Kentucky defensive injury updates: Mark Stoops provides latest timeline for multiple starters

After several defensive starters missed Kentucky’s win on Saturday, Mark Stoops provided updates on a trio of them.

Following the 48-6 win over Murray State, Stoops had the latest on D’Eryk Jackson, Jamon Dumas-Johnson, and JJ Weaver. The most significant of those was Jackson who will miss the remainder of the season for the Wildcats.

“(Jackson) is an extended absence, yeah,” said Stoops. “He’s out for the year.”

Jackson, a senior linebacker, ends his fifth season after being unavailable at times over the last four weeks. He posted 32 tackles, three deflections, a sack, and an interception this year. This comes after he led their defense in tackles in each of the last two seasons as an upperclassman.

However, a medical redshirt may be an option for him to return for a potential sixth collegiate season.

From there, Stoops expects both of Dumas-Johnson and Weaver to be back for Kentucky in their final two games to end this fall.

“Dumas-Johnson should be back next week,” Stoops continued. “Again, he was another one that was out there trying to get us to play him all the way through yesterday but he just wasn’t 100%. He wasn’t quite right and so I couldn’t let him go out there and play.”

“I hope (Weaver) is back as well,” said Stoops. “I think JJ should be back.”

Each of them are statistical leaders this season for Kentucky. Dumas-Johnson is first in tackles with 54 and second in sacks with 3.5 along with a forced fumble, a fumble recovery, and an interception. Weaver is then the leader in sacks with five along with 24 tackles, a deflection, and a forced fumble and a fumble recovery of his own.

Deone Walker also did not play in this game on the sidelines alongside Dumas-Johnson and Weaver.

The Wildcat defense has been the far better side of the ball for them over this season. It will be getting some of their best players back on it too, besides Jackson per this, as they make their returns next weekend in Austin.