Is it time for Utes to move on from Cam Rising? -Deseret News

Under college football rules, Utah coach Kyle Whittingham, who already plays close to the vest, is not required to announce the injury status or availability of players before a game. The NFL has such a requirement because of its ties to gambling interests, but the NCAA does not (at least not yet); Neither does the Big 12 Conference (at least not yet).

So Whittingham doesn't have to reveal any information about a player's status. But should he?

This weekly guessing game about the availability of quarterback Cam Rising is annoying and boring for everyone else. Some observers – fans, media, social media – are no longer patient with the situation, the vague information about the injury itself and its severity, dressing for games and going through the full pre-game warm-up routine, the “game-time decisions , “the ongoing uncertainty.

CBS headline: “Utah star QB’s unclear injury status has become a crazy weekly circus.”

Whittingham said last week that he's “not going for gamesmanship or anything like that,” so we can take him at his word.

Or not. As Deseret News beat writer Joe Coles reported, Whittingham was always “reticent” when it came to injuries, often stating that he would not reveal information about injuries unless they were season-ending.

Be that as it may, it is getting old. Especially since it's a repeat of last season. Rising, who was injured in the final game of the 2022 season, did not play a down in 2023, but the Utes did not announce until Oct. 22 – in Week 7 – that he would be out for the season. It was Rising himself who ultimately provided information about the full extent of this breach.

Will he play? This has been the Utes' dominant offense for at least a year and a half, if not five years.

Due to this week's departure, Rising now has two weeks to heal his injured and dislocated fingers. But how long will he stay healthy? He suffered four serious injuries in five years – head, shoulders, knees and hands.

No one has forgotten his role in helping the Utes win two Pac-12 Conference championships and two Rose Bowl invitations. This is what requires patience for his lengthy recoveries. On the other hand, he has played in just 2½ of Utah's last 18 games – and 29 of 48 games since 2020. He is now in his seventh year of college football. At this rate, he will go straight from zero to Social Security.

Let's take it from above:

• 2020 – After the first two games were canceled due to the pandemic, the Utes named Rising the starter for a game against USC. He lasted 3 1/2 series before suffering a season-ending shoulder injury. The Utes lost 33-17.
• 2021 — With the score tied and 10 minutes remaining in the Rose Bowl after the 2021 season, Rising suffered a concussion after his head hit the turf and left the game. The Utes lost to Ohio State 48-45.
• 2022 — Rising trailed Penn State 21-14 in the Rose Bowl after the 2022 season and had to leave the game again with a serious knee injury in which he tore three of the four major ligaments in his knee as well as his meniscus.
• 2023 — Rising missed the entire 2023 season while recovering from the Rose Bowl injury.
• 2024 — For the first time in more than 600 days, Rising was in the lineup as Utah opened the season against Southern Utah. A week later against Baylor, he was still on the roster, but not for long. With Utah leading 23-0 late in the second quarter, Rising cut the ring finger on his throwing hand going out of bounds. He left the game. Utah won 23-12. Rising has missed 3½ games so far.

Rising reportedly raised about $1 million in zero funds in 2023. One has to ask whether the companies and donors who contribute to the NIL “collectives” want a refund. If Rising misses any more playing time, the Utes might ask him to buy a ticket like everyone else.

Even if Rising returns, it will take some time to get back up to game speed. He threw five touchdown passes in the opening game, but that was against Southern Utah. He threw for 92 yards and two touchdowns against Baylor before leaving the game.

There is a feeling that it is time to move on from Rising and his repeated injuries. Almost every week since the start of the 2023 season, there has been the constant distraction: Will he play? This would allow them to give freshman backup Isaac Wilson more experience going forward. Wilson has won two of three starts. He completed 55.7% of his passes, totaling 830 yards, six touchdowns and seven interceptions. A year ago, he was preparing to lead Corner Canyon High against Bingham High.

But he's playing under a cloud. He is the replacement. He knows it and his teammates know it. He splits practice reps with Rising, which affects his preparation, especially for such a young player. Whittingham himself has addressed the difficulty of Wilson's position. Wilson was told just 20 minutes before kickoff that he would start in an away game against nationally ranked Oklahoma State.

The Utes have a better chance of winning with Rising, but can they continue to build a team around a player who can't be relied upon?