Utah running back Chris Curry is out for the season, Utah coach Kyle Whittingham confirmed on Tuesday. The season-ending injury to Curry came on Monday.
“Unfortunately we took another hit at running back and Chris is out. It’s really been tough getting guys back. It seems like when they come back they almost immediately get something else. So we’ll just keep working through it,” Whittingham said.
Curry, who transferred from LSU to Utah in 2021, was lost for the 2022 season with an injury sustained against San Diego State last September. He worked his way back from that injury, making his 2023 debut against Weber State, but was still dealing with “lingering effects” of last year’s injury. He had eight carries for 28 yards this season.
Curry’s injury is the latest in a depleted Utah running backs room, and the second season-ending injury. Micah Bernard was announced as being out for the year just two weeks into the season; Ja’Quinden Jackson has been dealing with an ankle injury since fall camp; and Charlie Vincent was injured in Utah’s loss to Oregon State, with Whittingham saying “it doesn’t look good for Charlie” postgame.
Utah hopes to get Jackson, who missed most of the UCLA game and all of the Oregon State game, back soon. Jaylon Glover, who has been the main running back in Jackson’s absence, has been serviceable but hasn’t had a breakout game. The sophomore from Lakeland, Florida, is averaging 3.7 yards per carry.
Four-star freshman running backs Dijon Stanley and John Randle Jr. may have an increased role against Cal if Jackson remains out. Stanley dressed against Oregon State, but has yet to have a carry this season, though he has played on special teams. Randle Jr. has not seen action yet this season.
Utah’s rushing attack, usually a strong point of a Whittingham-coached team, ranks No. 82 in the nation with 143.8 yards per game. Of course, it’s hard to get the run game going when you have a dearth of available players and you’re facing a stacked box every game.
“If you’ve got an offense that nobody respects the throw game, they’re going to put everyone in the box and it’s real hard to run the football in that box. So I think the best thing we can do to open up the run game, provide more creases, thin things out in the box a little bit, is to complete some balls down the field,” Whittingham said.