Mario Cristobal: Verone McKinley III & Daymon David are 'Fine'

That's good to hear.

Author:
Dylan Mickanen
Updated:
Oct 30, 2021 7:57 PM EDT
Original:
Oct 30, 2021

The Oregon Ducks defense has been decimated by injuries all season and Saturday was no exception.

Starting safety Steve Stephens IV was carted off the field with an apparent right leg injury during the second quarter vaulting Bryan Addison into duty opposite Verone McKinley III.

Then during the end of the third quarter, both Daymon David and McKinley III suffered injuries causing them to leave the field and enter the medical tent one after another.

After the game, Mario Crisotbal said he thought both players will be "fine" and that he doesn't expect any of the three safeties to miss any time.

"I don't think we're going to lose one, if one [safety]," he said.

David was seen holding his right shoulder before slowly walking off and entering the medical tent. He left the tent with his right shoulder wrapped.

McKinley III jogged into the tent and then jogged outside of it, heading back into the defensive huddle. He would re-enter the game for a Colorado onside kick attempt indicating the injury was nothing serious.

With Jordan Happle also missing Saturday's game, the Ducks had only one scholarship safety available in Addison after the string on injuries for a period of time.

Lucas Noland, a preferred walk-on from Tualatin, OR, replaced McKinley III during the third quarter. He played in five games during 2020 and failed to record a statistic. This season, he's played in all seven games and had one tackle against Stony Brook heading into the matchup versus Colorado.

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