Utah head coach Kyle Whittingham announced at Monday’s press conference that running back Armand Shyne will miss the remainder of the 2016 season with an injury.
SALT LAKE CITY—Utah head coach Kyle Whittingham announced at Monday’s press conference that running back Armand Shyne will miss the remainder of the 2016 season with an injury.
Shyne earned his first start in Saturday’s game against Arizona, and rushed for 101 yards before sustaining a non-contact injury on the same play he surpassed the 100-yard mark.
Upon going to the ground, he grasped his right knee, and was eventually carried off by teammates Isaac Asiata and Leka Uhatafe.
“I just started praying for him,” said quarterback Troy Williams. “It’s tough seeing that happen. He was really coming along, and it looked like really starting to get comfortable out there.”
Whittingham also announced that running back Jordan Howard will miss this week’s game, after sustaining an injury while filling in for Shyne. Freshman standout back Zack Moss, who missed Saturday’s game, will be a gametime decision this week. With Shyne and Howard out as well as Troy McCormick, Moss as questionable, and the previous retirement of Joe Williams, the Utes are looking dangerously thin at running back. Whittingham said the Utes are experimenting with anything and everything at the position in a season unlike any other when it comes to injuries.
Whittingham also said the staff has discussed Joe Williams returning to the team because of the dire circumstances. Williams is retired, and the decision would ultimately be up to him and his family, but the Utes are forced to look at every option at this point.
Behind Moss is redshirt freshman Marcel Manalo, who stood out in spring football but hasn’t seen much action in fall. The Utes also have true freshman Devonta’e Henry-Cole, but would prefer to keep his redshirt in place if at all possible.
