Running back Kaden Feagin, the leading rusher on the #21 Illinois Fighting Illini, suffered a hyperextension of his left leg in practice early last week, and thus missed this past Saturday’s 50-49 OT win over Purdue. Turns out the injury, the exact specifics of which haven’t been fully released yet, is much worse than initially thought. Illini coach Bret Bielema not so subtly hinted at Feagin being ruled out for the season.
“His spirits remain very upbeat,” Bielema said. “He knows this season has been cut short, it’s hard because last year was as well, but this is why those opportunities exist. We’ll get through this moment. Every indication is, whatever the decision ends up being about handled, he’ll be back with us at some point- whether it’s the spring or for sure by [next] fall.”
Whenever you’re dealing with a star athlete’s foot injury, it’s important to see the right sports injury podiatrist, in order to make sure you get the best treatment plan possible. Whenever you’re dealing with a leg hyperextension, like this, you’ve got to do your due diligence on the sports doctor community.
Illinois head coach Bret Bielema said that his staff is doing just that. He also indicated that Feagin had an MRI this week.
“For the injury that he has, or the world that he’s in, we literally got ahold of two to three of the best in the country at what they do- at not only a college level but an NFL level and in this case even pro baseball,” Bielema said.
“There’s some things that will come to light at the end. It’s unusual, but not that unusual.”
Feagin is the Illini leading rushed this season with 306 yards on 67 carries.
He had been developing into the team’s feature back, as he also has three rushing touchdowns through the first five games of the season. However, sadly, it sounds like his season could now be done.
“We’re still in this process,” he said. “I think, to think that he’s going to be back any time soon is not real. But, I don’t want to comment until I know the facts.
“He literally hasn’t had a decision on what is going to be done or how it is going to be done until we gather all the information. We’ve literally consulted probably about four or five different voices here on campus but also around in the country.”
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“Not ideal for Kaden Feagin to be out,” said star Illini quarterback Luke Altmyer, one of the nation’s most efficient and productive passers, on the Illinois radio postgame show.
“You hate to see anybody — even if it’s an opposing team — to have a player out. You never want to see anybody get hurt. But I think we have such a really, really good, deep, experienced running back room.
“Whoever is in there is going to make good things happen for us. Josh (McCray) ran really, really hard tonight — played really, really hard tonight.
“I could tell he was just laser-focused in every kind of aspect of the game — the run game, the pass game, and ran downhill really, really well.”
McCray, who has unfortunately been extremely injury prone over the course of his college career, filled in very well last week, rushing 16 times for 81 yards and two touchdowns.
McCray also caught three balls for 46 yards and a touchdown.
Paul M. Banks is the Founding Editor of The Sports Bank. He’s also the author of “Transatlantic Passage: How the English Premier League Redefined Soccer in America,” and “No, I Can’t Get You Free Tickets: Lessons Learned From a Life in the Sports Media Industry.”
He currently contributes to USA Today’s NFL Wires Network and RG.org. His past bylines include the New York Daily News, Sports Illustrated and the Chicago Tribune. His work has been featured in numerous outlets, including the Wall Street Journal, Forbes, the Washington Post and ESPN. You can follow him on Linked In and Twitter.