Kyle Whittingham pushed back hard on a report that said former Utah players felt pressured to play through injuries, saying he never tried to influence medical decisions during his time with the Utes.
Speaking Tuesday on The Dan Patrick Show, Whittingham addressed the allegation directly after The Salt Lake Tribune reported last week that six former Utah players from 2020-24 believed they were pushed to return before they were ready.
“Never in my career have I ever tried to sway (or) influence, whatever the word is, our medical staff wherever I’ve been,” Whittingham said. “We listen to the medical staff if they say a player is available, we go with that, and if they say he’s not available, we go with that. Never in my career have we ever crossed the line of trying to override a medical decision.”
One of the players named in the reporting, Van Fillinger, said he was told he would not be allowed to redshirt after a doctor advised him to rest an ankle injury for six weeks. Fillinger also alleged he was told he’d be “kicked off the team” if he did not come back to play.
The University of Utah Athletic Department and University of Utah Health also responded with a joint statement last week following the Tribune’s report.
“The University of Utah Department of Athletics follows all University and national guidelines to ensure student success and safety - We routinely evaluate our processes and welcome the opportunity to make adjustments if we determine our policies are not meeting expectations,” the statement read.
A spokesperson also told the Tribune, “Coach Whittingham or his coaching staff did not make medical decisions [at Utah]. He followed the lead of the medical team,” the spokesperson told the Tribune.
In Other News...
Michigans Defense Gets A Needed Boost Ahead Of Week 1
Michigan heads into the 2026 season with its injury picture looking relatively clean, and that matters especially on a defense expected to carry plenty of weight early. The only significant absence is freshman offensive lineman Ace Hamilton, while the more encouraging news is on the other side of the ball, where veteran defenders Chris Bracy and Rod Moore are both expected to play. Moores return carries a little extra caution after a two-year absence, but simply having him back in the mix gives the Wolverines another experienced piece as Week 1 approaches.
John Henry Daley is another reason the defensive outlook has brightened. After working all the way back from an Achilles injury, the edge rusher is fully integrated into the defense, and coach Kyle Whittingham has pointed to his readiness and explosiveness as signs he can contribute right away. For a unit trying to open the season with stability and depth, getting Daley back in that form adds a welcome boost, even if the full picture of how hell be deployed is still coming into focus. [Read more 🡒]
Michigan Title Defense Just Took A Brutal Hit Before Opening Night
Michigans title defense has been dealt an immediate blow before the regular season even begins, with five-star freshman Brandon McCoy Jr. ruled out for the entire 2026-27 campaign after suffering a right knee ACL injury in an exhibition game. The injury came early, and the loss stings even more because McCoy arrived in Ann Arbor as one of the programs most highly touted recruits and was expected to help shape the defense from the wing.
Now the Wolverines have to recalibrate their rotation without a player they were counting on for length, activity and matchup help on the perimeter. For a team trying to repeat after a championship season, losing that kind of freshman impact piece before opening night forces an early reset and opens a fresh question about who steps into that role. [Read more 🡒]
Michigan May Have A Pass Rush That Changes Everything
Michigans preseason conversation has centered on the kind of growth that can tilt a game plan before it even starts, and Kyle Whittingham pointed to the defensive front as one of the reasons for that optimism. Ahead of the season opener against Western Michigan, he highlighted the progress of young players such as Bryce Underwood and John Henry Daley, while making it clear that the line up front is supposed to be a strength for this group.
Daley, in particular, sounded like a player who could change the tone of the rush after offseason work that left him looking more explosive and quicker than before. Whittingham also mentioned Nate Marshall and freshman Carter Meadows as rising pieces, which gives Michigan a deeper pool of options if the pass rush starts to look the part early and turns into the kind of unit opponents have to account for every week. [Read more 🡒]