Chip Trayanum injury update: Mark Stoops reveals where Kentucky RB stands

Kentucky has still yet to see Chip Trayanum, a running back and one of their top transfer additions, as they meet the halfway point of their season. Mark Stoops isn’t sure when they will either based on the latest update on him.

During his press conference on Monday, Stoops said Trayanum had an issue in his recent return to practice.

“Without getting into the weeds on it, we had a setback in what he had originally,” said Stoops.

After breaking his hand in August, the Wildcats hoped Trayanum could return at some point over the first few games. Or, at the very least, they’d hoped he’d be back before their first bye week this past weekend. However, the calendar has now flipped to October with no indication yet that he’ll be back anytime soon for UK.

Trayanum came in after two seasons apiece at Ohio State and Arizona State. He had 227 career carries to this point for 1,156 yards and 13 touchdowns. That included being the Sun Devils’ leading rusher as a freshman and then the Buckeyes’ second-leading rusher as a senior.

In his absence, Kentucky has had a two-back attack emerge on offense. Demie Sumo-Karngbaye, who’s in his second season with the team after transferring in, already has posted career-high numbers through five games with 70 carries for 321 yards and three touchdowns. Jamarion Wilcox, a true freshman, has also risen at 26 carries for 156 yards. Jason Patterson, another true freshman, has also been up on depth chart when available.

That’s not to mention what the Wildcats are doing with the quarterback run game between Brock Vandagriff and Gavin Wimsatt.

Despite finding a different rushing approach in several different players, still not having Trayanum, assuming they ever get him at all, would be a blow to Kentucky’s backs, especially with less depth at the position than in years past. Still, that possibility is there with no proof to this point that he’ll be available after five games and through six weeks of the season.

“We will see where that goes,” said Stoops.