Kansas quarterback Jason Bean has not practiced in recent days because of an illness, coach Lance Leipold said Monday.
Bean, a redshirt senior who started the first nine games last season following his transfer from North Texas, is expected to be the backup to junior Jalon Daniels when the Jayhawks open at home on Sept. 2 against Tennessee Tech.
“We’ve been having something going around with guys missing the last month,” Leipold said following Kansas’ sixth training camp practice. “It’s kind of run its course with guys and he’ll be back when he’s fine and all. But again, he’s had a first good week, and it’s too bad that he’s not able to go.”
Others who have been unable to practice for Kansas in recent days are redshirt sophomore tight end Jared Casey, who has a hamstring injury; senior linebacker Rich Miller, who is also ill; and redshirt sophomore running back Sevion Morrison, who missed some time with an unspecified injury but was able to practice Monday.
Leipold said none of the absences are concerning and that they’re “pretty natural at this time.”
With Bean unavailable to practice, Leipold said redshirt freshman Ben Easters and freshman Ethan Vasko have been splitting the second-team reps.
“For us, a young quarterback, now Ethan quickly gets thrown into the mix a little bit more, and kind of thrown into the fire, and it’s good to see,” Leipold said. “He’ll get a great chance to kind of develop as he and Ben will battle for that third spot.”
