than a few Cougars loyalists wincing, and maybe even uttering a few unrepeatable words.
By halftime, reality set in for everyone: as Kelly reappeared on the sideline, out of uniform, arm in a sling, wearing street clothes, and not his usual linebacker’s scowl but a sort of wry “yep, that happened” face. Head coach Kalani Sitake did his best to offer reassurance after the game, saying Kelly actually felt pretty good in the locker room, though he tacked on a trademark coach caveat about evaluating tomorrow.
Ben Criddle (@CriddleBenjamin) shared on Twitter that Kalani Sitake's update on Jack Kelly and Isaiah Glasker, stating Kelly felt better and both would be evaluated the next day.
There’s something oddly comforting about Sitake’s postgame way of almost shrugging but not quite, as if linebacker injuries are just a Tuesday in Provo. And maybe for BYU’s defense, they are especially since fellow star Isaiah Glasker also left with an injury, though his seemed less worrisome (ESPN called it precautionary, which we’re taking as “he could’ve played if he really needed to, but didn’t, so everyone relax a little”).
Still, the Cougars’ defense felt the absence; the pass rush slowed, the inexperience was palpable, and suddenly Ace Kaufusi and Miles Hall were getting crash courses in Big 12 combat. Hall racked up five tackles, Kaufusi grabbed two, and fans everywhere officially started Googling “BYU linebacker depth chart 2025.”
With three tough games before the bye, the truth is there’s no easy way to paper over what Kelly and Glasker mean to this group. Both may be back soon, but if not, this next stretch is going to tell us a lot not just about the health of Jack Kelly’s shoulder, but the guts of the whole BYU defense. Every year has its ‘uh-oh’ moment; looks like the Cougars hit theirs before Halloween, with everyone holding their breath to see who’s next up and whether BYU’s luck will hold a little longer.
