Mark Stoops provides update on Will Levis injury entering bye week

The bye week couldn’t have come at a better time for the Kentucky Wildcats and their star quarterback, Will Levis. Levis is currently battling through some injury concerns with his shoulder and lingering turf toe. So when the next opponent on the Wildcats’ schedule read bye, head coach Mark Stoops took it as an opportunity to give his star some rest. During a recent press conference, Stoops also revealed Levis’ status going forward.

“Yeah, it’s a time where he definitely needs a little bit of rest. He wasn’t out there with us today. He’ll be day-to-day,” said Stoops. “If we had to play this week, knowing him, I think he’d be ready to go. So, that’s a good sign. But we also want to give them an opportunity to heal up.”

In his return to action on Saturday, Levis led the Wildcats to a 27-17 victory over the Mississippi State Bulldogs. In the game, the senior quarterback threw for 230 yards completing 17 of his 23 pass attempts with a 73.9 completion percentage, one touchdown, and one interception. Unfortunately, during that contest, Levis would add a shoulder injury to his list of elements. However, with the Wildcats having the week off before their next matchup, Levis will get a much-needed rest before they have to take on one of the top teams in the country, the No. 3 ranked Tennessee Volunteers.

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Will Levis on injury: “It’s my left shoulder, so who cares.”

Levis went down early in the third quarter with a left shoulder injury, coming up in clear pain after a push to the ground by a Mississippi State defender. The senior standout immediately ran to the locker room for X-rays holding his arm.

The score was crucial given the team’s lack of offensive production in the first half, but nothing beyond Levis’ shoulder injury felt important at the time. Given the hit and his immediate reaction, serious concern crept in. If it was anything long-term, Kentucky’s season success was in jeopardy.

That concern remained for all of one defensive drive, as Levis sprinted out of the locker room and back to the Kentucky sideline in time for the offense’s next drive. He warmed back up and immediately entered the game.

Levis was hell bent on getting back into the game. If X-rays came back clean, he was returning to the game no matter what. Fortunately for the Kentucky quarterback (and the program overall), they did.

“I was hoping to hear good news, which I did,” Levis said. “Got the magic shot and got back out here. It’s my left shoulder, so who cares.”

At this point, everyone is banged up, he says. With Kentucky off next week, it’s the perfect time for the team to get some much-needed rest and recover a bit — Levis particularly.