The injury bug continues to plague the Arizona Wildcats in Brent Brennan’s first season at the helm. On Monday, Brennan announced during his press conference that junior linebacker and defensive captain Jacob Manu, and redshirt freshman left tackle Rhino Tapa’atoutai, will be out for the remainder of the season after suffering leg injuries in Arizona’s 34-7 loss against the Colorado Buffaloes on Saturday.
Manu suffered the injury early in the second quarter, after celebrating a third-down stop. Tapa’atoutai was injured in the second quarter and went straight into the locker room following the injury. Rhino also suffered a leg injury earlier in the season, as well.
Following Saturday’s loss, Brennan said Arizona’s strength and conditioning program is something that needs to be assessed. “I think that’s something that we have to evaluate – I really do…our team, myself, we’re all super concerned with where that’s at. Where we’re at is rare air for me.”
The Wildcats continue to find themselves plagued by injuries as the season progresses. Defensive back Treydan Stukes is sidelined for the remainder of the season with an ACL injury. Fellow defensive back Gunner Maldonado is also out indefinitely with a leg injury. Arizona’s also undersized up front without defensive tackles Chubba Ma’ae and Isaiah Johnson, who injured himself in Saturday’s pregame warmups.
With Jacob Manu and Rhino Tapa’atoutai out for the season, Brent Brennan said that Kamuela Ka’aihue will start at linebacker. On the offensive line, Oregon transfer Michael Wooten is expected to step up for the injured Tapa’atoutai. Brennan added in Monday’s presser that the offensive staff will exploring moving Preseason All-Big 12 tackle Jonah Savaiinaea to left tackle, and that Nevada transfer Joey Capra could also see some time on the offensive line down the stretch.