By Michael Swain, 247Sports.com
LAWRENCE, Kan. – With KU’s first game of the season in the rearview mirror, there are a few players who are dealing with lingering issues who either played in a limited capacity against Missouri State or didn’t play at all against the Bears. Lance Leipold is hopeful KU will be able to be closer to full strength against Illinois later this week.
Two wide receivers enter Week 2 banged up. Tanaka Scott wasn’t dressed for the season opener and didn’t participate in the pregame warmup. Scott — a redshirt sophomore — is listed as the backup behind Lawrence Arnold on the depth chart. Additionally, Luke Grimm didn’t play in the second half of Friday’s game. He did play 12 snaps in the first half, catching four passes for 33 yards and a touchdown. He did not take the field again after his touchdown. It’s worth noting that Grimm was banged up during KU’s preseason camp, too.
On Monday, Leipold gave an update on both players.
“Tanaka has been battling a hamstring,” Leipold said. “He’s been back out there. It’s kind of been off and on, unfortunately. We got to wait and see on him, questionable. Luke was out there today doing some things. But again, kind of wait and see on him. It’s early, it’s the second day of prep but hopefully we’ll have everybody available but to what extent we don’t know. And sometimes, some guys they can do some and then the next day, it’s two steps forward one step back.”
Of course, there will be a lot of attention on KU’s warmups and the first offensive series for KU on Friday night. The big question will be if Jalon Daniels starts against Illinois or not. Leipold said Daniels was a participant in practice last week but didn’t get enough first team reps to get the start.
“I thought he had a really good day,” Leipold said. “Again, as I said with other guys, that’s kind of where it’s been sometimes, how does it feel the next day? He was available to play [against Missouri State] and if we would’ve put him out there and something would’ve happened. It’s like, okay, when and how much are the reps? But by far the most about of team reps he’s had since the first week.”
With Daniels out on Friday night, Jason Bean got his first start since the Texas Tech game last season. In a little over three quarters of action, Bean completed 22 of his 28 passes for 276 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions.
Another offensive player who didn’t participate in the season opener was Armaj Reed-Adams. The offensive lineman was listed as the starter at left guard for KU on the official depth chart and had a good camp. He warmed up on Friday night and dressed for the first half. But he did not take the field and he changed into street clothes after halftime.
Leipold said the 6-foot-5, 330-pound offensive lineman is trending in the right direction early in the week.
“Armaj was practicing today,” Leipold said. “He went through some things and missed some time. But we expect Armaj back barring anything.”
