Kansas starting quarterback Isaiah Marshall was downgraded to questionable on the Jayhawks’ availability report released on Thursday night.
Marshall had been listed as probable in the initial report released on Wednesday in advance of KU’s game at TCU on Saturday (set for 2:30 p.m. at Amon G. Carter Stadium in Fort Worth, Texas).
It’s not clear what sort of injury he might be dealing with, but he’s taken his fair share of hits in his first year as KU’s quarterback, and after the Jayhawks beat Baylor on Saturday, head coach Lance Leipold said he had been “a little banged up.”
Marshall has started all seven games for the Jayhawks to this point and demonstrated improvement over the course of the year. He has thrown for 1,506 yards with 11 touchdowns and seven interceptions and rushed 89 times for 403 yards and two additional scores.
If Marshall isn’t able to go on Saturday, KU would turn to veteran backup Cole Ballard, who recently returned from his own shoulder injury suffered against Missouri. Ballard has one career start to his name from the 2023 season and this year has gone 5-for-8 for 96 yards. The Jayhawks also have Rice transfer Chase Jenkins in reserve.
Other notes from this week’s availability reports include the continued absences of center Kasen Carpenter, whom Anderson Kopp will continue to replace, and safety Mason Ellis. Fellow safety Jaden Harris and nickel back Elijah Cannon were each listed as questionable on Thursday.
TCU’s top running back, Jeremy Payne (88 carries for 429 yards and two touchdowns in six games this year), has been ruled out.
There will be another report released on Friday at 9 p.m. and then one more on Saturday at 1 p.m.
