Kentucky OL Kenneth Horsey out 'a couple weeks' after suffering injury vs. Ball State

Some good news and bad news for Kentucky regarding super senior offensive lineman Kenneth Horsey.

Horsey started at left guard for Kentucky on Saturday’s opener vs. Ball State and is the team’s most veteran lineman as a sixth-year senior. However, he went down in the first half vs. the Cardinals and left the game on a cart.

On Monday, Horsey did not appear on the Week 2 depth chart and Mark Stoops has announced that he will miss some time but is not out for the season, which was a potential fear given how he left the game.

Here was that news from Stoops, as reported by Kentucky Sports Radio’s Nick Roush:

“Kenneth Horsey did NOT suffer a season ending injury,” wrote Roush, noting that Stoops said “he will be out a couple weeks.”

In lieu of the longtime starter, West Virginia transfer Dylan Ray stepped up and was solid in the snaps he did play. With Horsey out for the next several weeks, Ray is looking at a prime opportunity to make his name at the collegiate level.

According to the Week 2 depth chart, Ray will get his first career start as a college player as he is listed No. 1 at the left guard position, where Horsey’s name has been more the better half of his career with the ‘Cats.

For Horsey and Kentucky, the injury comes at a manageable time in the season. Before getting into the weeds of SEC play, UK opens the year with three non-power-conference opponents and then Vanderbilt — four games Kentucky will be heavily favored in and should win.

Perhaps the Horsey injury even proves to be a long-term positive for the program, assuming he makes a healthy recovery to play in Kentucky’s most important games down the stretch. If Ray comes through as a solid option, he gives the ‘Cats another depth piece and an heir to the LG spot for once Horsey leaves.

Plus, OL coach Zach Yenser will likely rotate even more guys in and out now that a senior stalwart is missing and Kentucky should be facing opponents who aren’t very threatening. It’s time to see what the Wildcats are working with up front.

Alongside Ray next week, last week’s other four starters remain the same. From left to right: LT Marques Cox, C Jager Burton, RG Eli Cox, and RT Jeremy Flax. That’s your big blue wall for the next few weeks at least.