It didn’t help KU’s cause that sophomore linebacker Banks Floodman watched most of the football game from the sideline, and junior defensive tackles Travis Watkins and Chuck Jones didn’t make the trip west.

Floodman started Saturday’s game and made two tackles, but he left the game early with an undisclosed injury and did not return.

KU coach Mark Mangino declined to elaborate on Floodman’s condition after the game, saying only that the team captain was “not available” to play.

Floodman’s parents could not be reached for comment, but Mangino said Sunday he expected the linebacker to play against Jacksonville State.

“Indications are he should be ready to go Saturday,” Mangino said. “It shouldn’t be a problem.”

Mangino also said that Jones could return this week. The junior-college transfer was moved from end to tackle and started the season opener after Watkins — another team captain — broke his right foot during a preseason scrimmage Aug. 13.

But Jones suffered an injury of his own in the Aug. 30 season opener against Northwestern and played only one series the following week against UNLV.

“The possibility exists that Chuck may go this week,” said Mangino, who has not revealed the specifics of Jones’ injury.

Watkins, who had started 22 of his first 23 college games, originally was expected to miss the first six games of the season, but that prognosis soon may change.

“Initially, our medical staff thought he could be ready by Baylor,” Mangino said of the Oct. 18 home game. “But they’re telling me that the healing process of the bone is maybe a little ahead of schedule. If that’s possible, maybe Colorado.”

The Jayhawks (2-1) will open Big 12 Conference play with a Sept. 27 home game against Missouri. After a bye week, they will play Oct. 11 at Colorado.

“We’d like to get him back as soon as soon as we can,” Mangino said. “But we don’t want to put him in harm’s way or where he could re-injure it and give himself a setback.”

Watkins has continued to lift weights in an effort to stay in shape and also has been using an electronic device to stimulate the healing process.

Hear the ‘Hawks: Audio excerpts from Coach Mangino, Nick Reid, David McMillan, Austine Nwabuisi and Clark Green.

Without Watkins and Jones, senior Sid Bachman has been thrust into a starting role, and red-shirt freshman Kyle Knighton moved from end to tackle and was Bachman’s backup Saturday.

“They’re giving great effort,” Mangino said. “They’re trying their best and holding down the fort very well. In the long run, If we had a Chuck that’s ready to go and a Travis that’s ready to go we’d be a little more stout in that area, and those kids that are working there now could be good role players for us.”

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Streakers: A victory Saturday would give the Jayhawks a three-game winning streak for the first time since 1997.

“We’ve got it rolling right now,” junior fullback Austine Nwabuisi said after catching a touchdown pass and running for another against the Cowboys. “I’m pretty confident we’re going to keep doing things right.”

Mangino said he wouldn’t alter his team’s preparations for Division I-AA Jacksonville State.

“I’m not going to fool our kids and tell them a top-10 team is coming in here,” said Mangino, whose team will play host to the Gamecocks in a 6 p.m. game at Memorial Stadium. “I’m not going to do that. That’s part of our players maturing and understanding that effort is effort and being prepared for this game is no different than any other game.

“We have to be mature enough and mentally tough enough to understand that. We have two wins back to back. If we want three we have to work at it because in college football nobody rolls over and plays dead.”

The Gamecocks are 1-1 following Saturday’s 28-16 home loss to North Alabama. UNA quarterback Will Hill passed for 295 yards and four TDs.

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Anderson arrives: Junior-college transfer Lyonel Anderson made his first catch as a Jayhawk, a 45-yard reception in traffic that set up Nwabuisi’s touchdown run.

Anderson, a native of Rochester, N.Y., had struggled adjusting to the heat and humidity of Kansas during the preseason.

“Lyonel is going to be a weapon for us,” Mangino said of the tight end. “We have to utilize him.”