Texas A&M’s receiver depth took another hit against Kentucky when Mario Craver left with an injury after Terry Bussey had already gone down earlier in the game.
Craver had been a big part of the Aggies’ offense and had already piled up plenty of yards before the injury scare. The play came on a tunnel screen, when he came up just short of a first down on third and long before a Kentucky defensive lineman ankle-tackled him. As medical staff rushed in, Craver appeared to be pointing toward his foot, suggesting the tackle may have bothered him there.
The replay didn’t show anything unusual on the hit. It looked like a standard football play, but Craver was clearly affected. For an A&M passing game that was already being thinned out, losing another key target was a problem the Aggies could not afford.
There was some relief, though, because Craver walked off mostly on his own. He had his arms around the medical staff, but he also looked capable of putting weight on the foot as he made his way to the sideline.
At first, there was no immediate word on whether he would return. He missed the next few plays, and then Texas A&M turned the ball over a couple of snaps later, leaving everyone waiting to see what would happen when the Aggies got it back.
Later, when play resumed after a break, Craver had come out of the tent and was on the bench watching film with his teammates. That was a positive sign for Texas A&M, and the update got even better when Craver returned to the game on the following series, indicating he was mostly okay after the injury.
In Other News...
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Terry Bussey News Leaves Texas A&M With A Huge Offensive Problem
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For a team trying to keep its passing game moving, the timing stings. Texas A&M does have other receivers available, but Busseys versatility made him difficult to replace in one spot, let alone all the ways the Aggies used him. The next few games will show how much the offense can absorb before his absence starts to reshape the whole rotation. [Read more 🡒]