Kenneth Horsey removed from depth chart, injury not season-ending

Just ahead of halftime in Kentucky’s season-opening win over Ball State on Saturday, Kenneth Horsey went down with a lower leg injury. The veteran offensive lineman had to be helped onto a cart and was quickly taken back to the Wildcats locker room. He would not return to the field as West Virginia transfer Dylan Ray came in to replace him at left guard.

Two days later, we have some clarification surrounding the severity of that injury. The fifth-year senior was removed from the pre-EKU depth chart on Monday morning before head coach Mark Stoops said during Monday afternoon’s press conference that Horsey’s injury is not season-ending, although it will sideline him for at least a couple of games.

“Good news is it will not be season-ending at this point. But he will be about for a couple of weeks at least I think,” Stoops said.

Ray is now listed as the starter at left guard with sophomore Paul Rodriguez as the backup.

Thank you to everyone who checked in on me, prayed for me, and prayed with me 🙏 #BBN is like no other 💙

— Kenneth Horsey 6️⃣8️⃣ (@Work_Horse68) September 3, 2023

Before Horsey went down, he appeared on the field as the Wildcats’ starting left guard for 30 snaps. He finished with a Pro Football Focus (PFF) grade of 67.1, fifth-best of anyone on the Kentucky offense. His pass-blocking grade of 83.3 rated as the best among all UK offensive linemen.

Hindsight is always 20/20, but looking back, Horsey’s injury could have been prevented. A few plays prior to the incident, Kentucky defensive back Jordan Lovett had recovered a loose fumble coughed up by the Ball State offense. Lovett was already mid-gallop and on his way to the endzone for UK’s second scoop-and-score of the game before the referees whistled the play dead, believing that the Ball State player was down before losing the ball. But replay clearly showed that was not the case. Although Kentucky still gained possession, the offense should have never been on the field at that moment. Two plays later, Horsey was injured.

Freak injuries happen all the time, so Horsey surely could have been hurt later on in the game — or even later in the season. But in this particular instance, a missed call ultimately led to Horsey, a two-time team captain, having to leave the game. It’s undeniably a tough blow to the Big Blue Wall, but the good news is Horsey should be back soon.