UCF Knights Football Injury Tracker: Every Injury Update From Camp and What it Means
In this story:
Fall camp is underway in Orlando for the UCF Knights football team.
While coach Scott Frost described his team as "really healthy" for the most part, that does not mean everyone is injury-free. So, this tracker is here to compile coaches' updates and sightings of injured players in the lead-up to UCF's season-opener on Sep. 3 against Bethune-Cookman.
- RJ Jackson Jr., Defensive Tackle
- Bruno Dall, EDGE
- Jailen Duffie, Defensive Back
- Sincere Edwards, EDGE
- L A Jesse Harrold, EDGE
- Dominick Campbell, Offensive Lineman
- Horack Lockett, Defensive Tackle & Duke Watson, Running Back
1. RJ Jackson Jr., Defensive Tackle
Frost said that Jackson Jr. suffered a toe injury during spring practice and, though he was not sure of his timetable, he would be back "hopefully sooner rather than later."
Jackson Jr. is a frontrunner to resume his starting defensive tackle role in 2026 after earning All-Big 12 Honorable Mention honors last season. Starting in 11 of the 12 games he played, he recorded 33 total tackles, 13 of them solo, 2.5 tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks and broke up two passes.
While Jackson's status for week one does not look to be in danger, at least based on how Frost worded it, it does open the door for players like Horace Lockett, Thomas Collins and Brad Gurley to make their cases for a larger share of snaps this season. With Jackson likely to resume his starting role upon his return, his absence allows this trio to not just make their case to earn a starting role alongside Jackson, but also become a go-to option off the bench when the starters need a break.
2. Bruno Dall, EDGE
Former Akron EDGE Bruno Dall is "still dealing with a little bit of a strained hamstring," Frost said.
This is an issue that has persisted since spring practice; however, Frost said that he did not think it would be long before he returns to action.
Given his All-MAC Third Team honor from last season, Dall is a likely frontrunner for a starting role in 2026 alongside returners Isaiah Nixon and Sincere Edwards. Dall's absence provides an opportunity for players like Ken Talley, who Frost said was "certainly a guy that's going to contribute," Aymeric Koumba, who Frost said had a "really good" first practice, and L A Jesse Harrold, who Frost said was young, but "certainly has the talent."
This opportunity for players lower on the depth chart in the EDGE room could prove beneficial to them, since they are taking over following the departures of both Malachi Lawrence and Nyjalik Kelly to the NFL.
"We're going to push those guys, because as much improvement as we made in a lot of other positions, we got to make sure that those guys are ready to go and then we don't have a drop off there," Frost said.
3. Jailen Duffie, Defensive Back
Former North Dakota State defensive back Jailen Duffie, like Jackson, is suffering from a toe injury, but his was a more recent development, with Frost saying he hurt it "doing plyometric jumps the other day."
Duffie is coming off a season in which he was named an All-Missouri Valley Football Conference Second Teamer after he recorded 15 tackles, 12 of them solo, one tackle for loss, one forced fumble and two pass breakups.
While Frost described Duffie's injury as "a short-term thing," a UCF defensive back room featuring the likes of Braeden Marshall, Antoine Jackson, Demari Henderson, DJ Bell, Jayden Bellamy, Jayden Williams, Ty Bartrum and Matt Irwin is deep enough that an experienced player can step into Duffie's spot on the depth chart in the event of an extended absence.
4. Sincere Edwards, EDGE
In the late stages of the Knights' open practice session on Aug. 8, EDGE Sincere Edwards walked gingerly off the field under his own power. The fact he exited the field under his own power is a promising sign, given his 2025 season ended prematurely due to an injury.
However, should this injury be a symptom of a lingering issue, players like Ken Talley and Aymeric Koumba are the ones in line to benefit most from a potentially increased snap share, depending on the progress of Dall with his injury.
5. L A Jesse Harrold, EDGE
During the Knights' open practice session on Aug. 8, Harrold was spotted with his right wrist taped up while he was using an exercise bike before he exited the practice field with his pads off.
While Frost has said Harrold "certainly has the talent," he is still on the young side of UCF's EDGE rusher room. While the redshirt freshman being kept out of practice does not bode well for the EDGE room's depth, when taken in combination with Edwards and Dall's situations, the fact he is being held out shows the Knights are being cautious with him and making sure he can be a contributor in the future.
6. Dominick Campbell, Offensive Lineman
Like Harrold, offensive lineman Dominick Campbell suffered a leg injury during the Knights' open practice session on Aug. 8. However, he ended up needing some assistance from trainers to walk gingerly off the field.
Campbell might be one of the Knights' tallest players, but based on his lack of in-game experience and offensive line coach AJ Blazek's description of what his position group looks like now, the former basketball player does not look like a favorite for a large share of playing time in 2026. While his injury does mean one less player for depth purposes, it does not change much for the Knights in terms of who their main offensive lineman are going to be.
7. Horack Lockett, Defensive Tackle & Duke Watson, Running Back
Both running back Duke Watson and defensive tackle Horace Lockett were held out of the Knights' practice on Aug. 8.
Both of these players are coming off injuries last season, so while it is not officially confirmed as of Saturday if they have sustained a different injury or not, the fact that they did not practice shows coach Scott Frost and the Knights want to ensure they make it to the season-opener healthy.
Should they have any lingering injuries, however, Thomas Collins and Jeffson Lafontant stand to gain the most playing time at defensive tackle. As for the backfield, Landen Chambers was taking snaps with starting quarterback Alonza Barnett III in practice, but Agyeman Addae, Taevion Swint, Kaj Baker and Arthur Lewis IV all showed some promise as well. So, even if Watson needs to take more time to heal up, the Knights still have a deep stable of running backs they can turn to.
Frost's next media availability is scheduled for Aug. 10.
Catch up on more UCF news below:
Meet The 2026 UCF Knights: Countdown To Kickoff - No. 80 Elijah Hardy
The 2026 UCF Knights Football Transfer Portal Tracker
How Cindy Ball-Malone Winning An AUSL Championship Helps UCF Softball
Add us as a preferred source on Google
Bryson Turner is a sports journalist who covers UCF Athletics. Turner has contributed to the Black and Gold Banneret, the home for UCF Athletics on SB Nation. He has called the Orlando area home since the age of 8 and received his bachelor's and master's degrees from UCF.
Follow itsBrysonTurner