Cam Rising, the quarterback for the Utah Utes, injured his right hand during a game against Baylor on September 7.
Due to this, he has already missed three games. Rising collided with a water cooler on the sideline, resulting in his injury.
Highlights
- Cam Rising didn’t play tonight (on 28 September) in the game against the Arizona Wildcats.
- The quarterback was a game-time decision. However, the team decided to rest him to allow more time for his hand injury to heal.
- Utah Utes freshman Isaac Wilson got another chance to start for the team.
Before the Utes’ game against Arizona on Saturday night, ESPN reported that Cam Rising would be a game-time decision.
A “game-time decision” means that the final decision on whether or not a particular player will play will be made just before the game begins.
This is usually done by evaluating the player’s condition during pregame warmups and a few other last-minute assessments.
Cam Rising Didn’t Play on Saturday Night
Utah trainers and coach reportedly subjected the quarterback to the same evaluation regimen as he underwent before the team’s game against Oklahoma State last week.
As per Sports Illustrated, the evaluation process involved throwing the football during the pregame warmups.
During this, the coaching staff would decide whether or not he can play by observing the force and accuracy he can manage.
There was already a hint that the team would prefer to be cautious with the QB’s injury and prefer to sit him for this week.
Furthermore, the team has an open weekend before playing at Arizona State on 11 October.
This will not only give the athlete extra time to rest and recover but also increase the chance of him participating in upcoming games.
We have to see Cam Rising October 11.
— Glass Half Ute. (@GlassHalfUte) September 29, 2024
Isaac can/will win us a lot of games. But the window to do something special is RIGHT NOW.
The team we’re seeing right now is not special.
There will be a lot of “what if Cam misses Arizona State” chatter the next two weeks… and… https://t.co/QGs7XG0bvT
While the Ventura native might not have appeared in the main games, he did participate in Utah’s practices this week.
With the team’s decision to give him more time to recover, his appearance was limited only to the practice games.
Rising is a key leader for his team. He was expected to be the team’s starter this season. However, his hand injury has sidelined him longer than anticipated.
As Cam Rising remained sidelined, freshman Isaac Wilson got three consecutive starts as the Utes’ quarterback.
The talented freshman QB is the younger brother of NFL quarterback Zach Wilson. Isaac earned those big chances much earlier than expected.
It has been reported that Wilson’s inexperience was visible at times, but he also showcased his arm strength and ability to remain composed under pressure.
Three chances to start as the quarterback has allowed him to gain valuable experience against a tough Arizona Wildcats defense.
Moreover, the team also changed its strategy for Wilson, using short passes and quick decisions to keep moving forward.
It is given that other players would miss Rising’s experience and skills. But Wilson is said to be getting better and more confident with each game.
Cam Rising’s return remains uncertain. So, Wilson’s growth is crucial for Utah’s success.
Additional Information
- Cam Rising was born on 13 May 1999, which makes him 25 years old as of 2024.
- The talented quarterback was born to his parents, Nicko Rising and Eunice Rising. His father, Nicko, played college football at Cal Lutheran University. His mother, Eunice, works for Amtrak.
- He has two brothers, Jordie and Tyson Rising.
- As reported by Sportskeeda, The Ventura, California-born athlete’s NIL worth is estimated to be around $662,000 as of 2024.
