Chip Trayanum injury update: Mark Stoops reveals status of Kentucky RB vs. Ohio

Kentucky‘s presumed starting running back Chip Trayanum has missed the first three weeks of the regular season with a hand injury.

Ahead of Kentucky’s Week 4 matchup against Ohio, Wildcats head coach Mark Stoops gave a brief update the injury status of the Ohio State transfer.

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“He’s not available this week,” Stoops said.

In Trayanum’s absence, Kentucky has turned to senior tailback Demie Sumo-Karngbaye to carry the rushing load. He’s totaled 47 carries for 227 yards and a touchdown on the young season. His best performance came this past weekend against Georgia, where he had 22 touches for 98 yards.

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On the same note, Kentucky was able to put together a strong rushing performance against the Bulldogs this past week with a depleted offensive line. They were without longtime starting offensive tackle Jager Burton after he was injured against South Carolina the previous week.

“I think he wanted to play and was working hard,” Stoops said of Burton. “So, he’s on the depth chart this week. It’s not a league game but we’ll do the same probably. He’ll be probable to be questionable. Last week we really did have two guys that went down to the game-time decision. I don’t think we want to make a living out of doing that, but we really did, we had two guys that went to game time.”

Stoop also gave a shoutout to offensive tackle Gerald Mincey, who played through an injury on Saturday.

“I was very unsure whether he would play and he played his tail off, gave it everything he has,” he continued. “And the same with Maxwell Hariston, wasn’t feeling great with his shoulder and just played through it, and really played good. So, I appreciate the effort. We aren’t ever going to let anyone play injured but they were banged up.”

Both Mincey and Hairston were game-time decisions last week against Georgia. Kentucky ended up having nine players miss the SEC matchup with injury, including three defensive lineman.

While it’s unclear of what Mincey, Hairston or Burton’s status for Week 4 will be, but Stoops let it be known early that his top running back isn’t ready to hit the gridiron just yet.

Kickoff between the Wildcats and Bobcats is scheduled for 12:45 p.m. ET live on the SEC Network. Kentucky has opened as 19.5-point betting favorites over Ohio. They’ll resume their SEC schedule the following week at home against Vanderbilt.