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Kentucky football linebacker J.J. Weaver sidelined by arm injury vs. Youngstown State

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Game day: No. 9 Kentucky 31, Youngstown State 0

Click below for more of the Herald-Leader’s and Kentucky.com’s coverage of Saturday’s Kentucky-Youngstown State football game at Kroger Field in Lexington.

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Kentucky football’s game against Youngstown State started on a negative note with an injury to junior outside linebacker J.J. Weaver.

Weaver suffered a right arm injury on a third-down play that ended Youngstown State’s first drive of the game. After being attended to by trainers on the field for several minutes, Weaver walked directly to the Kroger Field locker room.

The UK radio network reported Weaver was doubtful to return to the game with an injury to his “upper left extremity.” The radio network reported at halftime that Weaver’s arm was in a sling with a brace on his elbow.

Through two games, Weaver led Kentucky with 14 tackles and one sack. He was frequently pointed to as a key to the Wildcats’ defense entering the season now that he was more than a full year removed from ACL surgery.

Weaver missed the final two games of the 2020 season after tearing his ACL but returned in time to play in all but one game in 2021.

“I’m not going to shy away and he will not shy away from understanding that we need him to take that next step and be a guy, guy,” defensive coordinator Brad White said of Weaver during preseason camp. “He has got to be a difference-maker for us on defense.”

Kentucky Wildcats linebacker J.J. Weaver (13) celebrates after making a tackle to stop the Florida Gators during the game at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium in Gainesville, Fl., Saturday, September 10, 2022.
Kentucky Wildcats linebacker J.J. Weaver (13) celebrates after making a tackle to stop the Florida Gators during the game at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium in Gainesville, Fl., Saturday, September 10, 2022. Silas Walker swalker@herald-leader.com

This story was originally published September 17, 2022 at 12:41 PM.

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Jon Hale
Lexington Herald-Leader
Jon Hale is the University of Kentucky football beat writer for the Lexington Herald-Leader. He joined the Herald-Leader in 2022 but has covered UK athletics for more than 10 years. Hale was named the 2021 Kentucky Sportswriter of the Year. Support my work with a digital subscription
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Game day: No. 9 Kentucky 31, Youngstown State 0

Click below for more of the Herald-Leader’s and Kentucky.com’s coverage of Saturday’s Kentucky-Youngstown State football game at Kroger Field in Lexington.